The massive mouth of a clown hangs open, warning of us the carnival sideshow: The Swamp Girl. A coffin is alit with the flicker of Edison bulbs, as they draw our attention to the ticket booth. But the event is free—and the carnival barker beckons us closer, daring us to enter this devilish festival. Even the stilt walker, towering over us in his striped overalls cannot deter us. We’re going Straite to Hale 2023 —and we’ll be laughing the whole way down.

The child of Mark Straite and Ron Hale, Straite to Hale is a lengthy home haunt that is typically a Western themed experience (in the town of Casket Creek)—but with Straite to Hale 2023, they have added a sinister carnival aesthetic to their experience. Featuring sideshow attractions that range from the Terrifying Wolf Boy to the Two Headed Man, the creatures inside are as awe-inspiring as they are frightening. This isn’t surprising as Straite to Hale has been hired to extend their talents to the Winchester Mystery House’s Halloween experiences in the past—and it’s easy to see why. From the massive facades to the motion sensor scares to the surprising air canon blasts to the amazing sound effects—Straite to Hale does everything it can to immerse audiences in the scares.

Not all the denizens of Straite to Hale 2023 are frightening. Similar to Hauntington Beach Manor, a fortune teller can be found within. While she won’t do a full reading or send you into your own mind palace—she will draw cards and offer some magic as the table floats before your very eyes. Other carnival sets can be found, from a spinning wheel to a clown infested church. The actors are passionate and know exactly where to hide to elicit the loudest scream from guests. Especially when you find swamp girl, hiding in the fog, under the laser light of the swamp.

Yet, our favorite portion of Straite to Hale 2023 was the shooting gallery—which combines numerous ricocheting shot sound effects with air cannon blasts that immerse you into the scene. Ducking, and hiding among the massive wooden duck cut-outs, guests can dodge the shots and emerge unharmed.

Straite to Hale 2023 is a blast—an amazing marriage of technology and scare actors all dressed under the guise of a sinister circus carnival. The theme is so enjoyable and full of moments that just left me in awe. It also feels so much larger than a traditional home haunt; I never saw parts of a house at all—it just felt like the circus had come to the town of Casket Creek. Sign me up, I’ll be back, ready to join the circus as Haunt Boy if there’s ever an opening!

Straite to Hale 2023 and their carnival can be found at 6477 Jasper St, Rancho Cucamonga. For more information about Straite to Hale, check out their Instagram page and their website. For information about similar events, check out our Event Calendar.

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