I went to Coffin Creek for the first time last night. Coffin Creek is a haunted attraction in Southern California, housing five separate attractions, spread across about a mile wide area. I’d give it 2 out of 5 stars, mainly because I bought the 5 attraction option, and 2 out of 5 were a joke. Why not 3 out of 5, if 3 were good? Because there’s a penalty for making me pay for anything that sucks. :)

You’ll need to park and then walk to each one. If you’ve ever been to the renaissance fair there, you’ll know what to expect. If you go close to opening time, you’ll be waiting for the cast members to get in place. They’re all volunteers and are mostly kids, so they pretty much show up whenever they want, if at all. We saw cast members standing outside of the attractions as we approached two of them. It pretty much kills the anticipation of being scared when you see some monster tell his monster friend, “oh, we have customers. Let’s go inside.”

We wandered inside one attraction, not seeing anyone outside. We wandered around and around, thinking, um, this is pretty stupid! We eventually found a group of people, and we thought, oh good, something must be going on up here. Then a “monster” came up behind us, and in a very un-monsterly way, asked, “are you lost?” I don’t know, are we? “Are you customers?” Yes “Oh, then you’re lost! Follow me”. The pleasant monster escorted us out and suggested we go to a different attraction while they readied this one.

This wasn’t opening night, I expected a little bit more, since it was about half an hour after “opening” time. If you go later in the evening, the bigger crowds will keep the monsters inside, doing what you’ve paid them to do, scare you! It will also be more fun as crowds of people screaming in terror can be half the fun of going, despite having to wait longer in lines to enter the attraction. Personally, if I’m going to wait to be scared, I’d rather wait to be next, then to wait for some monster standing around to go hide.

At their current prices (they had early bird specials earlier in the year), I would recommend buying a ticket for just one attraction and go to the “Chambers of the Mausoleum”. This is definitely the star of the show, as some of the rooms shake and shimmy, and there are two pretty extraordinary monsters near the end. Alone, I’d give it 4 stars. Too bad there isn’t a 3 attraction option, because the Lone Hill Manor and Shady Hollow Hayride are also worthwhile. You can, however, get the 5 attraction ticket and go to one or more multiple times. The Lone Hill Manor is about 50 yards away from the mausoleum, unspectacular, but a fair experience, none-the-less. I’d give it 3 stars. The hayride is actually pretty fun. You’ll sit on a hay filled flatbed with about 10 other people, pulled behind an exhaust spewing tractor. The best part is sitting down for 10-15 minutes after walking up a 1/4 mile hill while people try to scare you, while watching any kids that are with you scream their heads off :) I’d give it a 3.5. If you get the two ticket option, I’d do this and the Mausoleum. The “Fear Tonight” maze is pretty lame, and the “Scare Crow Trail” is 100% crap, stay away!! :)

Advertisement