Everybody has heard how scary Dark Harbor is. When the creative genius of Hollywood designers and makeup artists get to create a horror zone in and around the Queen Mary, one of the world’s ten most haunted places, the results are terrifying. Every long, dark hallway could have a costumed character waiting to jump out at you and the spooky vignettes create a true sense of malaise. Besides that spine tingling sense of impending dread or the jolt of sudden terror, why should you visit Dark Harbor in Long Beach Harbor, California this year?
(1) Stunning Visual Effects
Dark Harbor raids Hollywood to get the best visual artists with a flair for the macabre. The created seven mazes out of the depths of their imaginations. In Circus, scary clowns and beastly freaks lurk in a replica funhouse complete with mirror mazes, ball pits, and spinning hallways. Intrepid tells the story of the Iron Master who built the Queen Mary and is out to reclaim it. You see his minions casting the steel for the ship and getting baked alive in the scorching pig iron. Soulmate takes place on the Queen Mary, where you meet Gale, who haunts the ship looking for her suitor. Of course, she isn’t happy with simply finding a man. Her servants are butchering guests and building her the perfect man out of their parts.
(2) The Haunted History of the Queen Mary
Time Magazine ranks Queen Mary as on the ten most haunted places and it’s easy to see why ghost hunters and paranormal tours routines seek this place out. In her fifty years of service, the Queen Mary has seen her share of tragedies. Dark Harbor uses these real life hauntings as inspiration for their mazes. The aforementioned Soulmate is based on the Woman in White haunting. Lullaby is based on a drowning that occurred on board and the maze travels past the actual pool where it occurred. Deadrise is an immersive experience that recreates the accident where Queen Mary plowed through an escort ship and was unable to offer assistance because she was being pursued by German U-boats. B340 is based on a serial killer on board the ship. The real room B340 on board the Queen Mary has had so much paranormal activity that they refuse to rent it. They even removed the marker, but it’s easy to guess which room is between B338 and B342. The Queen Mary even has its own ghosts and legends tour.
(3) Mazes on Board of the Queen Mary
Four of the total seven mazes take place on board the Queen Mary: Lullaby, Soulmate, B340, and Feast. As you can imagine, a historic cruise ship lends a certain element of terror to Dark Harbor. Perhaps the best example of this is 2017’s new maze – Feast. Feast isn’t based on any real life occurrences of cannibalism (although the Queen Mary was in the English Navy, just saying). What makes is special is that you walk through an actual ship kitchen and galley. It looks real because it is real, other than the human bodies being turned into food.
(4) Amazing Performances
Several stages host nearly continual performances from a series of talented artists. On one stage, a silk artist in full makeup performs her routine. On another, a troupe of fire spinners entertains the crowd. What you want don’t want to miss is Slider Alley. Sliders have flint lined pads that spark as the slide across pavement. You’ll see them working the crowd throughout the night but they all come together for a choreographed show. They spark, slide, and hop through a series of tricks that will leave you entertained and amazed.
(5) It’s Not a Kiddie Show
Kids are allowed to enter but they aren’t the only customers. This isn’t another “not scary” event. The freight is real but also it’s designed with a more sophisticated horror pallet in mind. It’s the sort of place where late teens and twenty somethings wouldn’t be afraid to take date or group of friends to.
(6) Alcohol
If you think of Dark Harbor like a really cool Halloween themed bar and you’d be right. Dark Harbor features several themed bar experiences, a Tequila Tasting Room and the VIP Lounge, and many walk up bars and queue line bars. On top of that, costumed servers patrol the grounds offering you shots. Our favorites were the Meat Locker, an ice bar with frozen body parts worked into the decor. Another genius of alcohol distribution is utilizing an actual bar on the Queen Mary in the middle of the Feast to serve alcohol mid maze.
(7) VIP Experiences
We highly recommend getting a Fast Fright upgrade so you can spend more time in the mazes and less time in line. You can also go all the way to VIP if you want. The VIP ticket includes special entry lines, Fast Fright Pass, and the RIP Lounge. What is the RIP Lounge? It’s a first class bar aboard the Queen Mary that gives a bird’s eye view of the event. What’s more? You get two complimentary cocktails and an all-you-can-eat taco bar.
What to Know When You Go
If you’re still reading this, then you know why Dark Harbor is special but not here are the nuts and bolts. Dark Harbor only runs until November 1 and the sooner you go, the less the tickets will cost. Since the event pricing changes make sure you check the Dark Harbor website to plan your visit. Parking is at event pricing so consider carpooling, ride sharing or staying at the Queen Mary and making it a romantic getaway for those couples that consider scary movies a date night. You’ll save a little cash and be able to drink responsibly. For pricing, hours, and all upgrades, including staying at the Queen Mary, check out the Dark Harbor FAQ link and Dark Harbor Survival Guide (all in good fun:).
Photo credit – Title picture, performer with nail, Captain Pin and Performer and swings pin courtesy of The Ace Agency with credits in caption. All other photos from Jenn Coleman of Coleman Concierge.
Disclaimer: Although our experience was complimentary, the views and opinions expressed are entirely our own.
We are excited to share our journey with you
Subscribe to receive our latest posts by email
A place like this exists! Ohh my gosh I won’t be able to sleep all week if it’s that scary.. But thanks for sharing it was interesting to read !
This just looks like so much fun! Let your imagination run wild in this spooky entertaining activity. I would also find a visit to the Queen Mary interesting just on its own – but what they have created here really does bring an entirely different dimension to enjoy as well. Something quite unique indeed.
I like the idea of mazes but I literally would pee my pants if I visit this place. Visual creepy is not for me.
They definitely turn the creepy factor up to 11.
Whoa! I didn’t know about this place. It’s interesting for
sure. I have never visited any place like this so it is exciting for me. I
would love to watch one of the performances as well. This must be amazing.
It is like a horror carnival, except you’re supposed to be afraid of the clowns.
Ahhhh I would be such a chicken if I did this tour, but it does look like fun. The performance, costumes and everything looks so well done…and scary. Not sure if I will be able to sleep that night haha! But what an interesting way to visit the Queen Mary!
Even if you’re not a horror fan you have to appreciate how well everything is done.
This one sure is a place for those with a strong heart and an appetite for the macabre, but I am sure there are many folks who enjoy this place once you get the hang of it.
Appetite for the macabre indeed. If you like horror films you will love this.
This looks so cool!!! What an experience. I’ve been on the Queen Mary but not for a fun event like this. My son and daughter-in-law would really enjoy it. Maybe some year we’ll all make it out to California in October.
You could make it a horror weekend and do Six Flags and Universal. We always think about running the LA horror circuit. You should hit us up next year if you are seriously considering it.
OOh I’m not sure I could bring myself to do the mazes, I get scared just watching horror films so I think this would be just too terrifying for me! Can you just go to the cocktail bar with all you can eat tacos? That sounds much more my thing – although just being on board where all that scary stuff happened would still give me the creeps!
You could but it would seem like a shame to get the VIP ticket to only sit in the lounge. Kind of like going skiing and not leaving the bar.
I would love to go to this event on the Queen Mary! I used to work onboard a cruise ship so I would really enjoy this. The Meat Locker ice bar with frozen body parts sounds awful, but fun!
I bet that would be super neat for you to go back into time and see how they did cruising on the Queen Mary.
It would!
Such a perfect post for the coming Halloween festival! But frankly I don’t have the courage to visit these, never alone.
My kids will be thoroughly thrilled with this and will definitely drag me here. 😛 🙂
This is a pg-13 event for sure. Make sure your kids are ready.
Oh my I have never heard of Dark Harbor or this event on the Queen Mary. I love these kinder of stuff, we don’t have it here in London. I love the Mazes but I am unsure if I would do it because I would get scared. I think that Meat Locker bar is pretty cool too though I think I would need a drink before I went on the Queen Mary. I am definitely telling my husband about this because I want to go.
I remember going to the tower of London torture museum. It was pretty creepy for my young self. Lucky for you there are plenty of places to get a drink at Dark Harbor.
Well I have been to one of the scariest places in India recently but the eerie feeling gets on to you. I am sure this place would have all the elements to give a spookier experience.
What is the scariest place in India?
While I’ve visited the Queen Mary (and would love to spend the night on her) I’d never heard of Dark Harbor. How creative and freaky-scary! I love things like this — and will have to think about visiting the area at the right time of year to go. I’m not sure I’d do it alone, though!
This is definitely the sort of thing to do in a group. It’s really fun watching the group dynamic and seeing the event from the lens of your group.
Is this like a Halloween Horror Nights type of event? It seems to have some redeeming historical value but aside from that I’m a chicken and would never go here haha I’m more of the trick or treat, get free candy and dress up as a Disney princess type of girl 😉
It’s kind of like that but the candy is tequila shots and street tacos.
This looks scary AF! Funny title, by the way 🙂 I love mazes but I don’t think I’d like to be in one with those people. I think I might be too big of a wuss for this… Haha. Were you scared?
There were a couple of gotcha moments for sure. A couple of nervous giggles and we could feel our hairs standing up.
There’s NO way I’d be able to do this. We have something similar here (way shittier, and definitely not as cool because it’s not on a ship) and I couldn’t even get through that when I was a teen. My friends tricked me into going saying that the actors can’t physically make contact with you but THAT WAS A LIE. Making through these mazes would be mission impossible for me haha
It’s not just A ship. It’s that ship. The sister ship to the Titanic with a haunted history a mile long.
I am definitely hooked. I would loved to attend the scary Dark Harbor show. I was not aware of the Queen Mary and its tragedy. But after reading this, I would love to experiencing this haunted yet thrilling experience.
It’s an interesting part of history and an interesting study on American culture with how serious we get about our Halloweening
This sounds terrifying. I hate haunted houses and being scared. It really doesn’t take much for me to feel creeped out – even a suspenseful movie will have my palms sweating and covering my eyes. This sounds like a really fun and immersive experience for someone who loves these kind of things, but I’ll be staying far far away.
Dark Harbor is a lot like a real life horror movie…. Choose wisely.
I love Halloween themed attractions like this—we just went to something similar near our hometown! Dark Harbor looks fantastic and I can imagine that since it is in Hollywood the special effects and design are really good! I would love to check it out. I like that they use some of the real life hauntings as inspiration for the mazes—would make it even more creepy that way. The themed bars sound really cool too, especially the Meat Locker with the ice bar and frozen body parts!
It is completely different being in a historic place. Everything just smells and feels different. There is an ambiance that you just can’t recreate. It’s really cool.
It seems Dark Harbor is an electrifying and dynamic place to visit specially during Halloween or otherwise too. Was not knowing that it ranks in top 10 haunted place. Someday when i could get opportunity, would love to spend time at Meat Locker. Deadrise would be my perfect maze as it has some history also of WWII. Would love to know if we have to be in queues for long time to finally get in?
The queues were absolutely no problem with the fast pass / VIP. I would have been long with with standard ticket so I would recommend fast pass so you can enjoy the evening and not standing in line.
I was on the Queen Mary for Halloween many years ago, but it was nothing like how you show in this post. I would love to go there now. I love horror shows for Halloween, and mixed with a circus sounds absolutely incredible.
Our host said this has been going on for about 20 years but has gotten a lot better in the last couple of seasons. Before that, it was probably a lot more mellow out there.
Not a fan of horror movies or anything scary so probably will give this a pass 😀
i couldn’t remember the last time I went to a Halloween themed party. I was horrified at my first experience when I was younger. But I wouldn’t mind to check out performances and the tequila tasting room!
Sometimes being horrified is exactly what it ‘s all about.
OMG so I loooove haunted stuff and have been wanting to visit Queen Mary for forever so this looks even better!
Maybe you can stay there as part of you California road trip…
Wow I can’t believe how high quality this experience looks! I’m not big for scary experiences but I can see why this is appealing. It’s like being inside a horror movie! And having a birdseye view of the night from the RIP lounge sounds like the way to go.
It’s definitely a quality scare for sure. They do a good job there.
I have been to dark harbor last year and i know how many sleepless nights i had lol JK . But truly it was really scary for me. This year I couldn’t make it as i have a lil one in my home. But hopefully next year 🙂
It really is an experience. Hope you can go next year. I would get a sitter for little guy and save the night for that all important parents night out. Make sure you keep dating your spouse and finding things to do together.
I don’t do scary places like this, but if I ever needed to recommend a spot for a friend who likes this kind of thing, this is the place I would send them to!
It’s not for the faint of heart. You would love the Queen Mary though. Best Sunday brunch in Long Beach.