The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor haunt has been an LA fan favorite for years – which is why there was a stir of excitement when the Long Beach ship announced its return after a five-year hiatus. Under the helm of Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group, there was a lot of mystery regarding what this year would look like. Now, after attending, we are absolutely delighted to say that 2024’s return to Dark Harbor is an absolute home run, a ghoulish delight of all senses.

Dark Harbor offers 5 immersive walk-through haunts, each with their own individual theme. These mazes are the real deal, using highly immersive lighting, set decoration and actor placement to create a truly terrifying environment. This is a step above your average haunted house. You can tell the team behind this are true fans of haunts, as the scares are highly inventive, unpredictable, and just plain fun. You never know what, or who, is going to be around the corner. Several of the haunts take you onto the ship, creatively utilizing the claustrophobic and mechanical layout to further immerse you. Tip: There’s a couple hidden speakeasies to look out for, even inside the mazes…

Alongside the haunts, there are plenty of activities to enjoy including carnival rides, vendors, themed bars, food, and much more. Several performances happen throughout the night including fire spinners, a slider show, and a concert-like introduction to the horrifying characters throughout the haunts. Guests can treat themselves to s’mores, axe throwing, or hang out in the Haunted Hookah lounge. The entire event, which takes place on the boat as well as the surrounding harbor, feels absolutely massive.

One of the best elements that Dark Harbor has going for it is the atmosphere – even the drive onto the premises evokes a feeling of dread, as you feel like you are exiting society at large, the massive silhouette of the famed ship looming over you. Throughout the grounds you will find highly creative and immersive lighting effects, set design, fog, roaming actors in character waiting to scare you and more that creates a highly immersive atmosphere. At times, it almost feels like you never leave the haunted houses!

If you’re a horror fan, or enjoy walk-through haunts, this is not to be missed. With a production value that rivals Universal’s Horror Nights at only a fraction of the price, Dark Harbor is one of the finest October activities that SoCal has to offer – and 2024 may be its best year yet.

Tickets start at $47.99 depending on the night and can be purchased here. Dark Harbor runs on select dates from Sep 20 – Nov 2.

For tickets and more information, you can visit their website here.

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