Dark Harbor's Hell's Bells Tower; photo courtesy The Queen Mary
The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor returns October 7th, with fifteen nights of thrills in three mazes on board the notoriously haunted ship, and another two near its dock.
In its past 16 years, reviews for Queen Mary’s Halloween attraction have been inconsistent. This seemed to change last year when management brought on renowned haunt designer Jeff Schiefelbein, who created the Dark Harbor theme. And if it ain’t broke, why fix it?
The returning lineup of mazes, from the press release:
‘Submerged’ where guests are sure to get a sinking feeling, ‘Containment’ where the ship’s original infirmary gets sick and twisted, and ‘Hellfire’ where the horrors get terribly hot. Two other hair-raising mazes are on shore: ‘The Village of the Damned’ where the monsters try to make you their permanent houseguests and ‘The Cage’ which simply defies description.
On board, guests will need to navigate “a fog-filled 220-foot tunnel of cargo containers concealing monsters” before finding themselves before “a 33-foot tall tower of cargo containers shooting 20-foot flames into the night sky” known as “Hell’s Bells Tower.”
(note: according to an interview earlier this summer with theme park news site MiceChat, Schiefelbein said he wasn’t working this year with the Queen Mary, so it will be interesting to see if a new crew is able to repeat his voodoo.)
Tickets for Dark Harbor are $20, and an additional $20 for “fast fright” front of line passes.
Complete press release below:
Dark Harbor Halloween event returns to the Queen Mary starting Oct. 7
Dark Harbor features seven bloodcurdling mazes and attractions on the ship and on the shore as well as an entertainment complex with live entertainment, cocktails and food.Dark Harbor Halloween event returns to the Queen Mary starting Oct. 7
Fifteen nights of fiery frights including seven mazes and attractions with nonstop live entertainment on the ship and on shore in Long Beach
LONG BEACH, Calif.; Aug. 4, 2011 – After its demonic 2010 debut, the Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor is set to make waves across Southern California’s haunt scene in 2011 with mazes and madness that make the most of the ship’s unique haunted history.
Now in its 17th year, the Queen Mary Halloween event was originally known as Shipwreck, but in 2010, the ship bravely steamed into Dark Harbor to shrieks of delight from haunt aficionados and chillseekers alike.
“The Queen Mary is often cited as one of the most haunted places in the world,” said paranormal expert and ship guide Erika Frost. “This gives the event an atmosphere unlike any theme-park haunt. For instance, one of the mazes crosses the first-class swimming pool where many visitors claim to have encountered a little girl wandering around searching for her doll or mommy. Or, if they haven’t seen her, they’ve reportedly heard her.”
Dark Harbor features seven bloodcurdling mazes and attractions on the ship and on the shore as well as an entertainment complex with live entertainment, cocktails and food.
To enter this port of purgatory, guests must maneuver through a fog-filled 220-foot tunnel of cargo containers concealing monsters. Guests emerge at the foot of ‘Hell’s Bells Tower,’ a 33-foot tall tower of 11 cargo containers shooting 20-foot flames into the night sky. This is the centerpiece of Dark Harbor and is assembled each year with the help of longshoremen from the Port of Long Beach. Three panic-inducing shipboard mazes raise the fear factor with pyrotechnical, atmospheric and watery special effects. They include ‘Submerged’ where guests are sure to get a sinking feeling, ‘Containment’ where the ship’s original infirmary gets sick and twisted, and ‘Hellfire’ where the horrors get terribly hot. Two other hair-raising mazes are on shore: ‘The Village of the Damned’ where the monsters try to make you their permanent houseguests and ‘The Cage’ which simply defies description.
Performances by local bands, food and cocktails in the ‘Night Mariners’ Bar,’ and a demon-filled attraction known as ‘The Barricades’ will ensure leaving is…unthinkable, as will a trio of She-Demons who prey on all who cross their path after sunset. And beware of aforementioned ghosts walking the decks of the Queen Mary, for these travelers from the past may inhabit any ‘body’ left unattended.
The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor will be open October 7-9; 14-16; 20-23; and 27-31 from 7 p.m. to midnight. Ticket discounts and promotions start as low as $20 online at www.queenmary.com/dark-harbor. ‘Fast Fright’ front-of-the-line passes are also available online and at the door, and well worth the additional $20 upgrade for busy nights.
The Queen Mary is located at 1126 Queens Highway in Long Beach.
About the Queen Mary
Located in the Port of Long Beach, the Queen Mary features a rich maritime history, authentic Art Deco décor, and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and Long Beach city skyline. At the time of her maiden voyage in May of 1936, she was considered the grandest ocean liner ever built. On May 27, 2011, the Queen Mary celebrated the 75th Anniversary of that inaugural transatlantic crossing. The Queen Mary’s signature restaurants include the award-winning Sir Winston’s and Chelsea Chowder House & Bar as well as a weekly Champagne Sunday Brunch served in the ship’s Grand Salon. History buffs enjoy the ship’s museum and Behind the Scenes tour while guests of all ages love the Ghosts and Legends tour. The Queen Mary features 80,000 square feet of event space in 17 remarkable Art Deco salons as well as a tri-level, 45,000-square-foot Exhibit Hall. The Queen Mary boasts 314 staterooms spanning three decks including nine full suites which have hosted a variety of colorful characters from World War II leaders to British royalty and the stars of Hollywood’s golden era. For more information or for reservations, see www.queenmary.com or call (800) 437-2934.
The Queen Mary is located at 1126 Queens Highway in Long Beach.
image courtesy The Queen Mary
