Hollywood Gothique
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2013 Halloween Haunts Itinerary: Santa Clarita

Looking for Halloween Horror in the North San Fernando Valley? Stop by Heritage Haunt, Pumkin Jack’s Haunted House, and the Dark Realm.

[NOTE: Halloween Haunt Itineraries are self-guided tours of haunted attractions that are conveniently located in one area. With a map or a GPS, you can easily hit all of them in one night and save gasoline in the process.]

As you head north from Los Angeles up the Interstate 5 freeway, Halloween Haunts are spread as thin the blood remaining in the veins of a vampire’s victim; however, there are a few worth visiting, and if the long drive intimidates you, you should know that the trip is worth your while – and worth the miles – if you can catch The Heritage Haunt, Pumkin Jack’s Haunted House, and The Dark Realm all in one night. Read on for our suggested itinerary…if you dare!

A. The Heritage Haunt at 24101 San Fernando Road, Newhall, CA. This is a fund-raising effort on behalf of Hart Park in Heritage Junction; though a non-profit attraction, it equals and even exceeds many professional Halloween events in Los Angeles. This year, Heritage Haunt will present such attractions as an “Asylum House of Madness,” a “Cemetary of the Damned,” and a “Scare Zone Cataclysm.” The haunt will be open October 25 & 26 from 6:30pm to 10pm.

B. Pumkin Jack’s Haunted House at 28603 Natalie Lane, Saugus, California 91390. We were thrilled when we discovered this home haunt in 2012. It offers a short but very dense walk-through, filled with eight rooms of Halloween horror, much of it very cleverly executed. Pumkin Jack’s is open on October 25 and 26 from 7pm to 11pm, and on Halloween Night from 8pm till midnight.

C. The Dark Realm at 28621 Sugar Pine Way Santa Clarita, CA 91390. This is a new yard haunt from one of the former masterminds behind the Heritage Haunt. Obviously, we have yet to encounter this one personally, but the proprietor plans to create a spooky castle. Since it’s only a few minutes away from Pumkin Jack’s Haunted House, the Dark Realm has to be worth a look. Open October 25, 26, 27 & 31, from 6pm to 10pm each night.

Total distance for this drive is under 11 miles and takes about 20 minutes. The Heritage Haunt is the outlier, nearly eight miles from Pumkin Jack’s Haunted House, but with its 6:30pm start time, you should be able to get through it in time to reach the two home haunts farther north.

Keep in mind that Heritage Haunt is open only on Friday and Saturday, not on Sunday – and, unfortunately, not on Halloween Night. So if you are going to make this Halloween Haunt Tour, you will need to do it on October 25 or 26.

Note: The annual Magic Mountain Fright Fest is nearby, but we seriously doubt it could be added to this itinerary; Fright Fest provides a full evening’s entertainment all on its own. On the other hand, on your way toward Newhall, you just might be able to hit The Voices of Pioneer Cemetery’s Almas: A Day of the Dead Celebration” in Sylmar.

Get driving directions at Mapquest.