Griffith Park Ghost Train 2017 Review

After going on hiatus in 2016, the Los Angeles Live Steamers Ghost Train is back and better than ever!

Have you ever wondered whether there was a single location where you could see Halloween displays with maximum variety? Well the Griffith Park Ghost Train is indeed the place. Passengers aboard the miniature train will encounter a multitude of displays, featuring every kind of Halloween character imaginable: living plant monsters, skeletons, phantoms, dolls, vampires, werewolves, and even clowns – there’s something for everyone.  Whether it’s a fully enclosed corridor or a set on the side of the tracks, there are enough thrills to fill a dozen theme parks.

Guests can enjoy live music from a local band outside the ticket line. Once you enter, there is a completely decked out train station with props and pyro – including a brand-new display featuring a fire-breathing dragon (mechanical) and a maniacal witch (computer-generated projection). After boarding beneath a whimsical “Happy Halloween” sign in colorful LED lights, guest are “chased” off by a grumpy talking tree, after which they experience a twenty-minute ride that overwhelms its joyful presentation of Halloween, ending with a special nod to the holiday classic, Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.

The Griffith Park Ghost Train is not a full-on scary Halloween attraction like the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride; however, the new version has a few more sinister scenes than before, and there is a sign stating that certain props and displays maybe too intense for young viewers. Certain animatronics pop up at unexpected moments, providing a brief fright, but judging from the happy reactions of young children, this is still a “family-friendly” event,

Tickets are $20, which averages out to $1 per minute which is an incredible deal for what the Ghost Train delivers. Tickets may be sold out online, but you can buy them in person. Parking is free on-site and on the street.  Snacks and merchandise are also available. Definitely worth checking out – get there early!

The Los Angeles Live Steamers Ghost Train concludes on October 31. Hours are 7-10pm. The address is 5202 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027. Get more info at lals.org.