Sinister Pointe returning for Halloween 2018
After going on hiatus for Halloween 2017, Sinister Pointe will return this season with “Scary Place,” which promises 150,000 square feet of horror, including scream zones, vendors, stages shows, games, exhibits, and three “heart-pounding” attractions.
Like many Halloween haunts in the Southland, Sinister Pointe has been beleaguered by commercial and financial realities that make turning a profit difficult; there is also the issue of expensive fire-safety regulations. In 2016 owner Jeff Schiefelbein said: “It’s getting so expensive that unless you have $100,000 to put into it and $30,000 into marketing, you are not going to make it.” Schiefelbein even told the Los Angeles Times he was considering shutting down Sinister Pointe. For 2017, the haunt abandoned its previous location and, instead of a traditional walk-through haunted maze, announced an alternative: Hex, which billed itself as “Orange County’s Largest Costumed Affair.” However, the event was cancelled at the last minute.
Halloween 2018’s Scary Place is a multi-level event, taking place on three floors, with stages shows (mind-reading, magic, and music) and three haunted walk-through attractions: Phobias, Evil on 2 (referring to the 2nd floor), and The Boogeyman Express.
Tickets come in four tiers, with different prices on weekdays and Sundays versus Fridays & Saturdays: All Night Pass ($57/$67), All Night VIP Pass ($75/$85), Sinister Six Pass ($209/$269), Sinister Six VIP Pass ($309/$369).
Dates are September 28-30; October 4-7, 11-14, 18-21, 25-31. Hours are 7:00pm – midnight on Fridays & Saturdays; 7-11pm on Sundays & Thursdays.
Note: The address for the event is 24100 Laguna Hills Mall, which is slightly different from the official address for Laguna Hills Mall (24155 Laguna Hills Mall).
Sinister Pointe has long been an innovator among Southern California haunt attractions, offering interactive and escape-room elements before they became fashionable. It is nice to have them back this Halloween.
