During a special annual passholder event hosted by Jeff Tucker, Knott’s Scary Farm announced its full entertainment lineup for 2017. Held in the Charles M. Shulz Theatre the event revealed details on all 9 mazes, this year’s Scarezones and shows in store for 2017.The show opened with an announcement that was made earlier this summer at Midsummer Scream. For 2017 Knott’s has combined Fright Lane and Fast Lane passes into a single Fright & Fast Lane passes, which give unlimited priority access to all mazes and fast lane rides. This segwayed into the first announcement which about Knott’s Timber Mountain Log Ride, which will be themed to the Halloween Hootenanny, a family friendly overlay of that will be open day and night throughout the Halloween season. During the presentation concept art featuring werewolves, spiders, and aliens were displayed and it was announced that the ride would feature an original song by Crazy Kurt and The Hillbillies. The new overlay will feature the return of the skull, which riders will fall through before entering a labyrinth of jack-o-lanterns.The Returning MazesAfter discussing this year’s Scary Farm Pass and recognizing the entertainment production workers that help put together Scary Farm each year the presentation quickly dove into the mazes that would be making a return in 2017. The returning mazes are:The Tooth FairyTooth Fairy is returning for 2017 and after watching the trailer for the maze, you’ll never want to go to the dentist again…The Tooth Fairy includes a blackout room in which guests will need to feel their way out, a disorienting x-ray strobe light room and a final encounter with the massive Tooth Fairy himself. For 2017 the Tooth Fairy animatronic is being replaced with a live scare actor and an all new finale scene.The Red BarnIf horror movies have taught us anything, it’s that barns and hillbillies are bad and this maze bring’s you face-to-face with both. Returning for its second year, The Red Barn takes you to a blood soaked barn filled with carnivorous animals looking to prey on human flesh. Legend has it that the farm who owns the barn was transformed into a hideous creature who then sends his sadistic sons out to procure humans for his food and wives to ensure his legacy. For 2017 guests will be pulsed through the maze creating a sense of urgency, making it feel as though you are really being chased. The maze will also feature a new bungee scare and video effects and the maze’s finale will feature real chainsaws.Paranormal Inc. The Haunting of Hayden HillBased on all those crazy paranormal investigator shows on T.V., Paranormal Inc. has quickly become a Knott’s Scary Farm fan favorite. The groundbreaking maze takes guest into a haunted hospital where the patients were tortured for decades and their spirits continue to roam the halls, as do the twisted staff. For 2017 characters from last year’s ZoZo Key Room have been added to the hospital’s morgue.Voodoo: Order of the SerpentThe haunting legend of Papa Legba continues in 2017 as guests follow him on his journey to conjure up a serpent demon goddess on the outskirts of New Orleans. Guests will make their way through the cursed swamps of the deep south and encounter creatures amongst the murky bogs and demons curse the innocent with voodoo hexes. For 2017 the maze has been completely redesigned and guests will now go through the maze in the opposite direction.Shadow LandsIn Shadow Lands, guests will face demon Samurai’s on their quest through an ancient Japanese temple and into the Shadow Lands. This year Knott’s has reconfigured the first show room and the forest and have added a second show room. They’ve also reconfigured the shadow temple to enhance the scares and highlight the oversized scare.Special Ops InfectedLazer tag meets the Walking Dead in this one-of-a-kind maze that arms guests as they make their way through the zombie apocalypse. Guests will make their way through an urban setting on the hunt for a cure for the infected. This year, the maze will feature more zombies, new missions, and more guns. The maze will also feature new interactive targets, “that react when you shoot them. Like they should,” joked Jeff Tucker during his presentation. The maze will also feature a new “boss zombie” at the end of the maze.ScarezonesAfter announcing this year’s returning mazes, the presentation shifted to Scarezones, the sections of the park with themed scare actors and experiences. From Ghost Town Streets to The Boardwalk, no guest is safe from scares. Knott’s Scary Farm 2017 will feature four returning Scarezones with new additions and updates to each.Ghost Town StreetsThe original and largest Scarezone at Knott’s Scary Farm returns for 2017 and will include new characters like a gravedigger, an undertaker, and the popular ghost town personality Sad Eye Joe will show off his nighttime personality, Mad Eye Joe.Fiesta de los MuertosReturning for 2017 Fiesta de los Muertos is transitioning from a dance party to its very own Scarezone celebrating the Day of the Dead.CarnevilIf clowns aren’t your thing, you’ll probably want to avoid this area. Carnevil, which takes place on The Boardwalk, returns for 2017 and will feature an all new carnival style soundtrack and an all new maze themed to the Scarezone.The HollowThe Hollow returns for 2017 and will place guests in the midst of a war between three covens of witches and their armies of the undead. The Hollow will also feature story moments and a fiery finale. The Scarezone has been almost completely revamped and will include a themed maze.The ShowsAfter quickly running through each of the new Scarezones Knott’s announced this year’s shows, beginning with the iconic The Hanging. This year’s Hanging is appropriately titled “Fake Noose!” “It’s going to be yuge, ” joked Tucker after showcasing the show’s title. For those unfamiliar with The Hanging, the show lampoons the year’s top celebs and pop culture icons and hang the year’s worst offender. In 2016 Calico’s hangman hung Pikachu. During the presentation, they also re-played the video shared at Midsummer Scream announcing the final performances of Elvira Mistress of the Dark at Knott’s Scary Farm. Elvira will perform two Fear-well performances each night of Knott’s Scary Farm.New For 2017For 2017 Knott’s Scary Farm will feature three truly new experiences for guests. Trick or Treat Lights Out, which was announced at Midsummer Scream, Pumpkin Eater, and Dark Ride.Dark RideIntroduced by Knott’s Scary Farm designer John Cooke, Dark Ride is Knott’s Scary Farm’s newest maze that will lead visitors into the bowels of a long neglected 1970’s style Castle of Chaos dark ride where creepy carnies still lurk in the shadows. Though it’s made to look like an old abandoned dark ride, the maze will feature advanced show control technology to help bring the maze’s monsters to life.Pumpkin EaterIntroduced by Knott’s Scary Farm designer Daniel Miller, Pumpkin Eater is an all new maze that brings a twist to the classic nursery rhyme Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater. Inspired by the murderous nursery rhyme, guests will be taken back to colonial times where they’ll face the terrifying world of a serial killer. In Pumpkin Eater guests will have to survive the wrath of a murderous seven-foot tall creature that haunts the woods surrounding The Hollow. To escape the Pumpin Eater’s wrath guests will face a cave of crawling insects, solve a labyrinth of thorns, and make their way through a living pumpkin.Trick or Treat Lights OutAs mentioned previously, Trick or Treat Lights Out was originally announced at this year’s Midsummer Scream. While not technically new, Trick or Treat has been completely revamped for 2017 with an all new experience which is likely why it made the “new list.” Returning darker and more twisted than ever, Trick or Treat Lights Out sends guests in the Green Witch’s home armed with a flashlight that will be controlled by Knott’s, which means when you need to see your flashlight will get you where you need to go. Need to reveal a hidden message? The color of your beam may change to uncover it. Need things to get a little scarier, your light just might go out completely.Knott’s Scary Farm 2017 starts on September 21 and runs on select dates through October 31. Tickets to the event are on sale now. If you missed this special presentation, it was live streamed on Facebook and the recording can be watched here.
