During Saturday’s Knott’s Scary Farm panel at Midsummer Scream, park organizers announced that two iconic mazes—Origins: The Curse of Calico and The Chilling Chambers—will take their final bow during the upcoming 2026 season..
Origins: The Curse of Calico
Debuting in 2019, Origins holds the crown as the longest-running active maze at Scary Farm. Deeply rooted in haunt lore, the attraction builds on the legendary history of Ghost Town and the witch hangings performed at Knott’s Scary Farm in the 1980s.
“The witch was paraded up to the gallows, and as they were placing the noose around her neck, she was proclaiming her innocence to everybody,” explained designer Jon Cooke during the maze’s initial announcement. “But right before they pulled that lever, she spit out this vile curse over the townsfolk of Calico, and poof—she was gone. And that is where our maze is going to begin.”
Guests stepping into the maze experience that fallout firsthand: witnessing Sarah Marshall’s trial before watching her dark magic consume the townsfolk of Calico.
The Chilling Chambers
Another love letter to haunt history, The Chilling Chambers debuted in 2023 for Knott’s Scary Farm’s 50th anniversary. Taking inspiration from the original “10 Chilling Chambers” walk-through which debuted in 1977, the maze guides guests through a foreboding cathedral packed with classic themes and deep-cut Easter eggs for longtime fans.
While both mazes return for 2026, they will permanently vanish into the fog at the end of the season.
What’s New for 2026?
Knott’s kept further details under wraps, saving the biggest maze reveals for their annual “Nightmares Revealed” event on Aug. 18. However, they did confirm one major overhaul: the popular CarnEvil scare zone is being reimagined for 2026, incorporating elements from last year’s retired Mesmer maze. Professor Mesmer himself will return as a featured character alongside a fresh cast of sinister performers.
