Turn Out The Lights And Bury The Remains

The 2013 edition of the Monrovia Canyon Park goes into the history books.  Despite the 5 year break since the last event, this was one of the best so far.  Hopefully we'll be back next year so we'll be busy brainstorming where we can improve and how we can top this year.

We hope you had a great time (it sure sounded like you did!).  The more fun you have, the more fun we have.  Thank you to everyone that bought a ticket and took the time to join us.  We really do appreciate it.

Thanks also to the park staff and all the volunteers that worked together to make this event happen.  This clearly wouldn't happen at all without you.  You outdid yourselves this year with your initiative, ideas and commitment.  So very effective.  Thank you again.

Flying In For One More Night

If you're one of the lucky ones to have a ticket, looking forward to scaring you!

Be prepared, I think we're setting a new record for screams this year.

Night One A Huge Success!

"Better Than Knott's"*  That's seems to be the quote and consensus of the night.

Lots of screams, Great groups of enthusiastic guests. Fantastic job by the actors and everyone working the hikes at Canyon Park, Library Park and driving the buses.  It all adds up to a very successful evening of scary fun!  Thank you!!!

Sorry, Knott's.  For three nights, you'll just have to settle for being number two.


*To be completely accurate, we also heard:  "Better than Queen Mary" (Dark Harbor) and "better than Universal".

I Felt Like I Was Being Watched

Click the photo for a larger image.

It Begins...

Tonight's the night.  The first of three scream and scare filled nights of Haunted Hikes.

Here's the scoop on the ticket situation as of yesterday:

-Saturday night is sold out.
-Friday night is extremely close to a sellout.
-Thursday night (tonight) still has a few tickets left.  Ticket buying has picked up dramatically in the last couple of days.  If you want to go, don't wait!

Tickets are NOT sold at Canyon Park.  Access to Canyon Park this evening is by Ghost Bus for those with a ticket ONLY.  There will be no vehicle or pedestrian access for the event.

Tickets:

Monrovia Community Services
119 W. Palm Avenue
Monrovia, CA  91016
Haunt Line: (626) 256-8246

Tips For Enjoying The Monrovia Canyon Park Haunted Hikes

Here are a few tips for getting the most out of the Haunted Hikes:

1) Don't be late to the pickup spot at Library Park.  The hikes are every 15 minutes and the buses are on a tight schedule to get everyone to the park and back.  The buses will leave and the hikes will go on - with or without you.

2) No flash photography.  You know, just like Disneyland.  Not because we're trying to stop photos from being taken, but because the bright flash will ruin the experience for everyone.  A photo with flash won't look good and will temporarily blind everyone around you.  Not fun when everything grinds to a halt waiting for our vision to return.  I don't have the official word on this but I would think that as long as you don't cause delays on the hike, handheld non-flash photography shouldn't be a problem.  Common sense here, don't be disruptive.

3) No touching the actors / workers / props on the hikes.  Seriously, the people working are mainly volunteers just trying to provide a fun evening for our guests.  Choosing this time to try and establish yourself as a dumbass will not be appreciated.  The hike will stop and you will be escorted to a police officer.  Oh, and no refunds.

4) Try to use the restroom before your hike starts.  No details needed on this one.

5) Stay together with your group.  The hikes will have both a hike leader and a hike sweep at the back to help with this.  You won't get lost (probably) but the way the hike is set up will be much more effective if the group doesn't get too spread out.

6) Go ahead and scream and laugh and keep a tight grip on your friends / loved ones.  That's what it's all about.  Screams carry very well in the canyon and that makes it a lot more fun.  You make the group that hasn't started yet very nervous.

Have fun and hope to scare you there!

Waiting...Patiently Waiting...

Just 2 more days.

Your Time Is Running Out

To buy your Haunted Hike tickets, that is!

Haunted Hike week begins.  The hikes start this Thursday evening.  Remember, tickets are presale ONLY!
Tickets, if any remain, will not be available at the the event.  Get your tickets at Monrovia Community Services now.  They'll be open through Thursday from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm and until 5:00 pm on Friday.

Community Services
119 W. Palm Avenue
Monrovia, CA 91016
Phone: (626) 256-8246

No tickets will be available at the event and no vehicles will be allowed into Canyon Park during the event. The ghost bus will take ticket holders from Library Park up to the event and back.  It is the only vehicle able to pass through the front gate.

Monrovia Canyon Park Haunted Hike Banner Over Myrtle Avenue Near Huntington Drive

Back by popular demand.  Don't miss out!
There's nothing worse than hearing how great something was after the fact.

Haunted Hikes To Benefit Canyon Park

This is a change from all previous years.  In the past, the hikes have always been designed to break even.  That worked very well.  With sellouts (or near sellout in 2007), we were able to accomplish that goal.

This year, the hope is to make at least a little bit of a profit.  It won't be easy.  With the limited number of tickets available and the added expense of the Ghost Bus to shuttle guests from Library Park to the hikes and back, we need your help.

The important thing to know is that any profit generated by this event stays in, and benefits, Monrovia Canyon Park.  According to the city:

ALL PROCEEDS FOR THE HAUNTED HIKE GO TO SUPPORT CANYON PARK PROGRAMS, EVENTS, VOLUNTEERS, AND ENHANCEMENT PROJECTS.  THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Like everywhere else, money is tight these days.  We now have a chance to bring back a very popular event from the past but also raise some much needed money for the park.  Again, we need your support.

This event was envisioned as a local alternative to the big events at Knott's or Universal.  As a way to bring the community together.  Whether getting involved in putting the event on or as a guest, there were many opportunities to get involved in a fun and creative way as a community.  Now we can add a much needed monetary benefit to the park.

Please, if you've been on the fence, get some tickets.  Bring your friends.  Bring your hard working employees.  Halloween has become one of the most popular times of the year.  Make an evening of it.  Have dinner in town before or after joining us on a hike.  Maybe some ice cream or frozen yogurt.  Or hot chocolate.

I like to joke that our entire budget for the Haunted Hikes is about 10 minutes of parking lot income at Knott's.  That's not far off.  The park and local volunteers, along with park staff, put in a lot of time and effort to make this a success, but even more important, an enjoyable event.  We look forward to seeing you on (at least) one of the hikes.

Thank you.

Hurry! Monrovia Canyon Park Haunted Hike Tickets Are Selling Fast!

The hikes are getting closer.
The days are getting shorter.
When the sun goes down, who knows what might be waiting for you in the shadows around the bend.

Don't miss out.  Get your tickets before it's too late!

Tickets available at:

Monrovia Community Services
119 W. Palm Avenue
Monrovia, CA  91016
Hours: Monday thru Thursday: 8am to 9 pm.  Friday: 8 am to 5 pm.
Phone: (626) 256-8246

Tickets are $20 (buy 5 and get a 20% discount)

Haunted Hike Tickets On Sale To The General Public Today!

Halloween month begins today and so do Haunted Hike ticket sales for everyone!
That's right, you no longer need to be a Monrovia resident to buy tickets!

Tickets are only available at:

Monrovia Community Services
119 W. Palm Avenue
Monrovia, CA  91016
(Across the street on the north side from the Public Library)

Community Services Hours:
Monday thru Thursday: 8:00 am to 9:00 pm.
Friday: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Unfortunately, Community Services cancelled the online ticket sales option at the last minute making it tough for some to buy tickets.  If that's the case for you, I would recommend calling the Haunt Line directly at (626) 256-8246 to see if they have any suggestions.