Get the Behind-the-Scenes Scoop on So Cal’s Knott’s Scary Farm Haunt

The haunting season is officially upon us, and with it comes plenty of ways to get your scare on, like the epic haunts at Southern California’s iconic theme park, Knott’s Berry Farm. Each year the park transforms into a Halloween haven, complete with nightmare mazes, scare zones and roller coasters redesigned just for the spooky season. As the park celebrates its 50^th year of Knott’s Scary Farm, it’s time to get to know the creative minds behind the park’s epic transformations.

The team works all year long dreaming up and designing the mazes, scares and decorations to be incorporated into each reinvention of Knott’s Scary Farm. Scenic designer Daniel Miller is one of many talented individuals contributing to the process. Miller’s aspirations began as a teenager when he started visiting Knott’s Scary Farm each year.

As a trained professional and lifelong devotee of his craft, he finds inspiration from obvious sources like nightmares, video games and urban legends, but also from the most unlikely of places like the dentist office. On one such trip his imagination dreamed up a nightmare character, Tooth Fairy, as his mind brought a supernatural being to life. While he credits his training as a graphic designer for a lot of his skill, he cites a vivid imagination as the most important thing to possess if you want to become a scene designer.

Tyler Scrivener, another of the park’s talented scene designers, creates scary scenes he would want to experience if he were visiting the park as a guest. Like Miller, his career is based on a lifelong interest in Halloween haunts and scares.

Scrivener works to create unique haunts no one has seen before, ensuring Knott’s delivers a one-of-a-kind experience each year. He encourages guests who are visiting the park during the Scary Farm season to focus on the seasonal attractions rather than the park’s regular rides, which can be enjoyed at any time of year. This will give you plenty of time to take in each of the carefully constructed details hidden around every corner of the park.

Timothy “Gus” Krueger, a scenic designer who began his Knott’s Scary Farm career as a scare actor more than 20 years ago finds his inspiration from all aspects of life. His advice to park guests is to visit the park on a weekday or a Sunday and to arrive early before the lines for the haunts get too long. He also adds this great tip: “Most important of all, keep your eyes on a swivel for the creatures that lurk in the dark.”

Knott’s Scary Farm will run daily through Halloween. Check here for discounted tickets that will make it easier to visit more than once so you won’t miss any of the park’s 19 haunted attractions, including 10 different mazes, five scare zones and four Halloween-themed shows.