Feature image credit: Southern California Haunt List (VanOaks Cemetery)
No matter how you slice it, Los Angeles is a city that loves Halloween. Maybe it’s the series of interconnected neighborhoods, each proffering their own communal take on the Halloween spirit. Or perhaps it’s the industry insiders concocting some of the most creative amateur haunted walk-throughs you’ll ever see. Every year, this city serves up some of the best Halloween yard displays in the country and, by default, the world. After all, no other country seems to connect with Halloween quite like the U.S. But with all of the impressive and immersive Halloween experiences popping up all over the area, how do you find the best Halloween yard displays in your neighborhood?
The Southern California Haunt List
Fortunately, a mysterious group has been coming together since 2013 to annually compile the Southern California Haunt List. The full comprehensive list is available directly through their website complete with last minute additions and changes.
However, they also distribute hard copies with a sampling of the best haunts. We grabbed one for ourselves after finding them on display outside of the ominous wooden structure that will soon be this year’s Rotten Apple 907 haunted walk-through.
Not only does the Southern California Haunt List alert residents to the best Halloween yard displays and haunted walk-throughs, but also themed performances and ticketed attractions. We recommend checking their interactive map for haunts in your area. Now, let’s take a glance at some all-time favorites.
Rotten Apple 907
Rotten Apple 907 began decades ago as a child’s birthday party before evolving into one of the most creative home haunted attractions in Southern California. You could even count it among the best Halloween yard displays even though it’s technically a walk-through. That’s because the Rotten Apple gang actually transform their front yard into an immersive structure with a new theme every October.
At Rotten Apple, you could get sucked into the Bermuda Triangle and terrorized by waterlogged zombies and monstrous glowing jellyfish. Or you could find yourself stalked by Jack the Ripper in the cobblestone streets of Victorian London. You might even get ambushed by living toys and an anthropomorphic cuckoo clock.
Every year is something different. This year promises a creeping jungle theme, ominously titled “Ssssss” with preview art hinting at a giant cobra. It’s this kind of diversity and attention to detail that marks Rotten Apple 907 as our top pick. Get the full details for Rotten Apple 907 below in the San Fernando Valley walk-throughs section of our best Halloween yard displays roundup.
Holiday Fantasies Come to Life
A lot of worlds collide at Holiday Fantasies Come to Life, making it among the strangest of the best Halloween yard displays in the Burbank area. But it’s deeply impressive in its oddity. That’s because this family transforms their home into a towering medieval castle every year.
And all across its front lawn, you’ll find Disney characters mingling with zombies. Or animatronic garden gnomes decorating their tree sanctuary for the spookiest of holidays. You might even find a coven of witches spinning classic rock in debaucherous revelry. Amidst this all, the family often joins in on the fun, carrying out elaborately costumed performances.
It’s a lot of flavors all at once, but somehow it works. Rumor has it that they’re strongly leaning into a Wizard of Oz theme this year. But count on it to be weirder than you’re expecting! Find your way to Holiday Fantasies Come to Life by consulting our San Fernando Valley best Halloween yard displays list at the bottom of this blog!
Circus of Nightmares
Coulrophobia is defined as an “extreme or irrational fear of clowns.” Well, after visiting Circus of Nightmares, we can safely say a fear of clowns will no longer be considered “irrational.” This carnival of carnage earns its spot on the best Halloween yard displays for the sheer passion of its performers. Oh, and it also features a looming demonic clown that’s nearly two stories tall.
On weekends, Circus of Nightmares ups the ante with the family, including the kids, getting into the spirit with costumed mayhem. Psychotic animatronics mix with live performers for a truly unhinged experience.
There’s typically not an overwhelming crowd outside of Circus of Nightmares so you should have no trouble getting some prime sidewalk real estate. Find the full details for Circus of Nightmares in the San Fernando Valley section of the best Halloween yard displays roundup at the end of the blog!
R.I.P. Boney Island
Over the years, we’ve seen some of the best Halloween yard displays and walkthroughs close up shop. Just this year, Boney Island announced they were pulling up their drawbridge indefinitely. For those who missed out, Boney Island was an intricate yard haunt that featured animatronic skeletons engaged in outlandish magic tricks.
Every year, former The Simpsons producer Rick Polizzi would give the yard of his Sherman Oaks home over to the spirits and Boney Island would come to life. Or unlife. The finale to the carousel of whimsical scenes was a waltzing water (or green slime) show set to musical cues.
Over the decades, Boney Island became too popular for Polizzi’s neighbors to bear. After an exhaustive search, Boney Island moved to Griffith Park for a year as a ticketed event. But what seemed like the rise of Boney Island was actually its conclusion. Griffith Park didn’t quite work out, then the pandemic happened.
After some uncertainty, Boney Island officially announced its permanent closure this year in a September 19th Facebook post. While Boney Island will be sorely missed, we at least have a wealth of Halloween yard displays in LA to comfort us through the loss.
The Best Halloween Yard Displays and Walk-Throughs in the Greater LA Area
To give you a taste of Halloween in Los Angeles, we’re including some of our favorites below from neighborhoods that our agents frequently service. According to the Southern California Haunt List, each of the yard displays and walk-throughs listed below are good for all ages.
The Best Halloween Yard Displays in the San Fernando Valley Area
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Circus of Nightmares
113 S. Brighton St, Burbank
October 19 – 31
7 – 10pm
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Enfield Cemetery
6455 Enfield Ave, Reseda
October 14 – 31
7 – 10pm
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The Haunt with No Name… Yet
19351 Hatteras St, Tarzana
October 28 – 31
6:30 – 10pm (6:30 – 11pm Fri/Sat)
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Holiday Fantasies Come to Life
1505 N. Valley St, Burbank
October 10 – November 3
6 – 11pm
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Lost Souls Orphanage
23631 Kiruna Pl, West Hills
October 1 – 31
6 – 11pm
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Rock-n-Roll Will Never Die
4428 Mariota Ave, Toluca Lake
October 15, 22, 29, 31
7 – 10:00pm
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VanOaks Cemetery
5822 Norwich Ave, Sherman Oaks
October 16 – 31
7 – 10:30pm
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The Best Haunted Walk-Throughs in the San Fernando Valley Area
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The Haunt at Hellizondo
21024 Arminta St, Canoga Park
October 29 – 31
7 – 10pm
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Rotten Apple 907
907 N. California St, Burbank
October 22 – 23, 29 – 31
7 – 10pm
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The Best Halloween Yard Displays in the Simi Valley Area
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Curse of Chelsea Court
812 Chelsea Ct, Simi Valley
October 10 – 31
7 – 11pm
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Fox Hole Haunt
2420 Pinewood Pl, Simi Valley
October 31
5:30 – 10:30pm
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A Haunting on Hill Canyon
3401 Hill Canyon Ave, Thousand Oaks
October 27 – November 1
6 – 10pm
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Hermes St. CarnEvil
264 Hermes St, Simi Valley
October 1 – 31
6 – 10pm
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Moreno Manor
830 Moreno Dr, Ojai
October 28, 29, 31
7 – 10pm
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Mourning Rose Manor
5250 Aurelia St, Simi Valley
October 15 – November 1
6 – 10pm
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Pumpkin Hallow Cemetery
2726 Currier Ave, Simi Valley
October 1 – 31
7 – 10pm
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The Best Haunted Walk-Throughs in the Simi Valley Area
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CarnageLand
1414 Suffolk Ave, Thousand Oaks
October 31
6 – 9pm
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The Best Halloween Yard Displays in the Santa Clarita Area
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Dead End Haunt
44037 Date Ave, Lancaster
October 1 – November 1
7 – 10pm
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Kreep de Ville Cemetery
20782 Powhatan Rd, Apple Valley
October 9 – 31
Sun – Thurs: 7 – 9:30pm
Fri/Sat: 7 – 10pm
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Pumpkin Hallow
22702 Pear Ct, Santa Clarita
October 15 – 31
7 – 10pm
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Sombras Cemetery
26041 Sombras Ct, Santa Clarita
October 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 – 31
7 – 10pm
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The Best Haunted Walk-Throughs in the Santa Clarita Area
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Burroughs Place Cemetery
25727 Burroughs Pl, Stevenson Ranch
October 7 – 31
7 – 10pm
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Coffinwood Cemetery
27159 Waterford Dr, Santa Clarita
October 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29, 31
7 – 10pm
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Common Ground Cemetery
42235 Brittle Bush Dr, Lancaster
October 31
7 – 10pm
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Windy Hills Haunt
6650 Lime Rd, Lancaster
October 31
6 – 10pm
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Wildwood’s Haunted Farmhouse
24133 Cross St, Santa Clarita
October 21, 22, 29, 31
7 – 10pm
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The Best Halloween Yard Displays in the Los Angeles Area
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The Curse of the Raven
4682 S Stanton Ave, La Mirada
October 21 – 31
7 – 10pm
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The Ghoulie Graveyard
14722 Fonthill Ave, Hawthorne
October 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 – 31
7 – 10pm
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Necromancy Nightmare
2617 W Grand Ave, Alhambra
October 1 – 2, 6 – 9, 13 – 16, 20 – 23, 27 – 31
7 – 11pm
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Nightmare on Hopland St
12038 Hopland St, Norwalk
October 1 – 31
7 – 10pm
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Scare House on Quill
7503 Quill Dr, Downey
October 5 – 31
Sun – Thurs: 7 – 10pm
Fri/Sat: 7pm – 12am
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White Witch Cemetery
1246 E Palm St, Altadena
October 1 – 31
6 – 10pm
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The Best Haunted Walk-Throughs in the Los Angeles Area
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Fairbrook Manor
5426 E Fairbrook St, Long Beach
October 21 – 23, 28 – 30
7 – 10pm
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Ghostwood Manor: Pharaoh’s Hall
2001 N. Raymonde Ave, Pasadena
October 14 – 16, 21 – 23, 28 – 31
7 – 10pm
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The Pickerton Legend
4583 W. 141st St, Hawthorne
October 14 – 16, 21 – 23, 27 – 31
6 – 9pm
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