Six Flags Fright Fest 2025 (Magic Mountain)

[Wesker69]

To me it sounds like SFMM is bowing out of the IP game, realizing they’re not HHN.

They've done IPs here/there in the past, so it's not something "new" to them. Last year was clearly a cooperate thing since it wasn't just Magic Mountain that had multiple IPs for the event. As I said, they've had IPs in the past.

They still currently have SAW, so we'll just need to "wait & see" if other permits pop up.

 

[Viator]

Gonna set off an alarm bell.

Trick 'r Treat has been completely gutted, the Hawkins School Facade seems to be in the process of becoming dethemed, and the Saw facade is now behind workwalls. It seems that a majority of the IP's at Six Flags Magic Mountain's Fright Fest are seemingly on their way out.

 

[Freak]

Gonna set off an alarm bell.

Trick 'r Treat has been completely gutted, the Hawkins School Facade seems to be in the process of becoming dethemed, and the Saw facade is now behind workwalls. It seems that a majority of the IP's at Six Flags Magic Mountain's Fright Fest are seemingly on their way out.

Eh….glad I got to see them when I did. Not a big loss IMO.

 

[Jerroddragon]

Saw was the only one I really loved

Trick or treat was fun and liked part of it but I understand

Stranger things the bush people were the only real scare in the house the rest was almost funny in how bare it was

So sucks to hear for Saw but hopefully things get better....but my god start soon because it would be insane to once again not to have everything open day one again

 

[Wishmaster]

Gonna set off an alarm bell.

Trick 'r Treat has been completely gutted, the Hawkins School Facade seems to be in the process of becoming dethemed, and the Saw facade is now behind workwalls. It seems that a majority of the IP's at Six Flags Magic Mountain's Fright Fest are seemingly on their way out.

This isn’t a big deal to me. They went into the IP business and it didn’t work. Until they have proper leadership, this event will remain low tier. Go all original this year and execute better.

 

[Jerroddragon]

This isn’t a big deal to me. They went into the IP business and it didn’t work. Until they have proper leadership, this event will remain low tier. Go all original this year and execute better.

I will say, I hope we get to the point where half the houses can be IPs

Like USH only gets 6ish houses at year that can be IPS outside of newer films....so I for sure want the Conjuring, Trick or Treat, Saw and what not to have homes other places and since knotts isn't too interested in IPs, I hope six flags can work its way to them again

 

[Rideguy70]

Gonna set off an alarm bell.

Trick 'r Treat has been completely gutted, the Hawkins School Facade seems to be in the process of becoming dethemed, and the Saw facade is now behind workwalls. It seems that a majority of the IP's at Six Flags Magic Mountain's Fright Fest are seemingly on their way out.

I concur on the first two (I don't know for sure about Trick 'r Treat, but many have noticed ST had all the signs removed), but I was in the park yesterday, and the Saw facade was still looking the same without any work walls around it. Is there a pic?

 

[Jerroddragon]

I concur on the first two (I don't know for sure about Trick 'r Treat, but many have noticed ST had all the signs removed), but I was in the park yesterday, and the Saw facade was still looking the same without any work walls around it. Is there a pic?

I went yesterday and yes a fence is up around Saw

 

[saint.piss]

 

[Wishmaster]

This isn’t a surprise since they’re going with the all-originals route.

 

[Viator]

Considering Saw was openly labeled in permits as one of the houses for Fright Fest; the fact that it's getting yanked in particular feels like a big thing to consider.

Seems like something must've happened in May/Early June to spook SFCorp away from using external IP beyond what they *currently have* altogether. It might be important to keep an eye on other locations, to see how detheming process is occuring (if it has been already).

 

[queenmetroid]

*sigh*

Oh, my beloved teenage stomping grounds... You cannot win for losing.

I really hope this new all-original strategy works out for them. The biggest issue is they are too far out from everyone and they need a draw to get people to come in, and I'm guessing the ROI on IPs simply wasn't enough. For me, the drive to Magic Mountain is simply too hard to make in light of the quality of the event, and I'm guessing others who live even closer than I do have that exact same calculus.

 

[Jerroddragon]

If Batman comes to scary farm...I will laugh

Like we think IP will do well there but not here? lol

I hope it works out but I think its more about better designs, policies and changing the price

People act like we did not have original IP for the past 10 years...no one cared either

Sewers of Soul sign went down months ago as well so that might not be coming back

But I think they need to make the price better, have better entertainment and find ways to draw people in. I hope them saving money with no IPs help...but I think its really much more then that holding the event back

that being said....the second year of the DC hero's and Villains event was a hugeeee improvement so here is hoping

 

[Wishmaster]

Fright Fest is low tier and will continue to be that way. I agree that prices need to change and better scare acting. DC Dark Universe should be the IP that is utilized for the event.

 

[Rideguy70]

Sewer of Souls sign usually goes down during the off season, so that's not unusual or anything I'd necessarily read much into.

I do think there are quite a fair number of good scareactors at Fright Fest... but can't lie, it's also inconsistent. Still better than most people give it credit for, though.

And I actually don't think it's necessarily a bad thing to be a lower tier event. I have many non-haunt/theme park people that are intimidated by the larger haunts, but can be convinced to give Fright Fest a try.

 

[Jake S]

I do think there are quite a fair number of good scareactors at Fright Fest... but can't lie, it's also inconsistent. Still better than most people give it credit for, though.

Yeah, I actually think the talent of the performers is quite good. They're just not given the same resources as the performers at Knott's or Universal. There are far fewer of them, they're not given boo-holes (or frankly anywhere to hide!) and that means they have to do a lot of acting work that, imo, is just about impossible to do well at this kind of event.

And I actually don't think it's necessarily a bad thing to be a lower tier event. I have many non-haunt/theme park people that are intimidated by the larger haunts, but can be convinced to give Fright Fest a try.

I agree with this. I think Magic Mountain would be better off scaling way back on their Fright Fest, focusing on just a few houses and emphasizing the "coasters at night" + food and drink stands. Don't charge extra for it. Get the event on its feet and then gradually expand like Horror Nights did when it rebooted.

I doubt corporate has the stomach for something like that, but I do think it would give Fright Fest a fighting chance against more established players.

 

[Jerroddragon]

I would be down of the event was just included and scaled back a bit...you can still sell VIP passes to cut the line

But if we are going to keep charging if they want to see results then you need to plush the entertainment like the DC event for sure got some love so make sure we have some shows again make it feel premium

I'll also be interested to see how they do it this year like will they try to make it a hard ticket event again or let people in and you just pay extra for the fear pass and now that they are with Knotts will they try to limit the Fear Pass sales?

 

[AriGoldenstein]

I went to this event last year, I was kind of shocked at the House line up Six Flags had. In a lot of ways the IPs were stronger choices than Universal. However actually going thru it, I thought the IP houses were not as well done as their original houses. The quality on those original houses came right behind some of the houses at Universal and Knotts. The IP ones kind of fell short.

 

[Jerroddragon]

I went to this event last year, I was kind of shocked at the House line up Six Flags had. In a lot of ways the IPs were stronger choices than Universal. However actually going thru it, I thought the IP houses were not as well done as their original houses. The quality on those original houses came right behind some of the houses at Universal and Knotts. The IP ones kind of fell short.

It was hit or miss for me

Saw and Conjuring were great.....while strangers things was kinda funny

But also the other houses have been around for 6-10 years...so I don't care what they do IPS or not but the houses need to change or be updated much more as well if they want more people

Knotts gets away with it but the houses many times are like much better then what FF has

 

[AriGoldenstein]

It was hit or miss for me

Saw and Conjuring were great.....while strangers things was kinda funny

But also the other houses have been around for 6-10 years...so I don't care what they do IPS or not but the houses need to change or be updated much more as well if they want more people

Knotts gets away with it but the houses many times are like much better then what FF has

I had no idea that those have been there for a while. I thought they were all new. Knowing that, I totally agree. I don't think I would go back and pay the ticket prices to see the same thing I saw last year.