Texas Haunts – Haunted House And Halloween News and Reviews

Screams Opens October 4!

02.09.2024 (8:07 pm) – Filed under: Screams

Screams Halloween Theme Park will open on October 4th, and will be open Fridays and Saturdays through November 2. Hours are 7pm-1am.

Screams features five main haunted attractions, plus two walk through attractions, a monster museum, multiple pubs (including a full bar at Full Moon Tavern), a food court, live entertainment, Scary-Oke, games of skill, and Halloween related merchants.

2024 Screams Dates

October 4th and 5th

October 11th and 12th

October 18th and 19th

October 25th and 26th

November 1st and 2nd

All nights are 7pm-1am. Arrive as early as possible. Screams is a big park with lots to do and see.

 

 

Final Weekend for Screams

15.10.2023 (4:58 pm) – Filed under: Screams

The final weekend of the season is approaching, so be sure to check out Screams Halloween Theme Park! Screams is truly a must see haunted attraction, and has something to appeal to everyone. The haunted houses at Screams are great, but if you are one of those people who becomes too frightened at haunted houses, you can eat, drink, and shop all night at Screams, while you take in the great Halloween atmosphere. Screams has a perfect 10 score from Texas Haunts.

Screams has five haunted attractions, two walk through attractions, a large food court, six pubs and taverns, plus 13th Hour Bakery! A wonderful acrobatic/aerialist group called Hell Dolls performs on the Screams main stage. A wide variety of Halloween themed merchants can be found around the park this season. There are also games of skill close to the food court.

Remember that Screams is open on Fridays and Saturdays only, from 7pm-1am.

Site here

Tickets here

Facebook here

Instagram here

Twitter here

Screams FAQs here

Phone (972) 938-3247

Location: Screams is on FM 66, 1.6 miles east of I-35, in Waxahachie. The address is 2511 FM 66 Waxahachie TX, 75167. Screams is about 30 minutes south of downtown Dallas and downtown Ft Worth. Screams is just off of I-35, on the Scarborough Faire grounds. Directions to Screams are here.

Check out our review of Screams here,

Screams Halloween Theme Park Review

02.10.2023 (11:15 pm) – Filed under: Screams

Screams Halloween Theme Park 2023

Score 10 out of 10

Site here

Tickets here

Facebook here

Instagram here

Twitter here

Screams FAQs here

Phone (972) 938-3247

Location: Screams is on FM 66, 1.6 miles east of I-35, in Waxahachie. The address is 2511 FM 66 Waxahachie TX, 75167. Screams is about 30 minutes south of downtown Dallas and downtown Ft Worth. Screams is just off of I-35, on the Scarborough Faire grounds. Directions to Screams are here.

Screams has five haunted attractions this year: Terra Mythica Castle, Bootlegger’s Bayou, Klownz in 3D, Zombie Wasteland Apocalypse Trail, and the Times Up Maze. In addition to the haunted houses, Screams has two additional walk through attractions, Cool Ghoul Boolevard, and Rottingwood Cemetery. Hell Dolls provide entertainment on the main stage. Merchant’s Row has Scary-Oke. You can go through the haunted houses and walk through attractions as many times as you want. Fast passes are available online and cut the wait time in line for haunted attractions significantly on crowded nights. Fast passes can be purchased here. Parking is free.

The walk through time is 10-15 minutes per main attraction, except for the maze, which can take over 20 minutes. The combined total walk through time for all five main attractions is over an hour.

Hell Dolls is a 30 minute show made up of acrobatics, fire swallowing, and fire twirling. The Hell Dolls are made up of three stage performers, and much of the act involves synched routines with all three performers working with fire simultaneously. I’ve never seen anything like Hell Dolls and you currently have two chances to see them nightly, at 8 and 10. Check their schedule in front of the main stage early in the evening as it may vary later in the season. Their link tree is here.

Rottingwood Cemetery is a walk though attraction at the park entrance. It’s expanded this year and will usually have actors in the area. It’s well decorated and is a good way to begin the evening. It looks great once fog machines cover the area.

Cool Ghoul Boolevard is a walk through light show, with synched music. It’s very photogenic and looks good at either twilight or in the dark. Take a right at the park entrance and look for the lights just before Headless Horseman Tavern.

For the second year in a row, Screams has increased the number of actors roaming the park. There is a great deal of variety this year, with a vampire, grave digger, two clowns, two undead Victorians, a carnival MC, a ghoul, a boogeyman, and a couple of stilt walkers. The stilt walkers get the biggest reactions from crowds, but they all do a good job of entertaining guests and livening the mood.

There are 6 pubs and taverns at Screams this year. The pubs and taverns all accept credit cards.

Headless Horseman Tavern is a great place to drink and relax, with friendly bartenders Jamie and Kesha. Located between Klownz in 3D and 13th Hour Bakery, Horseman has covered seating overlooking a creek. Cool Ghoul Boolevard is next door to the tavern. You can find sangria, Ace Pear Cider, milk stout, Brut champagne, several types of beer, and a variety of wine at Headless Horseman. In addition to a creek view, this tavern has a great view of 13th Hour Bakery, shops, and the end of the long Screams graveyard.

Full Moon Bar no longer has food, but it still has a full bar, with plenty of covered seating, and eerie mood lighting. Full Moon is located at the far end of food court, between the pizza place and Morgue Tavern.

Morgue Tavern is between the west arch and the food court, and has sangria, plus a selection of beer.

Taboo Tavern is at the back of the food court, next to hot dog sales. Taboo has a variety of beer, hard cider, and wine. There is covered seating next to the tavern, with a nice view of Times Up Maze.

Spider Web Pub is now located next to 13th Hour Bakery and features four types of frozen drinks on tap, margaritas, blood orange ritas, lavender ritas, and hurricanes. Spider Web also has beer, and jello shots.

Bag of Bones is close to the entrance of Terra Mythica Castle and has beer, hard seltzer, blood orange ritas, and hard lemonade. Pretzels are available here.

Roaming vendors have jello shots in syringes.

The full list of all alcohol offered at Screams is below. Remember that not all of these will be offered at each pub.

Ace Pear Cider, Left Hand Milk Stout, Paulaner Oktoberfest, Ziegenbock, Bud Light, Michelob Ultra, Dallas Blonde, Estrella Jalisco, Bishop Crackberry Cider, Deep Ellum IPA, Pumpkin Cider, Spaten Oktoberfest, Mango Cart Cider, Neato Bandito, Budweiser, White Claw Black Cherry Hard Seltzer, and Karbach Cerveza Especial

Non-alcoholic beer offerings

Wines & Champagne: Brut Champagne, Alexander Valley Chardonnay, Cupcake Muscato, Ferrari Carano Fume Blanc, Rebellious Red, and more

Specialty Drink:  White Zinfandel-Peach Sangria

Jell-O Shots:   Cherry, Lemon Lime, Coconut Lime

Full Liquor Bar and Specialty Cocktails over Ice:  Hurricane Margarita, Blood Orange, Spiked Lemonade

Remember that last call for alcohol at Screams is 11:30!

The main food court at Screams has pizza, hot dogs, chili cheese dogs, corn dogs, turkey legs, sausage on a stick, BBQ sandwiches, nachos, fajitas, Frito pies, grilled cheese sandwiches, elote, Bubba’s bacon, plus a wide range of soft drinks and bottled water. Covered seating is available in front of, and behind the food court. The food court accepts credit cards.

Snow cones in several flavors are available next to Time’s Up Maze, behind the food court. Kettle corn is offered between the main stage and Zombie Wasteland. Both the Snow Cone and Kettle Corn vendors accept credit cards.

13th Hour Bakery, located across from Cool Ghoul Boolevard, offers great cookies, cakes, and pastries, Beef and Cheddar skulls, Buffalo Chicken Skulls, jalapeno cheddar bread, stuffed croissants, Terrormisu, pumpkin spice cake, and Zombie Fingers. Drinks available include hot tea, milk, hot coffee, cold brew coffee, hot chocolate, frozen chai, and iced green tea. Specialty drinks mixing cocoa or coffee with flavor shots are available. There are eight flavor shots to choose from, and you can have them added to any drink. 13th Hour now accepts credit cards.

Two snack shops with candy, soft drinks and water, are located close to the entrance and exit for Cool Ghoul Boolevard.

The Screams souvenir shop is located close to the park entrance, across from Rottingwood Cemetery. It has Screams t-shirts, hoodies, beanies, water bottles, bottle openers, wine and coffee tumblers, shot glasses, and more.

Shops at Screams are found on the row between Rottingwood Cemetery and Terra Mythica Castle, and close to Cool Ghoul Boolevard. A psychic with tarot and palm reading, a horror movie coaster shop (Creepy Coasters), Cowgirlz Candy, Serial Creations, Rugged History Beard Company, Chained Reaction jewelry, and Dead Dave Designs are located on the row of shops past Rottingwood Cemetery. The Cauldron Corner (witch and Halloween decor) is on the walk to the food court, across from Terra Mythica Castle. Next to Cool Ghoul Boolevard is Whimsical Way, with holistic products.

Games at Screams include Heads and Hoops, zombie paintball, mallet test of strength, and axe, knife, dart, and star throwing. Games are cash only

There are ATMs located through the park, though most places at Screams take credit cards. One is in the souvenir shop, another is located next to Taboo Tavern, and a third is next to Scary-oke, on the side of the building. Screams has flush toilets between Terra Mythica Castle and Scary-oke. Porta potties are located next to the entrance to Cool Ghoul Boolevard, at the entrance to Terra Mythica Castle, at the exit for Terra Mythica Castle, and by the exit for Cool Ghoul Boolevard.

 

Review

Terra Mythica Castle

Terra Mythica Castle is the largest of the attractions at Screams. It’s a realistic looking castle that is also an attraction at Scarborough. Terra Mythica is also by far the most photogenic attraction at Screams, so be sure to have your phone ready for pictures when you get into line.

Close to the entrance you will find suits of armor, the castle fireplace, and paintings of the family of the castle. Witches appear next. You can tell that witches figure prominently in the story of Terra Mythica, judging by the actors and props. Once you get by the witches, it’s on to the spider bridge, filled with cocoons. From there the path leads to a swampy forest, then down into the castle dungeon. The forest is perfectly lit and has eerie sounds. It’s also a great place for actors to hide. Props in the dungeon are elaborate. The dungeon goes on for quite a while. You get the impression that the people who owned the castle before the witches had lots of enemies to lock up. After the dungeon the path leads into the catacombs below the castle. I love the hallway to the catacombs with red lighting and deer heads on the walls. The catacombs are the creepiest part of Terra Mythica. You’ll find great detail in the walls in this area. Everything looks ancient and diabolical. As you near the close of Terra Mythica, you’ll encounter the three witches who took over the place. There is an interesting dragon animatronic after the catacombs, shortly before the open air finale of the haunt.

Terra Mythica has detailed decor and props. The orangish lighting  throughout the castle is ideal, with some red lighting mixed in. It really looks like an old decrepit castle that has been taken over by evil forces. Actors are in every part of the haunt. There are hiding places everywhere, so you never know when someone will appear. Actors at Screams all do a wonderful job, but actors in Terra Mythica have a lot to work with in terms of surroundings. It’s great to go through Terra Mythica on a slow night so that you can take your time and check out the detail along the corridors. If you attend Screams later in the season, try going through twice.

Bootlegger’s Bayou

Bootlegger’s Bayou is fun from beginning to end. The outside of the house looks the part, run down and creepy. Hosts interact well with the crowd, sizing people up for butchering (a cannibal family owns the house) while discussing the best way to marinade bodies. Upon entering, you meet Mama, the head of the family. Before Mama gets too far from her chair, you’re off to explore the dilapidated old house, but look out for family members hiding in the clothes ridden hallway after Mama’s room. If you think you aren’t too tidy, take a look at the kitchen and bathroom in this place. It must have taken a lot of work to make rooms look this foul. On the other hand, the dining room looks pretty good. People may be the main course, but it’s like something out of Cannibal Good Housekeeping. The bedroom is also the dollhouse, and has a peculiar odor to it. If dolls freak you out, this is a room to hurry through. Given the family diet, it’s no surprise that they have a slaughter room. Having to move between wrapped up bodies is a nice touch. Any good country cannibal house has a parlor, but the sewing room was unexpected. My favorite part of this place was the porch area. It’s very quiet in this part of the attraction, with cricket noises as the sound effect. If you expect a chainsaw at the end of haunted houses, you won’t be disappointed. I’m not a big fan of chainsaws, but this one is appropriate.

The actors in Bootlegger’s are completely in character. Perfect accents and attitude. They really know how to get after guests and keep them moving. They are also good at making you think they are props until the last second when they jump out at you.  One actor toward the end of the house stood out because, though she never said anything, she had way of staring at you that made you want to move away as fast as possible. Great timing from all of the actors in this house. I went through Bootleggers four times this weekend, and I will be back for more later.

Klownz in 3D

Klownz in 3D is longer this year. An additional outdoor area has been added to the end of the funhouse. There is a mostly new cast of actors working in Klownz, and their enthusiasm takes over the place. The placement of actors helps, with an actor around every corner, and in areas where guests are looking at animatronics and props. Clowns in the small maze with ribbons hanging from the ceiling mixed in very well with their surroundings. Having an actor at the end of the vortex tunnel, by the steps down, was almost a cheap shot, but it was fun. Overall, the actors in Klownz had as high an energy level as I’ve seen in a haunted attraction.

Klownz looks great, the neon paint has been updated and seems more vibrant this year. The clown props and artwork are great. The three headed clown creature that makes it seem like you’re looking into a mirror as it moves toward you was interesting, but the hallways top this attraction. One hallway has clown props moving back and forth, out of windows, with an actor hidden in the area. Another hallway shakes as you move through. I’ve always liked vortex tunnels, and having an actor and a spinning prop after the vortex tunnel was a good combo. A motion activated fogger toward the end of Klownz was a pleasant way to end the house. It’s easy to go through Klownz more than once since the actors are having a good time and the props and paint are fun to look at.

Zombie Wasteland Apocalypse

The Zombie Wasteland Apocalypse Trail is darker this year, literally. There is a new location for Zombie Wasteland in 2023. It’s switched places with the maze, and is now between Klownz in 3D and the main stage. This is a quieter part of Screams, and it works well for the overall atmosphere. You’re in an area that has been destroyed by zombies, so it’s fitting that you don’t hear noise from outside the trail. It seems that there are more actors in the trail this year, but it may be that the same actors are able to scare groups in multiple parts of the trail due to the trail’s new layout. Actors keep the pressure on, always jumping out when you’re distracted by something else. One thing about an attraction this dark is that there is no end of places for actors to hide.

Red lights give Zombie Wasteland great mood lighting. Fog and creepy sound effects are well used to add to the ambiance. Physically, the trail looks great, with burnt out vehicles and evidence of battle dotting the landscape. The setting has a rustic feel. Maybe this was a military base in the country? Barrels that may contain the source of the zombie outbreak cover one part of the trail. I liked the detail in what appears to be an overrun field hospital, and actors in this area were very energetic. The skeleton town toward the end of the trail is a nice touch. Zombie Wasteland Apocalypse is perfect for the cooler nights ahead.

Times Up Maze

Times Up Maze has been moved. It’s now behind the main food court and Taboo Tavern. I loved how foggy the area outside the trail was. The recurring theme of time is seen in clock graffiti through the maze. There are far more actors in Times Up than you will find in most mazes. They do a good job of hiding in the darker parts of the maze, especially at dead ends. Some actors roam the maze and give bad directions to the guests. The actor in the Yeti outfit stood out, for obvious reasons. It may take some time, but you will eventually find your way to the center of the maze, which is mostly fences that seem to run in circles. I tried looking for the exit along the edge of the maze, with no luck. I went into the maze twice, and gave up after 20 minutes, both times. The maze seems more difficult this year, but I think that the key is going to your right when you enter the maze, staying to the right, and going to the very back of the maze. That seems to be how people found their way out, without using the emergency exit.

 

General Info

The park opens at 7pm, and closes at 1am, but the ticket office closes at midnight. This is a massive park, so arrive as early as possible. I spent two nights reviewing Screams, to give you an idea of how much there is to do at this park. If you know that you will arrive after 9, you may want to consider buying a fast pass, especially if you want to go through the haunted attractions multiple times.

It helps to go through the haunted houses first, then eat and drink. I begin my night at Screams with Terra Mythica Castle first. This has the longest lines later at night, so see it early. When you enter the park, take a left past Rottingwood Cemetery, walk down Merchant’s Lane, and you will see the entrance to the Castle ahead. Once you exit the Castle, take a right, then another right and begin walking uphill, back to the shops. After a few yards you will see the entrance to Bootlegger’s Bayou on your right. This is lots of fun and also has long lines later in the evening. After Bootlegger’s, take a left, walk past the food court and games, and go into Time’s Up Maze. Once you are out of the Maze, walk past the food court, past the main stage, and look for the entrance to Zombie Apocalypse Wasteland. After Zombie Apocalypse, look for Klownz in 3D, which is close to the entrance to Zombie Apocalypse. After exiting Klownz, you will have seen all five major attractions and then it’s time to eat, drink and shop. On your way around the park you can walk through Cool Ghoul Boolevard and Rottingwood Cemetery.

Screams is on the Scarborough Faire grounds and is natural terrain, so remember to wear comfortable shoes, and don’t wear high heels. If the weather cools down, you may want to take along a light jacket, just in case. Wearing costumes, Halloween type masks, or face paint into Screams is not allowed.

 

Online Ticket prices are:

$42 General Admission for Friday ($45 at ticket office)

$52 general admission for Saturday ($55 at ticket office)

$30 for Friday fast pass ($33 at ticket office)

$40 for Saturday fast pass ($43 at ticket office)

$40 group tickets for Friday, $50 for Saturday. Parties of 15 or more to qualify. Online only.

$165 season pass. Available online only.

Buy tickets here

Ticket prices do not include taxes and fees.

Parking is free, courtesy of Legacy Chevrolet/GMC Waxahachie.

 

Summary

Screams is the only real haunted theme park in North Texas and is the best value around. At other haunted attractions, you drive to the haunt, wait in line, and spend 10-35 minutes inside. Then you leave. Some of the haunted houses in DFW are good, but Screams is the only place where you can go through each attraction as many times as you want, eat, drink, and shop. It is easy to arrive at 7 and stay until 1. I was at Screams this Friday and Saturday, arrived at 7 both nights, and left around 1 each time.  Another unique feature is that there is something for everyone at Screams. Even if you aren’t into haunted houses, you can have a great time in the park. You can fill your evening by having dinner, trying the various pubs and taverns, seeing Hell Dolls, shopping, playing games, and going through the walk through attractions.

Screams looks great in 2023, with a park redesign, new food and drink, and a great cast of actors. They went all out in preparation for this season, in record breaking heat, and their effort shows in the attention to detail in the houses, trails, and in the park grounds. Be sure to see Screams at least once this season, and remember, arrive early, and stay late!

I just checked the weather for this coming weekend, and it’s looks perfect for Screams. 82 as a high on Friday, with a low of 56, 72 as a high on Saturday and low of 52. There will be a nice Fall chill in the air on Saturday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Screams Halloween Theme Park Opens This Weekend!

24.09.2023 (9:18 pm) – Filed under: Screams

Screams Halloween Theme Park begins it’s 2023 season on Friday, September 29, and will be open Fridays and Saturdays through October 28, from 7pm-1am. Tickets and fast passes are available online now, and will be available at the ticket booth on event nights. The ticket booth closes at midnight. For the first time, Screams is offering a season pass. Season passes are available online only. Discount tickets are on sale now online, and discount coupons are available at Legacy Chevrolet-GMC in Waxahachie starting September 15. Parking is free, courtesy of Legacy Chevrolet-GMC. Buy tickets here.

Screams features five main haunted attractions, with two additional walk through haunted attractions, nightly stage entertainment from Hell Dolls, Scary-oke, 5 pubs, a large food court, the Full Moon Bar, 13th Hour Bakery, games of skill, plus a wide variety of Halloween related merchants. The price of admission gets you into all haunted attractions, as many times as you want. Fast passes are available, and are advisable on Saturdays, as well as Fridays later in the season.

The main haunted attractions at Screams are: Terra Mythica Castle, Bootlegger’s Bayou, Zombie Wasteland Apocalypse, Klownz in 3D, and the Time’s Up Maze. Two additional walk through haunted attractions are Rottingwood Cemetery and Cool Ghoul Boulevard.

Screams has four ATMs onsite. Most places offering food and drink take credit cards, but not all of them.

It’s best to arrive as early as possible at Screams. Be there about 15-20 minutes before the park opens (6:40-6:45) if possible. Screams is open for six hours, but time flies when you are having fun. You can easily spend an entire evening at Screams and not do the same thing twice. You can find everything here, haunted houses, eating, drinking, shopping, nightly shows on the main stage, plus games of skill. If you are only going to go to one haunted attraction in the DFW area, I recommend Screams because it is so all inclusive. Another great thing is that the ticket price gets you into all of the haunted attractions as many times as you want. Basically, you get into a total of seven attractions for the price of one.

 

General info:

 

Screams is on the Scarborough Faire grounds and is natural terrain, so remember to wear comfortable shoes, and don’t wear high heels. If the weather cools down, you may want to take along a light jacket, just in case. Wearing costumes, Halloween type masks, or face paint into Screams is not allowed.

Site here

Facebook here

Phone (972) 938-3247

Location: Screams is on FM 66, 1.6 miles east of I-35, in Waxahachie. The address is 2511 FM 66 Waxahachie TX, 75167. Screams is about 30 minutes south of downtown Dallas and downtown Ft Worth. Directions to Screams are here.

 

Press release from Screams:

The Time is Here…

Screams® 2023 Opens This Friday!

Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (September 25, 2023):  The time for the 27th season of Screams® Halloween Theme Park is here! Screams® 2023 opens this Friday, September 29th and will run every Friday and Saturday night through Saturday, October 28th. Screams® Halloween Theme Park is the ultimate Halloween experience in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex with 5 Haunted Houses and a Whole Lot More including walk-through attractions, exciting live stage entertainment, Scary-Oke, shops, food, pubs, and games of skill for an entire night of Halloween fun!

At Screams® 2023, visitors will discover all new twists and turns along with terrifying characters and new sights and sounds in all of the 5 haunted houses. There are new locations for the Times Up Maze, the Zombie Wasteland Apocalypse, the Cool Ghoul Boolevard, and the Spider’s Web Pub. Screams® is also introducing a season pass for those who want to return to Screams® every night of the 2023 season for the best Halloween fun in D/FW.

Screams® is sure to find what makes you scream with the different experiences offered at each of the 5 haunted houses: witches and evil spells throughout a medieval castle; a post-apocalyptic world of zombies and the undead; a maze where you’re time may be at its end; depraved family members from the depths of the bayou who don’t want you to leave; and clowns in horrifying

3-D… it’s a night filled with frights of all kind!

And there’s a Whole Lot More! The Rottingwood Cemetery and the Cool Ghoul Boolevard walk-through attractions, the Screams® Stage featuring the return of the Hell Dolls with their wicked shows where aerials and fire collide, and Scary-Oke (Screams® unique version of Karaoke) where everyone is encouraged to join in the fun.

When visitors are ready to take a break, they can grab a drink and a bite to eat at the Food Court or the 13th Hour Bakery. Those 21+ can partake in an adult beverage at one of the 5 Screams® pubs (must be 21+ to purchase or consume alcohol) that will feature mixed drinks, a great selection of craft beers & seltzers, and the ever-popular Jell-O Shots in a syringe!

There are also palm readings, henna tattoos, and shops with hand crafted chocolates, horror/

sci-fi/cult movie themed collectables, jewelry, tarot cards, resin and ceramic art, horror themed crochet plushies, and so much more.

Credit cards are widely accepted throughout the park. However, games and some other locations are cash only. Visitors are encouraged to bring sufficient cash but there are 4 ATMs available should they need them.

Tickets prices at the gate (on event nights only) start at $45 and Fast Pass prices start at $33 with prices varying for Friday and Saturday nights. Tickets include admission into the park and all 5 haunted houses along with the Rottingwood Cemetery, Cool Ghoul Boolevard, stage entertainment, and Scary-Oke. To cut the wait times into the haunted houses in half, there are a limited number of Fast Passes available each night as well. Fast Passes are NOT admission tickets. Food, drink, games, and shop merchandise must be purchased separately.

Discount tickets are available on-line at www.ScreamsPark.com and discount coupons are available at Legacy Chevrolet/GMC in Waxahachie. A limited number of the all-new Season Passes that provide admission into every night of Screams® 2023 are available only at www.ScreamsPark.com for a cost of $165 plus tax & fees. The Season Pass does not include a Fast Pass. Parking at Screams® is Free compliments of Legacy Chevrolet/GMC – Waxahachie.

A few additional things to keep in mind for your visit to Screams® are:

  • Screams® is designed for ages 16+ and is not recommended for small children
  • No costumes, face paint, or decorative masks are allowed at Screams®

Screams® is open Friday and Saturday nights, now through October 28, 2023, from 7:00 pm and is open late until 1:00 am. The ticket office and admission close at 12:00 Midnight on event nights. Screams® is located at the Scarborough Faire® site one mile west of I-35E at 2511 FM 66 in Waxahachie, Tx. That’s just 30 minutes south of the downtowns of Dallas & Fort Worth. Screams® is sponsored by Dr Pepper and Legacy Chevrolet/GMC.

For more information about Screams® 2023 visit ScreamsPark.com or follow us at ScreamsPark on Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, or Instagram.

 

Screams Gallery

 

 

Final Night for Screams 2022!

17.10.2022 (1:01 am) – Filed under: Screams

On the final weekend of the season, be sure to check out Screams Halloween Theme Park! Screams is truly a must see haunted attraction, and has something to appeal to everyone. The haunted houses at Screams are great, but if you are one of those people who becomes too frightened at haunted houses, you can eat, drink, and shop all night at Screams, while you take in the great Halloween atmosphere. Screams has a perfect 10 score from Texas Haunts, and is the only attraction that we visit more than once per season.

Screams has five haunted houses, two walk through attractions, a large food court, seven pubs and taverns, plus the all new 13th Hour Bakery! A wonderful acrobatic/aerialist group called Hell Dolls performs on the Screams main stage, two to three times per night. A wide variety of Halloween themed merchants can be found around the park this season. With the exception of 13th Hour bakery, credit cards are accepted where food and alcohol are served. Four ATMs are available onsite.

While you are at Screams, be sure to visit Full Moon Bar and Cafe. Bartenders Cheltsea and Michael have created a menu of specialty, Halloween themed drinks for 2022. Beer, wine, and a full bar are available at Full MoonFull Moon is the only full service cafe at Screams, so try some items from the menu, which includes toasted ravioli, cheeseburgers, buffalo chicken wings, street tacos, and bacon cheese fries. Full Moon has plenty of seating available. Keep in mind that 11:30 is last call at Full Moon, and around the park.

Remember that Screams is open on Fridays and Saturdays only, from 7pm-1am, and that all tickets must be purchased online. Tickets and fast passes are date specific, with the exception of the VIP combo, which is also purchased online. Screams will not be open on Sunday, October 30, or on Halloween, so tonight is your last chances to experience Screams this year. Tickets may be purchased here. Screams is limiting the number of tickets it sells for each night, so it’s a good idea to buy tickets as early as you can today.

Remember to dress comfortably for Screams. It’s a large park, so wear comfortable shoes, and this weekend, bring a jacket or coat, since the weather will be chilly at night.

Check out our review of Screams here, and our review of Full Moon Bar and Cafe here.

Full Moon Bar at Screams

02.10.2022 (4:58 am) – Filed under: Screams

Full Moon Bar and Cafe has the only full bar and is the only full service café at Screams. The bartenders are Cheltsey and Michael, and the server is Jessica, although Jessica works on Saturdays only. Full Moon is located on the far side of the food court, between the Morgue Tavern, and Taboo Tavern. There is usually plenty of seating, although it can become crowded later on a Saturday night. Full Moon’s décor and dim lighting is ideal for a Halloween park. It’s a nice place to relax, eat, and enjoy Halloween themed drinks, or any other type of liquor.

I’ve tried all of the Halloween drinks at Full Moon. The Werewolf is the strongest, but it has a pleasant taste. Witches’ Brew tasted like root beer. Poison Apple tastes like a caramel apple dusted in cinnamon. “It” is probably the sweetest of the drinks, but has a kick to it. Dracula’s Kiss is my favorite. It’s great for cooling off on a warm night, and it’s strong enough to be worth the price. Of course, this is a full bar and both bartenders are excellent, so they can make a wide variety of mixed drinks. Beer is also available.

The menu at Full Moon is a little scaled down this year, but everything they make is good. I had all of the items on the menu over opening weekend. I had the street tacos and buffalo chicken wings the first night, and both were very good. On the second night I had the cheeseburger and fries, bacon cheese fries, and toasted ravioli. The toasted ravioli was my favorite, the bacon cheese fries were a close second, and the cheeseburger and fries were good.

Be sure to stop by Full Moon Bar and Cafe when you visit Screams. Keep in mind that last call for alcohol is at 11:30pm.

 

Specialty Drinks:

Witches’ Brew (tastes like a root beer float)

Poison Apple (tastes like cinnamon apple)

Dracula’s Kiss (strong, but refreshing)

The Werewolf (six types of alcohol)

It (sweet drink)

 

Food:

Bacon Cheese Fries

Street Tacos

Toasted Ravioli

Buffalo Chicken Wings

Cheeseburger and Fries

 

Beer

Deep Ellum IPA

Octoberfest

Michelob

Bud Light

Ziegenbock

 

 

 

Full Moon Cafe at Screams

17.10.2021 (4:00 am) – Filed under: Screams

Full Moon Cafe is the full service bar and cafe at Screams, on the far side of the Food Court, by the West Market Arch. This is the only place in Screams where you can eat, drink, and pay with a credit card. Full Moon has two great bartenders, Cheltsey and Michael, and a sweet server named Carolina. Full Moon has a full bar, but I always order the specialty drinks, which are listed below. Medusa’s Kiss is probably my favorite, but The Stoneman is a close second. I tried all of their specialty drinks this weekend and enjoyed each one. The Werewolf may be the strongest, but The Stoneman will give you a buzz pretty quickly too. If you are ballsy enough, go to the bar and say, very loudly, that you would like the Hot Seamen.

There is plenty of seating at Full Moon, and the menu has been improved for 2021. I tried the bacon cheese fries and chicken tacos on Saturday and was happy with both. I spoke with some people who recommended the pretzel bites, loaded BBQ fries, and the chicken taco salad. The cheeseburger is always reliable, and I’m going to save room for the brownie a la mode next time. The portion sizes are pretty good, so make sure to not eat before going to Screams.

As I mentioned in my review of Screams, it’s best to see the main attractions when you arrive, and eat and drink later. I like the food court and taverns, but I always stop at Full Moon after finishing with the haunted houses. Full Moon is very well decorated, so it has a real Halloween feel to it, and it’s nice to be able to sit down and relax after five attractions and lots of walking. You can order the specialty drinks as shots, but I ask for ice so that I can cool down in a hurry. This will probably be a fairly warm October, so keep that in mind. Medusa’s Kiss is the most refreshing drink they make. That will come in handy when it’s in the 80’s and humid. Last call is at 11:30, so be sure to allow enough time to have dinner and drinks. I usually get to Full Moon between 9:30 and 10, but 10:30 would be fine. The drinks, beer, and menu are listed below, along with some pictures of the bar and bartenders. Have a great time at Screams and at Full Moon!

 

Specialty drinks

Medusa’s Kiss

It

The Stoneman

Hot Seamen

The Werewolf

Hairy Snakes

 

Beer

Deep Ellum IPA

Octoberfest

Michelob

Bud Light

Ziegenbock

 

Food

Pretzel Bites

Bacon Cheese Fries

Buffalo Wings

Loaded BBQ Fries

Cheeseburger

Chicken Tacos

Chicken Taco Salad

Brownie a la Mode

Screams 2021 Gallery

17.10.2021 (3:09 am) – Filed under: Screams

Screams Gallery II

17.10.2021 (3:00 am) – Filed under: Screams

Screams Opens This Weekend!

16.09.2021 (12:56 pm) – Filed under: Haunted House Listings,Haunted House Opening Dates,Screams

Screams Halloween Theme Park opens this Friday, October 1. It’s been two years since Screams has been open, and they have taken the time to redo two of their five main attractions. The 3D pirate house is now the Klownz in 3D attraction, and the old maze is now the Time’s Up Maze. The big castle, Cursed: The Witches of Terra Mythica, Hotel D’Feers, and the Zombie Apocalypse trail return in 2021. For opening weekend, Screams has a special on tickets, $5 off tickets for 10/1 and 10/2 only. Buy tickets here.

Screams features the Full Moon Cafe, a full service restaurant and bar, plus four pubs. A large food court is located in the back of the park, close to the main stage and the zombie trail. The main stage hosts live music and DJs nightly, while Scaryoke is held on the end of Merchant’s Row, across from Waxed Hands. Games of skill, such as knife and star throwing, paintball, and Hoops and Heads, can be found across from the food court.

When you enter Screams, remember to walk through Rottingwood Cemetery, and take a look at the shops on Merchants Row. You’ll find tarot and palm readings, wax hands, henna tattoos, face painting and more at the shops in Screams.

Screams is located in Waxahachie, on FM 66, about a mile and a half west of I-35, on the Scarborough Faire grounds. It’s about 30 minutes south of downtown Dallas. Click here for directions. If you find yourself running low on gas, stop at the Scarborough Travel Stop, at the NW corner of I-35 and FM 66.

Park hours are 7:30pm to 1am. I recommend arriving as early as possible. It’s a huge park, with lots to do, and some of the bigger attractions will have longer lines later at night. Remember to wear comfortable clothing, especially comfortable shoes. If you want to cut way down on wait time in line, get a fast pass. I use them, and they will cut your wait time by half, or more.

Since Covid is still a problem, I should go over the precautions Screams is taking this season. Screams employees will be required to wear protective facemasks. Customers are encouraged to wear protective facemasks, but are not required to do so. Please note that decorative facemasks and Halloween masks are not allowed for customers. For more information, check the Screams FAQ page here.

Be sure to take time to walk the park, eat, drink, and shop when you visit Screams. Haunted parks are a very different experience from urban haunted houses, and the best part is the variety of experiences you can have at parks like Screams. I’ve included some pictures from the 2019 season below. Please bear in mind that Screams has updated their park in the last two years. I’ll post new pictures, along with the review, this coming Sunday. To avoid a wait in the ticket line, get your tickets online here.

Screams Front Gate Twilight II

Screams Front Gate Twilight

Food Court

Food Court Twilight

Zombie Wasteland Exterior

Full Moon Interior Sign

Full Moon Bartender Michael

Taboo Tavern

Climbing Tower

Merchant’s Row Waxed Hands

Henna Tattoos

Games

Souvenirs

 

 

Screams Tickets On Sale

07.09.2021 (9:16 pm) – Filed under: Screams
Tickets Now on Sale for the 2021 Season!
Screams® is back for its 25th Season every Friday and Saturday night October 1 – October 30, 2021!
* Opening Weekend Special *
$5 off Tickets for 10/1 and 10/2 Only
Screams® is a totally immersive Halloween experience that includes 5 haunted houses and a whole lot more! Each haunted house has a different theme – with two new ones for the 2021 season: the all New Klownz in 3D and the Times Up Maze. Plus you don’t want to miss the Rottingwood Cemetery, live entertainment, Scary-Oke and games of skill for an entire night of Halloween fun! When you are ready to take a break enjoy the food court, pubs (yes, we serve alcohol for those 21+), and shops.
Screams® single admission price is $42 (for all ages) and includes all 5 haunted houses, Rottingwood Cemetery, live entertainment and Scary-Oke. Plus, you may go through the houses as many times as you like (as the crowds will allow). To cut your wait times in half make sure to get yourself a VIP Fast Pass for an additional $30.
Screams® is designed for ages 16+ and is not recommended for young children.
COVID-19 Disclaimer:
Screams® 2021 will be requiring protective facemasks for all Screams® employees and participants regardless of vaccination status. Protective facemasks are also strongly recommended for all attendees to Screams® 2021. Decorative or Halloween masks are NOT allowed at Screams®. According to the CDC an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and death. By visiting Screams®, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19.

Screams Opening

18.08.2021 (8:47 pm) – Filed under: Haunted House News,Screams

From Screams:

Screams® Halloween Theme Park Returns October 1st!
Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (August 10, 2021) – Save the date! Screams® Halloween Theme Park is back for its 25th season Friday and Saturday Nights October 1 – October 30, 2021 to provide the most immersive Halloween experience in D/FW.
Come be a part of the thrills and chills of Screams®! Applications for part-time, seasonal employees are now open for the 2021 season. Looking for extra cash? Screams® is a fun way to earn it! Seasonal positions include actors, food & beverage sales, safety services, front gate & ticket office personnel, games, restroom attendants, grounds crew, souvenir sales, and more.
Applicants of all ages (16+) are invited to apply today at www.screamspark.com/employment and schedule their interview.
Screams® is an equal opportunity employer.
Screams® will hold actor auditions Saturday, August 14th and Saturday August 21st. Screams® job fair for seasonal part time employment will take place on Saturday, August 28th from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm at the Screams® offices located at 2511 FM 66 Waxahachie, TX 75167.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, all Screams® employees will be required to wear protective facemasks and visitors will be strongly encouraged to wear protective facemasks as well. Decorative and/or Halloween masks are not allowed at Screams®.
Screams® has lots of surprises in store for its 25th season, so stay tuned for more details! Screams® 2021 will run Friday and Saturday nights October 1st through October 30th 7:30 pm – 1:00 am at the Scarborough Faire® site in Waxahachie, Tx. The Screams® totally immersive Halloween experience includes 5 haunted houses – each with a different theme – plus a haunted cemetery, live entertainment, Scary-Oke, games of skill, a food court, pubs, shops, and much more for an entire night of Halloween fun!
The admission price is $42 at the gate (for all ages) and includes all 5 haunted houses, the haunted cemetery, live entertainment, and Scary-Oke. Plus, visitors may go through the haunted houses as many times as they like (as the crowds will allow). To cut the wait times in half, they can purchase a VIP Fast Pass for an additional $30. Screams® is designed for ages 16+ and is not recommended for small children. Discount tickets will be available at www.ScreamsPark.com beginning September 7, 2021.
Screams® is sponsored by Dr Pepper. For more information visit ScreamsPark.com or follow us at ScreamsPark on FaceBook, Twitter, or Instagram. Photographs, video, and/or interviews available upon request.

Screams 2021

22.07.2021 (6:42 pm) – Filed under: Haunted House News,Screams

Screams Halloween Theme Park will open on October 1, for the first time since 2019. No details are available yet, but it’s likely that the park will open at 7:30pm and will remain open to 1:30am, every Friday and Saturday in October. Five major haunted attractions should return, along with several smaller attractions, the Full Moon Cafe, Taboo Tavern, Scaryoke, live music on the main stage, a food court, games, and merchants.

I haven’t seen Screams in two years, so I’ll be there on opening weekend. If we’re lucky, it will be business as usual everywhere by October and we can have a normal Haloween season!

Screams 2020 Is Cancelled

27.07.2020 (4:41 pm) – Filed under: Halloween News,Haunted House News,Screams

It is incredibly difficult for me to write this, but Screams just announced that they have cancelled their 2020 season. I will post their full press release below. I was greatly looking forward to seeing everyone at Screams, and especially Helaine, the Screams/Scarborough marketing director, Cheltsea and Michael at the Full Moon Cafe, and Tai.

As anyone who visits this site knows, Screams is my favorite theme park (of any kind) and the Halloween season will not be the same without it. It would have been extra difficult for Screams to have opened, given that they sell a great deal of food and drink, and in the end, management made a decision in the interest of the safety of Screams employees and guests. As sad as this is, I am already looking forward to Screams 2021!

Below is the Screams announcement.

2020 Season Canceled
Due to the continuing COVID-19 health crisis and on-going outbreaks, Screams® Halloween Theme Park has made the difficult decision to cancel Screams® 2020 season for the first time in its 25-year history. Screams® 2020 season was scheduled to run Friday and Saturday Nights October 2 – October 31, 2020.
During this unprecedented time, the owners and management of Screams® considered many options and scenarios to safely conduct the Screams® 2020 season. They came to the determination that cancelling Screams® is the most responsible course of action to ensure the health and safety of its staff, employees, participants, patrons, and community.
Screams® is extremely disappointed in the cancellation of its 2020 season but plans to be back in the Fall of 2021 bigger and better than ever to celebrate its 25th season!
We wish each of you good health and hope that the COVID-19 will be contained and eradicated in the coming months.
Screams® Owners and Management

Last Night For Screams

26.10.2019 (2:06 am) – Filed under: Screams

I went to Screams this Friday and had a wonderful time! The park has been upgraded since I reviewed on October 5th, and looks even better now. All other haunted attractions will be open at least on Halloween, so you can see them later this week, but this Saturday is the last night of the season for Screams. The weather will be perfect, and you can’t beat the value, so check out Screams while you still can. Be sure to stop by Full Moon Cafe, a full service bar and cafe, and say hi to Michael and Cheltsey at the bar. Order a Dracula’s Kiss, you won’t be disappointed. Check out my review of Screams here, Full Moon here, and the pics below. You can buy tickets on site, or online hereScreams opens at 7:30pm and closes at 1:30am, with ticket sales cutting off at midnight.

 

 

 

Final Weekend for Screams

21.10.2019 (5:07 pm) – Filed under: Haunted House Listings,Haunted House News,Screams

This coming weekend is your last chance to see Screams this year! Please remember that Screams will not be open on Halloween, so this Friday and Saturday are the final days for the 2019 season at Screams. All of the haunted attractions, and most of the park, have been remodeled for this season, so even if you’ve seen Screams in the past, there will be things for you to see. Please refer to my review of Screams from October 5th for more detailed information.

Screams has five main attractions, Cursed: the Witches of Terra Mythica Castle, Hotel D’Feers, Capt’n Barbarosa’s Blood Harbour (3D), PT Harmum’s Carnival of Chaos (maze), and the Zombie Wasteland Apocalypse trail. I listed the attractions in the best order to see them in, especially if you don’t have a fast pass. Screams also has a large food court, three pubs, and a full service bar and cafe called Full Moon Cafe. Full Moon has an excellent selection of Halloween specialty drinks (Dracula’s Kiss is my favorite) and great bartenders. They also have good food, generous portions, and reasonable prices. Full Moon is well decorated too, it’s like eating and drinking inside a haunted house. You can find Full Moon Cafe on the side of the food court by the West Market Arch.

Screams also has Scaryoke in the covered seating area next to Taboo Tavern, games of skill across from the food court, Halloween related shops, wax hands, henna tattoos, palm and tarot readings, and feather extensions.

Screams has general admission tickets, fast passes, and group tickets available here. Group tickets have to be purchased in advance, online. They are not available at the ticket booth.

Screams has never been better, so be sure to check it out this weekend! Screams is located in Waxahachie, on the Scarborough Faire grounds. Their address is 2511 FM 66 Waxahachie, TX 75167. If you are coming from the north, take exit 399A from I-35, and head west (right), if you are coming from the south, take exit 399, and head west (left). Screams is 1.6 miles west of I-35. Visit their site here for more information.

 

 

 

Full Moon Cafe at Screams

10.10.2019 (5:13 pm) – Filed under: Screams

Full Moon Cafe is the full bar and full service cafe at Screams, on the west end of the Food Court area. Cheltsey and Michael are excellent bartenders, and Rachael looks after the dining area. This is the only place in Screams where you can eat, drink and pay with a credit card. Full Moon has plenty of seating and is well decorated. It’s dimly lit, with a cozy Halloween feel to it, and the bartenders and servers dress up in Halloween costumes. I spoke with a few people who said that this is their favorite place to go in Screams. The food was excellent on our visit (we had bacon and cheese fries, plus cheeseburgers) and I love the Dracula’s Kiss drink. It’s refreshing, and has a kick since it’s vodka based. Cheltsey has come up with a peanut butter and banana flavored drink that tastes like ice cream, that was very welcome on the incredibly hot night of our review. Other Halloween specialty drinks are available, and Michael and Cheltsey can take requests. Full Moon is a great place to begin, or end your night at Screams.

 

 

Screams Halloween Theme Park Review

06.10.2019 (2:31 am) – Filed under: Haunted House Listings,Reviews,Screams

October 5, 2019

Score-10

Site here

Facebook here

Tickets here

Phone-972-938-3247

Location-2511 FM 66 Waxahachie, TX 75167

Directions-from Dallas: Take I-35E South to Exit 399A, Go west on FM66 1.6 miles

From Ft Worth: Take Hwy 287 South to I-35E South, Take I-35E South to Exit 399A, Go west on FM66 1.6 miles

From Waco:Due to I-35E construction, the exit for Screams has temporarily changed to exit 397 on northbound I-35E. Proceed to FM66, go west 1.6 miles

Attractions-Five major haunted attractions, plus a cemetery trail, food court, multiple taverns, a great full service bar and cafe (Full Moon Cafe) games of skill, a climbing tower, live music, Scaryoke, Halloween related merchants, a psychic, Henna tattoos, wax hands, palm readings, and more!

Full Moon Cafe is the full bar and full service cafe at Screams, on the west end of the Food Court area. Cheltsea and Michael are excellent bartenders, and Rachael looks after the dining area. This is the only place in Screams where you can eat, drink and pay with a credit card. Full Moon has plenty of seating and is well decorated. It’s dimly lit, with a cozy Halloween feel to it, and the bartenders and servers dress up in Halloween costumes. I spoke with a few people who said that this is their favorite place to go in Screams. The food was excellent on our visit (we had bacon and cheese fries, plus cheeseburgers) and I love the Dracula’s Kiss drink. It’s refreshing, and has a kick since it’s vodka based. Cheltsea has come up with a peanut butter and banana flavored drink that tastes like ice cream, that was very welcome on the incredibly hot night of our review. Other Halloween specialty drinks are available, and Michael and Cheltsea can take requests. Full Moon is a great place to begin, or end your night at Screams.

Dates open-Fridays and Saturdays in October, from 7:30pm-1:30am. Ticket sales end at midnight.

Tickets-General admission is $35 at the box office, $32 online (plus a $1 service fee) while group tickets are $30 for groups of 15 or more. Group tickets have to be purchased in advance and are not available at the gate. Fast passes are $20 each, and are highly advisable later in the season. $4 off coupons are available at participating T-Mobile stores.

Parking -Parking is free

Miscellaneous info-Always wear comfortable shoes or boots at Screams. You will have problems in high heels. This is a park, and the terrain is natural. On warm nights, dress in your coolest clothing, but on colder nights, remember that Screams is in the country, so it’s going to be several degrees cooler than DFW or Austin. Remember to not wear costumes or masks. For security reasons, guests can’t wear either at Screams.

Walk through time-Around an hour for all of the attractions combined. Please keep in mind that this is a haunted park, not just a haunted house. A great deal of the fun at Screams is being able to walk around, checking out merchants, music, and eating and drinking. It’s best to allow a good part of the night to spend at Screams. You can go through the attractions as many times as you want, although having a fast pass really helps if you want to see the attractions multiple times. On our review, we arrived before the park opened, and left around midnight. We could easily have spent more time in the park. This is a place to take your time, have fun, and relax.

Review:

Screams is the largest Halloween park I’ve been to, and it helps to have a plan for seeing the main attractions. I always advise people to see the attractions first, and eat and drink afterward. I save checking out the games and merchants for after dinner and drinks. It’s also fun to mix it up and alternate between roaming around the park and visiting the food court and Full Moon Cafe, but see the attractions first. On busy nights, Screams can be kind of hectic, so below is the schedule that I follow when I review Screams. It’s worked well for me for many years. If you need to orient yourself, a map of the park is located next to the entrance to the cemetery trail, in front of the park entrance. A signpost pointing out the direction of the attractions and services is in front of the souvenir shop, also close to the park entrance. Reviews of the individual attractions follow my guide.

As tempting as it is to go through the cemetery trail in front of the park entrance, it’s always best to start with the Witches of Terra Mythica Castle. The line for the Castle becomes long early in the evening, and even the fast pass wait can eat heavily into your evening. See the Castle first, then go to your right after exiting the Castle, walk uphill to the trail from the food court to the park entrance, and take a right. That will take you to Hotel D’Feers, which will be on your right. After the Hotel, head straight across the park to Blood Harbour, the 3D pirate themed funhouse. When you exit Blood Harbour, take a right and go to Carnival of Chaos, a clown themed maze. Zombie Wasteland is the main trail at Screams and is located behind the food court. From the Carnival exit, head straight across the park to the food court, wrap around the food court, and you will find Zombie Wasteland. The lines at Zombie Wasteland are usually not as long as at the other big attractions, so I save it for last.

Once you have been through the main attractions, you’ll have worked up an appetite, and the food court is next to the exit for Zombie Wasteland. For food, you have a choice of the full service Full Moon Cafe, located on the west side of the food court, or a wide variety of carnival food at the court itself. Fajitas, pizza, turkey legs, barbecue sandwiches, chicken or sausage on a stick are some of the offerings at the food court. 21 and over can find alcohol at Taboo Tavern, Spider Web Bar, and the Morgue Tavern. All are located in the food court area. Full Moon Cafe is the only place in Screams with a full bar.

After you’ve eaten and visited the taverns, you can turn your attention to playing and shopping. Across from the food court, by the exit for the Castle, are the games, and a well decorated kettle corn stand. Henna Tattoos is now located catty-corner from the food court. Nightly Scaryoke is held at the stage under the pavilion by Taboo Tavern (it’s the King’s Pub Stage during Scarborough) and the main stage (at the back of the park, Crown Meadow Stage during Scarborough) features live musical acts. If you want to rock climb, or just watch people climb, a climbing tower is located close to the Carnival of Chaos.

For shopping, head to Merchant’s Row, located close to the park entrance. Waxed hands, Glo items, jewelry, tombstones, glass pipes, feather extensions, a psychic, tarot card readings, and palm readings are all on Merchant’s Row. Screams also has a souvenir shop located between Merchant’s Row and the park entrance. Before you leave, don’t forget the cemetery trail, with some of the coolest lighting and props in the park. It’s located directly across from the park entrance. There is no line for this trail, you just walk in. It’s a nice way to wind up the evening, and you can get some good pictures without using a flash.

Main Attractions:

Cursed: The Witches of Terra Mythica Castle

The Castle has a great setting. You can see pictures taken from the trail leading to the castle in the gallery below. I love the lighting of the Castle walls and the flames shooting out, near the Castle entrance. You walk over a little bridge to get into the Castle, passing under a gate. Action comes as soon as you are inside, with actors all around you while you’re surrounded by undead armored knights. Dark hallways lead into the dungeon, illuminated by dim lighting, alternating between red, blue, and green. A swampy area follows after a bridge, with heavy fog and orange lighting. Look for the library in this area, it has some of the best decor in Screams. The sound effects are creepy, with werewolves and bats seemingly around you as you descend into the catacombs. This is my favorite part of the Castle. It could be my imagination, but the walkway seems to narrow in this area, and the lighting is perfectly adjusted to unnerve you. An extra long vibrating bridge frightened the group in front of us, and actors kept popping in and out of the hall. A group of angry witches follow the catacombs, giving you a proper send off, although there is more to be seen just outside the Castle.

Throughout the Castle, halls are narrow and well decorated, with actors blending in with the scenery. There are two actors who are so well camouflaged that they can’t be detected until they jump out at you. If you want to try to look for them, they are in the swamp and catacombs. I thought that the one in the catacombs was part of the wall. This is the largest and best decorated attraction at Screams, and it’s probably the most intense, though Hotel D’Feers gives it strong competition in that department. I’ve mentioned this before, but be sure to see the Castle first.

Hotel D’Feers

Actors in the Hotel waste no time. Two or three are there to “greet” guests just past the entrance, with quite a bit of movement and screaming. The screaming girl must use a bag of lozenges a night because she didn’t stop until we were well past the front room. Playing elevator music after the front room was an interesting choice, it made for a sharp contrast with the chaos at the entrance to the Hotel. Heavy fog follows and guests move very slowly in this area, due to limited visibility, so slow down too and avoid forming a conga line for the rest of the Hotel. In addition to heavy fog, there are lots of twists and turns in the hallway, plus animatronic props popping out. The actors interact with you, asking for a donation of body parts from time to time. A foggy swamp changed the mood of the Hotel, apparently the place has fallen into such disrepair that heavy vegetation has taken over. Try to find the camouflaged actor in the swamp. You won’t be able to, but you’ll have fun trying. White strobes and more fog are disorienting just past the swamp, with wooden fencing keeping you from wandering off the path. The residential part of the Hotel that follows has a run down, Texas Chainsaw look and feel to it, with energetic actors making almost as much noise as the screaming girl at the front.

The Hotel is loud, foggy, and designed to keep you on edge. It’s not as long as the Castle, but it’s close to being as intense. The actors are the main attraction of this haunt. I’m not sure how many there were, but they didn’t let up on the guests at any point.

Capt’n Barbarossa’s Blood Harbour

This year all of Blood Harbour is 3D. The outside of the haunt is dark, with the exception of the area around the sign, but the inside is covered in bright neon paint, with props appropriate for a pirate ship.  The vortex tunnel and the hallway of crabs are my favorites, but the shaking hallway is fun too. 3D glasses make it difficult to see the doors the actors use to pop in and out, so they nearly always surprised me. The laser and smoke effect that makes it look like you’re waist deep in water worked much better this year. All animatronics were in good working order, sound effects were loud enough to be distracting, which helped the actors sneak up on our group. This is one of the last dedicated 3D houses around, so be sure to check it out after the Hotel. Everyone in Blood Harbour seemed to have a good time, including the actors.

PT Harmum’s Carnival of Chaos

This is a clown heavy maze, with chain link fencing, and lots of strobes to disorient you. The clowns give terrible directions and harass throughout the maze. Loud carnival music also makes it difficult to concentrate. For the first time ever, my group found the exit quickly, and with no outside help. Randell, a member of the review team, has a freakish ability to navigate mazes. He heads for the middle of the maze, somehow pictures the layout from there, and finds the exit quickly. We did see an interesting circus scene made of dinosaur bones and clowns, and a four clown animatronic with Pennywise that moved like a train. If not for Randell, the strobes and clowns would have kept me in the maze for a long time and would have forced me to do what I usually do, which is to use an emergency exit to get out. Try Randell’s strategy and get to middle of the maze, then try to go straight ahead from there.

Zombie Wasteland…Apocalypse

The location of the zombie trail is important. Being at the back of Screams allows the trail to seem isolated once you enter, and the surrounding Scarborough buildings add to the eerie atmosphere. The terrain does look like a wasteland, with overturned cars, burnt out electronics, and ruined buildings around the trail. Creepy sound effects block out sound from the rest of the park, and set the mood for the entire trail. Props are perfectly lit, and the zombie computer room is probably the first of it’s kind. Strobes are well placed, and alternating between red, blue and orange lighting in different areas works well. I love this part of Scarborough (Holly Field) and I had thought that it would make a great haunted trail during Screams. I would like for the trail to go deeper into Holly Field, but it’s winding layout does give actors plenty of opportunities to scare guests. Speaking of the actors, they really get into their roles. They deserve a lot of credit for going all out on an incredibly hot and humid night. Their level of intensity makes me wonder how great they will be on colder nights, when people and makeup aren’t melting. I heard more screams from guests in Zombie Wasteland than in any other attraction at Screams. The actors were so in character that the guests were freaked out by the end. This is an attraction to go through more than once, especially if you have a fast pass.

2018 was a season that featured major upgrades at Screams. 2019 continues the park wide upgrades. New props and decorations by the ticket booth and front gate get people in the mood to be scared, the main attractions have all improved, and the cemetery trail is a full length trail again. New merchants and games have been added, while the park is even better decorated than before, with great attention to detail from the outside of the park, all the way back to Zombie Wasteland. Screams has never looked better, and it’s still the best overall value in North Texas. It is possible to see the attractions pretty quickly, if you arrive early or get a fast pass, but Screams is so much more fun if you take your time and make a night of it. This is the greatest Halloween festival close to DFW, and the weather is finally going to feel like Fall this coming weekend, so see Screams while the cool weather lasts!

 

 

 

 

Screams Visit Gallery

30.09.2019 (12:12 am) – Filed under: Screams

I visited Screams on opening night, Friday September 27. I thought I would share some of the photos that I took. The review will be on October 5. This visit was just for fun, and photos.

 

 

Screams Opens This Weekend

Screams® 2019 Opens This Friday, September 27th!

 

Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (September 23, 2019):  Screams® Halloween Theme Park, presented by Metro® by T-Mobile, will open its doors for its 24th season this Friday, September 27, 2019 at 7:30 pm.

Screams®, presented by Metro® by T-Mobile, is 5 Haunted Houses and a whole lot more!  After being transformed over the last several years, Screams® has been further enhanced for the 2019 season to provide the scariest Screams® experience ever! There are 5 haunted houses, each with a different theme along with a haunted graveyard and Strigoi (evil souls) roaming throughout the site – they are sure to find what terrifies you! The haunted houses include:

  • Cursed… the witches of TerraMythica Castle – A terrifying trip in the Medieval Myths surrounding the Magdena Sisters and their evil!
  • PT Harmum’s Carnival of Chaos – Get lost and hopefully not found in this Carnival of Clowns and Freaks
  • Captain Barbarosa’s Blood Harbour – Looting, murder & magic await as you enter a cursed pirate village and encounter the evil that encompasses it!
  • Hotel D’Feers – Frozen in time after a brutal mass murder, meet the ones who STAYED for eternity!
  • Zombie Wasteland… Apocalypse – Fight to the finish: survivors think you’re zombies, Zombies think you’re food… Good Luck!

       “If you’ve never been to Screams® before or it’s been a while since you’ve been back, make sure this is the year you come!” says Coy Sevier, Screams® General Manager. “With the enhancements we’ve made to all 5 of the haunted houses, the spooky haunted graveyard, and the great cast of creepy new characters, the 2019 season of Screams® is sure to be the scariest Screams® ever. You don’t want to miss it!”

Plus, there’s a whole lot more! When you’re ready to take a break from being scared, Screams® has a DJ spinning music on the Screams® stage, Scary-Oke, games of skill, shops, face painting, waxed hands, Henna tattoos, Palm Readers, Psychic readings and more.

Screams® also has a food court and full-service restaurant. For those over 21, there is a full bar and 3 different pubs featuring a great selection of seasonal and craft beers such as ZiegenBock, Spaten Oktoberfest, Bishop Crackberry Cider, Spaten Lager, Belhaven Black Scottish Stout, Bishop Apple Pineapple Cider, Deep Ellum Blind Lemon, White Claw Black Cherry Hard Seltzer, Elysian Night Owl Pumpkin Ale, Bon & Viv Cranberry Spiked Seltzer and Ace Pear Cider along with Bud Light Platinum, Michelob Ultra and Lime & Cherry Jell-O Shots.

Screams® Halloween Theme Park, presented by Metro® by T-Mobile, is the ultimate Halloween experience running every Friday and Saturday night September 27 through October 26, 2019 from 7:30 PM and open late until 1:30 AM.  The single admission price is $35 at the gate and includes all 5 haunted houses, music and Scary-Oke.  $4 off discount coupons are available at North Texas Metro® by T-Mobile stores and discount tickets can be purchased on-line at ScreamsPark.com. Visitors can go through the haunted houses as many times as they like (as the crowds will allow). To cut the wait times in half, you can also purchase a VIP Fast Pass for $20 on-line or at the event. Screams® is designed for ages 16+ and is not recommended for small children. Costumes and masks are NOT allowed at Screams®.

Screams® is located in Waxahachie, just 30 minutes south of the downtowns of Dallas and Fort Worth off I-35E at exit 399A on the Scarborough Faire® site.  Just 60 minutes from Waco.  Due to I-35E construction, the exit for Screams® has temporarily changed to exit 397 on northbound I-35E.  Parking is free compliments of Waxahachie Nissan.  Screams® is presented by Metro® by T-Mobile and is sponsored by Dr Pepper and Waxahachie Nissan.

For more information visit ScreamsPark.com, or ScreamsPark on FaceBook, Twitter or Instagram.