The Backwoods Maze
Walk-Through Halloween Yard Haunt
1912 North Pepper Street
Burbank, CA 91505
Website: www.facebook.com/TheBackwoodsMaze
2011 DATES: October 14-16, 21-23, 28-31
HOURS: 7-10pm
PRICE: Free but donations accepted to defray costs
PARKING: Ample free street parking in this quiet neighborhood.
UPDATES: Click here for news & reviews
BACKWOODS MAZE INFORMATION: This amateur attraction consists of a decorated front yard and a walk-through maze that takes you on into the depths of rural Texas for a tour of Farmer Porky’s farmhouse, where pigs and cows are not the only livestock on the menu.
The front yard sets the tone – a cemetery loaded with tombstones and monstrous mannequins, including Jason, Freddy, Michael Myers, and one demonic figure towering 12-feet high. This rather bold display raises high expectations for the maze – which, fortunately, are satisfied by horrors too intense for impressionable young kids out for some easy candy.
The front yard (photograph copyright 2010 Scott Stevenson)
As the title implies, the Backwoods Maze offers a rustic setting, with several mutant cannibals. The “rural loonies” theme yields effective results. The maze benefits from a careful layout that effectively uses the available space: it seems far too long to fit into the back yard of a typical neighborhood home. For an amateur effort, the sets and props are impressive, with some gruesome grand guignol on display; everything looks home-made or at least heavily customized, not off-the-rack. The actors wear masks rather than makeup, but they are very detailed, and the costumes are accessorized to suit the backwoods setting, and the cast are really into their roles (although they will back off for a cute puppy).
BACKWOODS MAZE HISTORY: After making its debut in 2003 as the Haunted Experience in 3D, this amateur attraction changed its theme to the Backwoods Maze in 2004 and has been happily haunting on Halloween ever since.
PHOTOGRAPH(S):
VIDEO(S):
