Last Updated on May 3, 2024 by Angel Melanson
From 2009 to 2019, the Queen Mary was home to Dark Harbor, a Halloween haunt that utilized the ship not only as a unique location but also as a background for the haunt’s lore. After shuttering its doors in 2009, Dark Harbor was replaced by Shaqtoberfest, a haunt by basketball star and Halloween lover Shaquille O’Neal.
2024 marks the return of local Long Beach staple Dark Harbor and all the creepy characters that sailed off into the fog in 2009. Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group is partnering with the Queen Mary for Dark Harbor’s resurrection, The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor: The Spirits Rise.
Time magazine dubbed the Queen Mary one of the Top 10 Most Haunted Places in America, and over the years, it has become synonymous with ghost sightings, scares, and paranormal activity in Southern California.
A unique aspect of the Queen Mary hosting a haunt is the opportunity to navigate through her nearly 90-year-old corridors, ghostly figures weaving through the narrow passages aboard the ship. That can mean passing through the underbelly in the engine room, sneaking a peek at the propellor, or finding yourself in the midst of a reportedly haunted swimming pool — all while under constant attack from Dark Harbor’s ghouls and goblins.
As a longtime Dark Harbor fan, I can attest there is something special about this haunt. Being seated aboard the ship when the announcement of its return was made has us giddy as hell for September. We can’t wait to set sail once again.
We spoke with Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group’s Regional Manager, Amy Hollaman, about what we can expect when haunt season rolls around in September. Hollaman assured us there would be mazes on the ship when Dark Harbor returns. How many can we expect? That’s still under wraps for now, but Hollaman teases: “I can say there will be more than one.”
As for the return to the Dark Harbor lore, “The city and the Queen Mary really want the Halloween event to center around stories from the ship. We’re definitely bringing back some of the fan favorites, but we’re going to introduce some new characters. Dark Harbor has been pretty famous for being tied to the story of a signature character, so we’re going to continue that tradition.“
We may not know how many mazes will be coming to the Queen Mary this year, but there will be a mix of old and new: “There are going to be some mazes that are brought back from the past, but there’s also going to be new characters that lead to new mazes and new experiences.“
“Since 2019, the haunt industry has evolved in so many ways, so we are hoping to bring both the screams from the past and some new sophisticated approaches.“
For folks who are a bit squeamish when it comes to things that go bump in the night, the harbor will house mazes along with themed food and entertainment. Balancing out the scares with fun: “We’ve learned that people want Halloween events not just to be scary but also to be really fun. The screams have to be followed by the laughs, and we want to create memorable experiences.”
Aside from haunts, the event will also include live entertainment, themed bars and lounges, and experiences onboard the ship, which Hollaman described as “activations on the ship where people can explore.” Plus, tasty eats and treats and, of course, the return of well-known iconic characters.
Hollaman adds: “We really want to honor the past and what’s happened here. We don’t want to change that entirely. We just want to continue adding to the story and bringing the dark and sinister tones that have been here in the past.” We can’t wait.
2024 attraction details will be released in the coming months, Hollaman also shared Dark Harbor will be at Midsummer Scream, so expect LOTS more information at the end of July. For now, take a look at the event announcement teaser below.
Southern California’s most haunted Halloween event will open on Friday, September 20th and run select nights through Saturday, November 2nd. Tickets will be available for purchase late summer 2024. And if you’ve ever had aspirations of being a scare actor, the event is now hiring for all positions, applications on the event website.
The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor is located at 1126 Queens Hwy., Long Beach, CA 90802. For more information, visit the official Dark Harbor website.
