Storytelling is the heartbeat of any haunted attraction, and Knott’s Scary Farm is a perfect example of how a well-crafted narrative can elevate an experience from simply startling, to deeply immersive. Take the “Origins: The Curse of Calico” haunted house, for instance.
This attraction isn’t just about jump scares and creepy visuals; it’s steeped in the rich lore of the fictional town of Calico. The story of the witch, Sarah Marshall, and the town’s descent into madness due to her curse creates a cohesive, eerie atmosphere that lingers long after you leave. Visitors aren’t just walking through a series of spooky rooms; they’re stepping into a narrative where they feel like participants in the town’s dark history. This level of immersion is only possible through storytelling, which transforms a haunted house from a sequence of scares into a memorable and compelling experience that stays with you.
The use of multimedia adds and extra, interactive dimensions and guides the narrative as guests progress. The floating Sarah gliding overhead of guests on a zipline/track adds to the uniqueness of this attraction and surprises guests in a dimension they are not used to being exposed to in a haunted attraction.
The primer video and ad campaignfor the attraction set the theme and storyline long before guests even arrive. The story can be very simple or very detailed depending on guest interest. The additional note of this attraction is that it is the basis on which Knott’s Scary farm works. Prior to this maze creation the story existed and is just explored deeper with the attraction. The mythology of Knott’s transforming into the Scary Farm is now completely rooted into the narrative. When the sun goes down Sarah’s curse transforms all of Knott’s Berry Farm into Knott’s Scary farm… including all of the Cast members. it means that the story stays with guests even as they left the attraction.. usually screaming.