Tickets: https://the17thdoor.com
The 17th Door is the most extreme haunt I know of and it’s located right here in Southern California. They have built elaborate rooms within stunning sets that act like terrifying characters themselves plus an incredible cast. The storytelling alongside the scares makes this 30-minute extreme haunted attraction quite the event.
I was completely impressed by these actors working in intense conditions, up close and personal, handing out fear like Costco samples around every corner. They are genuinely skilled at striking terror into guests. One actor made my soul leave my body when he jumped and landed inches from my head with precision as I lay on the ground below. It was also fun that the actors who knew me used it to personalize the experience. That kind of quick thinking and awareness made me even more confident that this cast stays highly observant to keep guests as safe as possible while terrifying them.
Is The 17th Door the most extreme haunt in California?
Each of the 17 rooms challenges you mentally or physically, and some do both simultaneously. I left with a few bruises (one from losing my balance when the floor moved and a few from projectiles). I want to be clear, nobody at The 17th Door is trying to injure anyone. They are building the most intense version of the experience they can and unfortunately that means you might get bumped around a bit in some of the more physical scenes. Go in expecting to be challenged but prepared to mercy out of any rooms you don’t think you can physically handle. I literally wore a pendant to avoid the shocks because my doctor thinks being shocked is bad for my specific health condition (and I don’t enjoy being shocked).
As an avid animal lover I feel strongly that live animals do not belong inside of horror events as props. However, the animal handlers showed real care and safety during my visit, and I never once felt like any animals were in danger from the actors or our group. I also got a little kiss on the nose from a very sweet snake, which is not something I expected to say about my visit to The 17th Door.
The most exciting thing for me about the experience though was seeing how the event has grown and matured into a fun, high intensity, thrill fest. It originally leaned more into real-life horrors of society in a way that left a bad taste in my mouth a decade ago. Now it feels much more like a fun extreme personal challenge, which is harder to pull off. I applaud the creators for how much they’ve grown the experience over the years.
The 17th Door is not for everyone. If you want to be scared, pushed and tested, this is the haunt to go to. If you need to feel safe and in control the whole night, this is not your show. I loved it this season. It was the most scared I’ve been at a haunted attraction in years.
Scare Factor: 10/10 Fun Factor: 10/10
Thank you to The 17th Door for inviting me out as a media guest to experience the event! You can book your tickets and learn more at the17thdoor.com.