Hurry back: Happy Haunts materialize in Trabuco Canyon for 20th year
Fog rolled across the graveyard across perfectly detailed gravestones. It felt a little like standing in the queue at Disneyland.
“Dear Departed Brother Dave.” “At Peaceful Rest Lies Brother Claude.” And, of course, Master Gracey.
Before even stepping inside the Haunted Mansion Haunt, the Halloween magic had already started.
Twenty years ago, then 15-year-old Salar Kohnechi and his supportive mom started building a home haunt. For 20 years, has transformed his love of Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion into a home haunt filled with familiar ghosts, clever surprises and tiny details that reward you for paying attention. Today, thousands make their way to a quiet Trabuco Canyon neighborhood to experience the Halloween magic they created.
The haunt didn’t begin its story at this house. When the family moved to Trabuco Canyon, they weren’t just considering square footage, amenities and an updated kitchen — they also had to consider the haunt.
The layout and its potential for Halloween were part of the decision.
That’s dedication.
His spooky passion project started in 2006. A creative teenager fascinated by animatronics and the Haunted Mansion, Kohnechi took on the challenge of creating a haunt of his own with the support of his mom, Cindy Miller.
What started with family grew to include friends - and now volunteers - who give up their October weekends simply because they want to be part of something special.
Miller is still very much part of the magic. You may be greeted in line by her wearing a Haunted Mansion dress that looks like it was smuggled straight out of the Magic Kingdom.
Still, this family-friendly haunt still managed to give a few scares while I was trying to take in all of the Disney-worthy details.
Kohnechi includes little nods you could easily miss. Look for a spider in the graveyard paying homage to the spider that famously covers a bullet hole in Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion. There’s also a nod to the Tower of Terror.
The haunt kicks off with the famous elevator ride. How do you pull that off in a home haunt? It’s a moment only Kohnechi could make happen.
From pillars and headstones to the ghosts themselves, Kohnechi continues to build and create pieces for the haunt. This year, the focus shifted more toward technology upgrades to keep the mansion’s happy haunts coming to life.
But after 20 years, he’s facing a new challenge: Where does it all go?
Kohnechi is maxed out on both storage and the haunt’s physical footprint. Continuing to grow without actually getting any bigger may just be his next creative challenge.
The transformation begins around the end of July, but the haunt consumes Kohnechi’s thoughts throughout the year. There’s always something to improve, an effect to work on or another detail to add.
This year, they’re expecting between 6,000 and 10,000 visitors.
If you’re planning to be one of them, here’s an insider tip: come later. The line starts early, so waiting until later in the evening may mean a shorter trip to the mansion.
The Haunted Mansion Haunt is located at 28322 Millwood Road in Trabuco Canyon, and is open Oct. 3–4, 9–11, 16–31 and Nov. 1, from 7–9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 7–9:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Scare actors join the fun Friday through Sunday, while weekdays offer the haunt without actors.
Just beware of hitchhiking ghosts on your way home.
