Why I love Haunted Carwash

Every Halloween season when I start to plan out where I am going to visit, there are a few haunts that are hands-down must dos. Haunted Carwash is one of those Haunts

Running five haunts this season located in Anaheim, Lakewood, Montclaire, San Diego, and – for the first time ever - Greenville, North Carolina, the Haunted Carwash is exactly how it sounds. You pull up in your car, wind through the parking lot as various scareactors bounce from vehicle to vehicle terrifying those within, then pull into the actual running carwash, where more monsters await to tap on your windows and windshields.

Think of it like Knotts Scary Farm, but with some suds and a wax.

Haunted Car Wash is definitely unique in its presentation. Obviously, the location has to work with what limited space they have; no giant facades or sets, maybe a prop or two depending on the location. Look hard enough around, and you’ll easily be reminded exactly where you are.

But while atmosphere might be limited, the scareactors are not. These are bonified, real deal, know what they are doing haunt talent. They snarl. They slide. They jaw at you. They know how to push the right buttons to get the scare.

That’s one of the things I think I love most about Haunted Carwash. It’s an authentic haunt feel on a limited scale. Realistically, the attraction only has you for about 10 minutes or so depending on how busy it is, but in that limited time their talent know how to give a satisfying performance to each customer. More than just scares, hijinks abound; your own car may even be used lightly as a prop itself. It definitely doesn’t take itself so seriously like a big theme park haunt would, but you still get your money’s worth, and then some.

And yet, there’s an almost unexpected effectiveness to Haunted Carwash as well.

I’ve never been the type to be legitimately terrified at a haunt; an occasional startle scare, sure, but I can count on one hand the number of times a haunt or maze has genuinely instilled a sense of dread or need to run and / or “get out.”

No, Haunted Carwash isn’t one of those times for me, personally. But I’ve witnessed it in others.

I’ve watched as family members tried to become one with the car’s floorboard, and crawl over each other in the backseat when Haunted Carwash’s scareactors swing the car doors open for easier access. Listening to other vehicles, some of the screams I heard were on par with those you might hear at Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights.

And then it dawned on me: Haunted Carwash does something that other haunts can’t really do. Haunted Carwash takes what you would normally perceive as a “safe space” – the comfort of your own vehicle – and turns that into the haunt; for all intents and purposes, you’re confined, and you’re stuck. God forbid if anyone in your party is “setting you up,” because then no manner of rolling up windows and locking doors will be able to save you (sorry Mom).

That said, as previously mentioned the experience itself isn’t too terribly long, and those who go shouldn’t plan on Haunted Carwash being their entire night out. Still, Haunted Carwash lends itself to being an outstanding accoutrement into a potentially spooky outing or date night.

And hey, your car will look great after too.

Tickets start at $25 in California, and $35 in North Carolina.