The Haunted Trail
The Haunted Trail is a privately held, seasonal live-actor Halloween attraction in San Diego's Balboa Park, operating since 1999 with a 3,500 sq ft eXperiment Maze and a mile-long outdoor Haunted Trail, plus a free Dark Carnival scare zone. It serves individual thrill-seekers, families, and group bookings during the September-October season.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Haunted Trail does
The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park is a privately held, seasonal live-actor haunted attraction operating in San Diego, California since 1999. The company delivers two ticketed experiences at a single location: The eXperiment Maze, a 3,500 square foot indoor maze featuring themed zones such as the Mutant Maze, Asylum, Vortex, and Magician's Acid Trip with live actors and sensory-deception effects; and the Haunted Trail, a mile-long outdoor walk-through winding through the gnarled oaks of Marston Point in Balboa Park, with themed environments including the Ghoul Bus, Clown Slums, Killbilly encampment, Old West rage zombies, and the Chainsaw Cathedral. The technology stack supporting these attractions is theatrical and effects-based, comprising lighting rigs, audio systems, projectors, fog machines, strobe lights, and water-effect hardware — there is no software platform, no app, and no AI/ML component.
The business model is anchored in date-specific timed-entry ticketing with two consumer tiers: Timed General Admission starting at $34.99 and Fast Pass admission starting at $49.99, both sold primarily online through the company's own website with a $3.99 service fee applied to on-site credit-card purchases. Ancillary revenue is generated through a concessions booth selling beverages, snacks, and glow novelties at the entrance, the BOOtique Gift Shop at the exit, and food-truck operator activity in the Dark Carnival zone — a free-entry immersive scare zone that was expanded to its second year in 2025. The company serves individual thrill-seekers, couples, friend groups, families with children aged 10+, and organizational group bookings of 20 or more, with go-to-market executed through the company website, Instagram (@hauntedtrailbp), email newsletter, earned media (CNN Top 5 Best Haunted Attractions in America; America Haunts 2026 Top 5 Best Value), and cross-promotional partnerships with adjacent San Diego thrill-entertainment venues.
The Haunted Trail firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Haunted Trail
- Legal name
- The Haunted Trail
- Website
- https://hauntedtrail.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Haunted Trail is a privately held, seasonal live-actor Halloween attraction in San Diego's Balboa Park, operating since 1999 with a 3,500 sq ft eXperiment Maze and a mile-long outdoor Haunted Trail, plus a free Dark Carnival scare zone. It serves individual thrill-seekers, families, and group bookings during the September-October season.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Haunted Trail industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Halloween Entertainment Attractions
- NAICS
- Amusement and Theme Parks (713110)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Seasonal & Special-Event Parks (Halloween/Christmas, Pop-Up Experiences) (THAJAEAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Amusement Parks (Regional/Local Ride Parks & Funfairs) (THAJAEAD)
Keywords
Where The Haunted Trail is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
The Haunted Trail business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Primary revenue from date-specific timed admission tickets. Two tiers: Timed General Admission ($34.99+) and Fast Pass Admission ($49.99+) with express entry. Tickets sold online in advance or at on-site booth with $3.99 service fee.
- Concessions and Merchandise: Concessions booth sells beverages, snacks, souvenirs, and glow novelties at entrance. BOOtique Gift Shop at exit offers merchandise. Food trucks at Dark Carnival.
- Group Sales: Group discount tickets available for 20+ tickets purchased in advance through the office.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Timed General Admission - Standard entry with 30-minute window |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Fast Pass Admission - Express entry with flexible arrival window |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | On-Site Ticket Booth |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Group Tickets (20+) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Haunted Trail product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Haunted Trail operates a seasonal (September–October) immersive Halloween attraction in San Diego's Balboa Park, offering two ticketed walk-through experiences — a 3,500 sq ft indoor eXperiment Maze and a mile-long outdoor haunted trail through Marston Point — featuring live actors, theatrical lighting, fog and strobe effects, and themed zones. The attraction also runs a free Dark Carnival scare zone with carnival games, food trucks, and a gift shop at the exit.
Product overview
The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park operates as a single unified haunted attraction experience in San Diego, combining two main ticketed products — The eXperiment Maze (a 3,500 sq ft indoor maze) and The Haunted Trail (a mile-long outdoor walk-through) — plus the free-to-enter Dark Carnival scare zone. General admission includes entry to both the eXperiment Maze and Trail, while the Dark Carnival operates as a complimentary extension at the exit featuring carnival games, food trucks, and a gift shop.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- The eXperiment Maze 3,500 square foot indoor walk-through haunted maze featuring themed zones such as Mutant Maze, Asylum, Vortex spinning terror, and Magician's Acid Trip illusion room, staffed with live actors including cyberpunks and a killer rabbit character; included with general admission.
- The Haunted Trail A mile-long outdoor haunted walk-through attraction winding through the gnarled oaks of Balboa Park's Marston Point, featuring themed zones including the Ghoul Bus, Clown Slums, Killbilly encampment, Old West rage zombies, and Chainsaw Cathedral; included with general admission.
- Dark Carnival Scare Zone Free-entry immersive scare zone at the exit of the main haunt featuring horror-themed carnival games, specialty interactive creatures, themed photo opportunities, local food trucks, and the BOOtique Gift Shop; no ticket required for entry.
Quantifiable outcome
- Timed GA typically has no more than 1 hour overall wait
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Haunted Trail
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Haunted Trail technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
The Haunted Trail partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Axe Throws San DiegominorPartner attraction cross-promoted on The Haunted Trail sponsors page. Located in San Diego area, targeting similar thrill-seeking entertainment consumers.
- Great Room Escapes San DiegominorPartner attraction cross-promoted on The Haunted Trail sponsors page. Escape room experience targeting similar adult entertainment consumers in San Diego.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Haunted Trail competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Netherworld Haunted House: Highly rated, independently operated haunted attraction in Norcross, GA, featuring multiple themed mazes and elaborate sets/effects. Direct peer in scale, business model, and category leadership among independent US haunted houses.
- The Darkness: Two-story, multi-attraction haunted house in St. Louis, MO, consistently ranked among the top US haunts. Comparable to The Haunted Trail as a privately owned, multi-zone, effects-heavy seasonal attraction.
- The 13th Gate: Independently operated, award-winning haunted attraction in Baton Rouge, LA, frequently ranked among the top haunts in the US. Closest direct comparable to The Haunted Trail in terms of being a privately owned, multi-attraction, top-tier regional haunt.
- Cutting Edge Haunted House: Largely independently operated multi-maze haunted attraction in Fort Worth, TX, recognized among the largest and longest haunted houses in the US. Comparable as a multi-zone, paid seasonal haunt targeting national 'scare-cation' travelers.
- Dark Harbor at The Queen Mary: Seasonal haunted attraction held aboard the Queen Mary ship in Long Beach, CA, featuring multiple themed mazes, scare zones, and live actors. Comparable in scale, ticket price point, and Southern California seasonal positioning to The Haunted Trail.
Broad incumbents
- Halloween Horror Nights (Universal Studios): Universal Studios' flagship ticketed Halloween event featuring immersive mazes, scare zones, and IP-driven haunted attractions. Operates at far larger scale and budget across multiple US parks, but shares the same core model of paid, themed, seasonal scare entertainment that The Haunted Trail competes with for 'scare-cation' dollars.
- Knott's Scary Farm: Cedar Fair's long-running, separately-ticketed Halloween event at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, CA, featuring mazes, scare zones, and live shows. Closest large-scale regional analog to The Haunted Trail in Southern California and a direct competitor for LA/San Diego Halloween tourists.
- Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream: Separately-ticketed, after-hours Halloween event at Busch Gardens theme parks (Tampa and Williamsburg), featuring haunted houses, scare zones, and shows. Operates at destination theme park scale; competes with The Haunted Trail for Halloween tourist demand.
- Six Flags Fright Fest: Annual Halloween event rolled out across Six Flags theme parks nationwide, featuring scare zones, mazes, and rides. Competes for the same Halloween discretionary spend with broader geographic reach but lower specialization per park than The Haunted Trail.
Others
- America Haunts: Industry media outlet and trade organization covering top US haunted attractions, including the 'Top 5 Best Value' list that recognized The Haunted Trail in 2026. Relevant as an ecosystem participant that shapes consumer discovery and industry benchmarking for the haunt category.
Market position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Haunted Trail social profiles
Digital presenceThe Haunted Trail financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Haunted Trail leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
The Haunted Trail funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Haunted Trail M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Haunted Trail
What does The Haunted Trail do?
The Haunted Trail operates a seasonal (September–October) immersive Halloween attraction in San Diego's Balboa Park, offering two ticketed walk-through experiences — a 3,500 sq ft indoor eXperiment Maze and a mile-long outdoor haunted trail through Marston Point — featuring live actors, theatrical lighting, fog and strobe effects, and themed zones. The attraction also runs a free Dark Carnival scare zone with carnival games, food trucks, and a gift shop at the exit.
Is The Haunted Trail a public or private company?
The Haunted Trail is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Haunted Trail founded?
The Haunted Trail was founded in 1999. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Haunted Trail based?
The Haunted Trail is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Haunted Trail make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are concessions and Merchandise and group Sales.
Who are The Haunted Trail's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Netherworld Haunted House, The Darkness, The 13th Gate, Cutting Edge Haunted House and Dark Harbor at The Queen Mary. Broad incumbents are Halloween Horror Nights (Universal Studios), Knott's Scary Farm, Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream and Six Flags Fright Fest. America Haunts is listed as an others.
Does The Haunted Trail have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Haunted Trail.
What industry is The Haunted Trail in?
The Haunted Trail's product category is Halloween Entertainment Attractions. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJAEAH, Seasonal & Special-Event Parks (Halloween/Christmas, Pop-Up Experiences), with a secondary code of THAJAEAD, Amusement Parks (Regional/Local Ride Parks & Funfairs). Its NAICS code is 713110 and its SIC code is 7900.