Though the heat of summer still hangs heavy and humid in the Louisiana air, things feel a bit more like fall inside the walls of the 13th Gate Haunted House. A dedicated crew led by owner Dwayne Sanburn is hard at work constructing the newest additions to this year’s attraction, possibly one of the biggest builds to date. For Sanburn and his team, haunting doesn’t only happen in October. When November chills the air and the doors are closed to the public, the crew begins disassembling the sets to be replaced while Sanburn himself decides on what comes next. Each year, approximately 20 percent of the haunt will be rotated out in favor of the next big thing to make people scream.
The 13th Gate Haunted House, so named for its 13 unique and immersive themed areas, spans an impressive 40,000 square feet, both indoor and outdoor. Each scene is painstakingly detailed, from individual cobblestones in the streets to a twinkling night sky. This attention to detail results in a hyper-realistic immersive environment for guests to explore, and it’s not just about what you can see. The materials used for construction ensure that when guests are scared and lean against a wall to catch their breath, that wall feels real and solid. The gravestones in the outdoor cemetery feel like real mossy stones, cool to the touch. Take a deep breath as you enter the demon infested cabin and you will smell burning firewood. Guests may however wish to avoid the smell of decaying bodies once they depart the pirate ship… it’s one smell they won’t soon forget.
The haunt also includes detailed soundtracks and interactive dialogue carefully crafted for each individual scene. Before the season begins, 150 actors attend Ghoul School where they develop their characters, learn how to be prepared for anything a guest can throw at them, and of course, perfect the art of the scare. Once the season begins, talented hair and makeup artists and stage managers with intricate costumes transform the actors into characters from your worst nightmares.
For the 2023 season, Sanburn knew he wanted to include something new that would leave guests talking as they ran from the exit. The old London set, which had been around since 2014, got the literal ax. This year’s newest scene features 13th Gate’s trademark meticulous realism as well as some innovative scares to keep guests on their toes. Of course, the secrets will be kept under wraps until opening night, but the people of Baton Rouge may soon find their world has been turned a little upside down.
The changes have also extended from the haunted house itself to CarnEvil Haunted Midway located across the street. In addition to the old carnival favorites such as ax throwing and clown dunking, guests can now experience the new Sinister Selfies, a horror themed selfie museum. For anyone who ever wished they could take a picture inside the haunt, this museum consists of small individual scenes featuring some of the 13th Gate’s best loved, and feared characters.
As the summer begins to draw to a close and haunt season approaches, one thing is certain. This year’s offerings at The 13th Gate are sure to leave its guests dying to enter her haunted halls once again. For more information on The 13th Gate Haunted House and CarnEvil Haunted Midway, visit www.13thGate.com
