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Haunted Bay 2006 Pirates of Emerson doesn’t disappoint again this year, retaining its status as the Top Bay Area Haunt for its attention to detail and wow factor. Pirates of Emerson offers three attractions: the main haunt, a superbly built pirate ship and village; Pirates of the Deep in 3-D, an exciting tour through the vibrantly painted underwater world of Davy Jones' locker; and the Bilge Rat Maze with pulsating strobe lights. All three have kept what we've long appreciated and even made a few improvements. We’ve mentioned in past reviews that the grounds were too dimly lit and sparse. This year the theme has been beefed up with the inclusion of wooden pilings topped with muted lights giving the grounds an old wharf atmosphere. Also interesting is a laser light display from the masts of the main haunt's pirate ship. Interesting to watch, especially later in the season when the lines grow, if not entirely fitting with the theme. Main Haunt We still love the beginning of the haunt. We didn’t give it away last year, but you should have taken our advice and already visited so we're going to give it away now. At the beginning of your tour of the Isle of Emerson, you are taken into a room with about 10 other guests while a pirate host and video deliver the rules of the haunt. Your party, and we love the fact that they allow you to go through in your own small group, are guided into a pitch-black “yellavator” where another pirate takes you on a wonderfully hilarious simulated elevator ride down to the lowest level of the haunt. While shaking and spinning in the pitch black yellavator our pirate guide shouted to us but to be honest, with the Hauntmistress laughing and screaming at the top of her lungs we're unclear what he was saying other than to hold on to something and we're going to the bottom. Nevertheless, the entire experience did a great job of living up to its name and setting the mood for the rest of the haunt. Upon exiting the yellavator we found ourselves deep in the pirate's enclave, a twisting maze of rooms full of pirate booty not to mention undead, half dead, and of course full dead pirates. Organ music filled the air setting a dramatic stage for scares to come. It's always nice to see the various rooms have been slightly rearranged and updated so that scares don't become too predictable. There is much to look at in each lavishly decorated room. The Hauntmistress even missed a cool new detail that the Hauntmaster had to point out. A few sections of the ever changing floor were made out of acrylic so you could see through the floor. In one section you could see through to the bone riddled sand below. In the swamp scene, complete with running water and the sounds of insects, bats, and all manner of night dwelling creatures buzzing about, the bridge was made of acrylic allowing you to see through to the water. After this discovery, she made sure to look everywhere in each room and was rewarded by seeing that POE had even lit up the planks we were walking on with a soft yellow glow, making it seem as if there was something unearthly going on below you. POE continues to let you open the doors to your own adventure. To enter many of the rooms you have to push open a door (sometimes choosing between multiple doors). This helps to promote the effect that you are playing a part in the adventure, not just witnessing the fun. One of the ever popular knee sliding pirates made a very effective run at the Hauntmistress in the storm tossed pirate ship who in tern nearly fell over herself in an attempt to flee proving yet again the ONLY way to go through a haunt is to put the biggest chickens in the front of your group. At one point we were traveling through a room and caught a glimpse of a vortex tunnel. But we never came across one in the haunt. This leads us to wonder if we were seeing things or if there are two paths in order to move people through faster – one that begins with the yellavator and one that perhaps begins with a vortex tunnel. Further deepening the mystery is the couple who were in line behind us made it out of the haunt before we did and yet they didn't pass us through the labyrinth of rooms, we saw no chicken exits, and a pirate we met wandering the grounds told us, "to the best of me knowledge there be only one way through". If there is more than one way through, POE should let that be known – we would have definitely gone through again to hit the tunnel. Pirates of the Deep in 3-D The 3-D haunt was freshened up quite a bit this year. The paintings look more vibrant and more real, with a newly painted “wooden” entrance. The effect of being underwater is enhanced with acrylic water tanks with bubbling air that guide your view to various underwater vignettes. There are also new props hanging throughout the corridors of the haunt. We specifically enjoyed the cannons protruding from the walls and the wonderful jellyfish and other sea creatures we had to push past. There are also new “nooks”, where walls come together in a 3-D scene that makes it seem like the hall goes on in a different direction. In this haunt there is, for certain, a great vortex tunnel that makes it difficult to exit standing straight up. Bilge Rat Maze We didn’t have the time nor inclination to go through the maze this year, but it seemed as if people were enjoying it. It consists of a relatively short open-air maze of chain-link fence that you have to navigate through while strobe lights pulsate, making it hard to determine where you are or need to be going. An interesting effect and nice as an added attraction but in our opinion one trip through is enough. As always POE offers food and drink for sale and a free movie. Playing was the same “Cutthroat Island” staring Geena Davis we've seen for the past few years. One of the more recent "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies or another movie of the pirate genre would be welcome but if you've never seen "Cutthroat Island" or you're waiting for other members of your party on their second or third run through the haunts it's worthwhile to sit and watch a few scenes. Our final note on the subject of Pirates of Emerson is to go early in the season when there are fewer people and if you can't make it until later, buy their VIP pass, which gets you to the front of the lines that can get very long especially the week of Halloween DarkLordSid - 2006 Okay, we went last night, and I've not seen a better haunt than this for a while now. Great crew, pirates in full garb are out interacting in character with the customers. Most impressive and dazzling use of lasers I've seen, they bounce them about so they look like rigging in the ship as well as provide animated entertainment on the top of the structure. Great scares, very detailed scenes, the crew is dead on with the scares. A must see at least once, maybe a couple of times if we can manage it. FIVE out of FIVE BIG STARS (and this from a professional haunter) Tom Anger, Live 105 2006 Tom Anger's Halloween haunt guide! Pirates of Emerson: My favorite haunted house for the last few years. They make great use of their space with a scare around every corner. Wear thick clothes if your date has long nails. They have a lot of un dead lurking around that will make them grab and tear into your flesh. This Fremont native of 15 years blows away everything I have seen at the big chain haunted houses. Worth a drive to Fremont from any part of the Bay. On the downside, they can have long lines as you get closer to Halloween so go early in the month or give yourself plenty of time. Boooo! 5! Four pumpkins and a dead keyboard player Theme Park Adventure Magazine 2005 In 2004, I became ill in the second half of October, greatly reducing my haunted house visiting and reviewing. One of the local haunts that got the short end of the stick was the always-impressive Pirates of Emerson, in Fremont, California. This year however, I feel great and while a bit tired from my crazy October schedule, made my way to Pirates to see what they have to offer for their 2005 season. Located deep in the heart of Fremont (although very easy to get to from the 880 Freeway), Pirates of Emerson sits alone in the middle of darkness - within a vacant just off a two-lane road. As you approach the haunt, it's very subtle; there are no bright lights, no neon signs and no bumper-to-bumper line of cars waiting to enter the property's parking lot (usually). Once you've purchased your tickets at the main admission booth (of course, you've used your special (Theme Park Adventure discount coupon), say goodbye to 2005 and hello to a time long ago, when pirates sailed the high seas and treasure was buried everywhere an X marked the spot! Within the gates of Pirates of Emerson lies the Bay Area's most creative and beautifully-designed haunt. While the scares may be on the low-end for some (seasoned haunters don't tend to jump at teen talent - or any talent, for that matter), those easily frightened will find at least two of the three attractions within Pirates of Emerson to be truly terrifying. I'm one of those guys who tends to laugh and enjoy the enthusiasm of haunt talent, rather than scream or get startled. However, the pop-out scares at Pirates are effective and on several occasions, I did find myself jumping just a bit when caught off-guard. Now, when I take my family through each year, it's a whole different ball game - Scream-O-Rama, gang. Hell, they even get so worked up that they often fall down in a big heap on the ground. And yes, there I am in the back, laughing at them... not with them! When I visit Pirates of Emerson, I tend to do it either on off-nights (avoiding the weekends, as I am not a crowd person) or late at night on the weekend (such as an hour before closing). I've never had a less-than-pleasant visit, nor have I never had to wait too long to enter one of the three mazes. There are three mazes that currently make up Pirates of Emerson. I always do them in the following order: Pirates of the Deep 3-D- This is one of the best 3-D mazes I have ever seen, anywhere. While I am not particularly a huge fan of 3-D in mazes (the glasses never fit well over my own glasses and the thick sides always make me feel boxed in and claustrophobic; plus, the lenses of the glasses always make everything milky; instead of clear, which is distracting to me as well), I have to say that the use of 3-D paints and props in this maze is fantastic. Most of the elements within Pirates of the Deep 3-D are painted on the walls, although there are some very nice 3-D scenes placed throughout the maze and yes, there are classic pop-out scares to be had; not as many late at night as one would like perhaps, but the ones that do come are enthusiastic and usually get someone in the group good and startled. The way that the pop-out scares at Pirates of Emerson are hidden make awesome use of trap doors and static props that the talent suddenly pops out of or from. The artwork used in this 3-D maze is very hip - very comic book. It's not gory, but rather, focuses on skeletons and sea creatures. Each year, I am very impressed with the art - whether its images I remember from previous years or something new that's been added. Most visitors are too busy huddling together, trying to anticipate when and where the next scare is coming from, so they tend to miss out on all of the groovy artwork adorning the walls (including a comical image of Nemo about to be devoured by a deep-sea fish). Take your time going through Pirates of the Deep and take it all in. It's really very well done. One aspect of this maze that I need to mention is that it has a decent-sized vortex tunnel (a.k.a. one of those spinning tunnels you walk through that make you wanna throw up) that is nicely lit and very effectively painted for a 3-D effect. In fact, this is the finest vortex tunnel I have ever come across in a haunted house.I can't quite put my finger on it, except to say that it's executed perfectly - the lighting, the paint, the speed and the length; it is one of the only vortex tunnels that actually makes me dizzy and lose my balance when walking through each year. So major props tothat particular portion of the maze; it's bound to make every visitor long for their sea legs! The next part I like to hit at Pirates of Emerson is the Bilge Rat Maze. The Bilge Rat maze is quite simple in design, but delivers a very effective punch. Basically, it's a good-sized labyrinth, made entirely of chain link fencing. The catch is that there are high-intensity strobes places at intervals around the perimeter of the maze, flashing slowly, which makes for a very disorienting adventure! Music plays loudly (selections from the soundtrack to Cutthroat Island), which makes for great ambience here. I'm a big fan of using mood music - and this is spot-on, rather than some random thrash metal playing, which is what most other haunts would opt for in a situation like this. Not Pirates of Emerson, however - everything is piratey down to the last detail, including the music, so kudos for that. Groups going through the Bilge Rat Maze tend to laugh their way through it, getting lost and turned around together, or splitting up and going their own ways, which inevitably always leads to everyone being lost and disoriented, calling out verbal directions to the other folks, no one really knowing who's going the right way most of the time. If I were to make any changes to the Bilge Rat maze, I would perhaps add a few monsters throughout the labyrinth - with metal swords that they could rake along the fencing to terrorize and intimidate the guests. The thought of being turned loose on already-disoriented visitors makes me giddy; I'd probably make someone wet their pants - which is probably not what the staff at Pirates of Emerson is going for with this maze, you know? But as-is, the Bilge Rat Maze is a relatively new and great addition to the overall Pirates of Emerson experience. Once I've found my way through the strobe-lit maze, I hit the third element of Pirates of Emerson - the Main Haunt. This is the heavy-hitter of the event, and this maze in my opinion, should always be saved for the grand finale (otherwise, everything else is going to pale compared). The facade of the Main Haunt is a massive pirate ship, which always wows the crowd; it's not your typical haunted house facade, so many people stand and check it out for several minutes at a time all night long. It really is very cool. In past years, the facade has been the ruins of a pirate ship; this year, it's been turned up a notch and it's one intact vessel, complete with cannons and a spooky captain, who stands silently staring back at the Pirates of Emerson visitors, his garments waving gently in the Autumn breeze. It works and it works nicely - the mood is set and it's time to move in to the Main Haunt itself. Outside of each maze is an actor or actress who explains the rules of the maze in detail and sets up the story before you venture in. These folks are consistently awesome - they never break character and get into their roles with the enthusiasm one could only hope for at an event like this. These folks love what they're doing at it shows. They flirt, they're a tad on the spooky side and they carry themselves very professionally - big props to the greeters! The rules of the land are the same as they are at any haunted house - don't touch, etc. You're then ushered into the Main Haunt and left alone in the dark to find your way out. I don't want to give too much away here - you guys and gals have to experience this incredible haunt for yourselves. I will say however, that I was thrilled to find that a vortex tunnel has been added to the Main Haunt - which was totally unexpected. Other great sensory gags are also in play, including a hellish elevator ride into the depths of this pirate-infested nightmare. The corridors are small and cluttered, which makes for great scare elements as well as an overall creepy atmosphere. The talent throughout this maze is good - again, for seasoned haunt vets, you will likely appreciate their young enthusiasm more than get frightened by them. Again though, if you're with a group of younger people or girls that tend to be very jumpy, you're in for a real treat. The scare moments are plentiful (especially on busier nights when the talent staff has more bodies present) and very effective; as in the 3-D maze, the Main Haunt employs many trap doors and crawl spaces that the talent utilizes nicely. One person can easily take out two or three groups at a time at different areas of the maze from a single hiding place - it's that type of design that is Pirates of Emerson's strong hand. Even on a night when the talent staff is not running at 100%, very few scare attempts are lost simply by the way this maze has been designed. And you've got to give Pirates of Emerson props for that! And the very design of the Main Haunt is what blows my mind each year. Like fine wine, it gets better and better as the years roll on. New ideas are tried and some older favorite elements remain, although placed in different locations each year. The entire maze is completely different each year - something that is awesome and inspiring. I think most people would assume that a haunt like this would use the same layout and perhaps change it up a bit every few years. That certainly would be the easiest way to go. But not the Pirates of Emerson crew; no, sir. Each year, the layout is different - which keeps it fresh for returning visitors and long-time fans alike. In contrast, those visiting Knott's Scary Farm in Southern California will find that the mazes there get changed perhaps every three to five years with little variation during that run. Knowing that you're in for a new experience each and every October at Pirates of Emerson is very exciting and for me personally, is one of the reasons this event is so enjoyable. It never gets old or worn-out for me, even though the theme stays the same, obviously. I like knowing as a guest that some intense creative thought has gone in to the experience each year; it's one of the things that give Pirates of Emerson a serious edge. One thing that Pirates of Emerson started doing not too long ago was giving guests a choice of paths to take through the Main Haunt. I am somewhat divided on this approach. On one hand, I think it's genius - a real-life. Choose Your Own Adventure; book that so many of us grew up with. It allows guests to feel like they have some control over their destiny and makes for a different experience each time they go through the maze (assuming they do the maze more than once - something that is not possible without buying another ticket). It's a cool idea and it allows a whole new dimension for haunt visitors. On the other hand - and I am guessing other haunt fanatics like myself will feel the same - I don't like being given a choice because that means I am inevitably going to miss something - and I want to see every room and every detail when I visit a haunted house. In fact, when I ventured through the Main Haunt with the owner of the attraction before I started shooting these images, I found that the path I didn't take was much more detailed and spooky than the one I did choose. Had I not had a special tour, I would have missed out on the good stuff I found on my second pass through the maze. So, having multiple paths is a Catch-22, in my opinion. However, that is me - I'm a freak when it comes to not missing anything when I visit a haunt, so I would say the majority of visitors couldn't care less. Having multiple paths does enhance the creepiness and uncertainty of any given maze - there certainly aren't any complaints that I hear of when going through the maze regarding the different routes. I'm just old school in that I like to be sent on my way with only one way to venture into the darkness on, you know? Again, the Main Haunt is not destroyed by a heavy metal track. Rather, ambient sounds - or the screams of those somewhere up ahead in the dark - are all that one hears while exploring the maze. Of course, if you're in the maze alone late at night, the only sound you have to listen to are the random props sprinkled throughout, your own heartbeat and running water. That's right - running water. One of the most stunning elements of Pirates of Emerson's Main Haunt is the fact that a lagoon has been created in the middle of this maze; which is in the middle of a bone-dry lot. It's awesome - it rains, the water bubbles and by God, it's a lagoon. Most may not understand how totally cool this is - but those who do appreciate the details will no doubt think this is one hell of an accomplishment. I love it - and I have loved this aspect of Pirates of Emerson ever since I started visiting each year. A word of warning - watch those gators! The interior of the Main Haunt is very dimly-lit for the most part. Dim lighting, fog and lots of twists and turns make for a very surreal, very spooky trip through this maze. Grab tightly onto a loved one (or perhaps a stranger that is willing to be a loved one for the 10 minutes it generally takes to walk through the Main Haunt) and go for it - it's thrilling, gorgeous and genius in layout/design. A huge congratulations to the entire Pirates of Emerson crew on yet another kick-ass year. This remains my personal favorite Bay Area haunt and it's something I look forward to experiencing each October. If you're within driving distance of Pirates of Emerson, you need to see it for yourself to understand and get the full impact of how cool it is. Pictures simply don't do it justice. It's all a big work of art that stands as a testament to its creators and the staff that operates it each year. Another incredible year for Pirates of Emerson! Check them out online at www.PiratesOfEmerson.com Haunted Bay 2005 Pirates of Emerson has long been the haunt to beat in the Bay Area and this year they have done it again - improved on an already winning formula with the addition of an elevator; in the main haunt. Kudos for always coming up with new and exciting things - not just sticking with a proven, winning formula! From the moment you step foot in the main haunt the fun begins - I won't ruin the surprises entirely, let's just say I was screaming and laughing like a banshee at the same time. Throughout the haunt there are new additions and familiar favorites, including a hall of closets, a jail, and chains; and ropes hanging from the ceiling. Of course there are the scary actors who do a really good job of looking like props and then jumping out at you! But the pièce de résistance for me is always the huge, moving ship;. From the sounds to the smells to the little details not overlooked, I'm always impressed when I first see the ship. Paying attention to the details is something that Pirates of Emerson excels at. A main complaint we have had with other haunts this year is that there is not enough to keep the eye entertained and they are solely relying on actors to jump out and scare. Not at pirates, well, there are plenty of actors to jump out and scare you but their main haunt is filled with props and every view is richly decorated so you really feel as if you were actually on the Isle of Emerson. The lighting, fog, atmosphere, and the sounds change from room to room inside the haunt without the bleeding; so common in lesser haunts. You won't be alerted to what's going on in the next section of the haunt until you're actually there and immersed in that environment. They just plain give more thought to every room.; For example, at one point there is a long hallway. In many haunts they would be satisfied to just place a few photos or a mural on the wall and allow you to see all the way down to the other end. Not scary, slightly boring but usually long halls are foremost utilitarian, just there to get you from one set of rooms to another rather than a scare tool. Pirates of Emerson, on the other hand, more effectively uses this space, placing doors in the hallway. A simple detail but by blocking your view and confining the space there is a small build up every time you approach them and wonder what's behind. Will there be a monster? A bloodthirsty pirate? What's coming up behind me now that the doors have closed? Another favorite of ours is the swamp scene near the ship detailed with all manner of swamp trees and shrubs as well as a very ferocious looking alligator. Crossing the bridge you can see the water moving, feel the moisture in the air, and hear it dripping on everything around you. When you stop for a moment to realize this is all taking place in what is, for nine months of the year, a vacant field far removed from utility services it becomes all the more amazing. The Pirates of the Deep 3-D haunt was good, as always, same well-done murals of skeletons and sea life and the fun spinning vortex tunnel at the end. We especially enjoyed singing along with a severed head floating in the briny deep. Actors were definitely more scarce in this haunt than they have been in past years though. .There was a small line for Pirates of Emerson's third haunt the Bilge Rat chain-link fence maze and people seemed to be very much enjoying themselves, but after going through it for the past two years, we passed on it this year. While fun, it's just not for us. If we were to recommend an order to visit these individual haunts it would be to do the chain-link fence maze first followed by the 3-D maze and then visiting the main haunt thereby saving the best for last. To round out your night make sure to watch the show by the gigantic skeleton monster near the 3-D haunt, grab a snack and a drink and relax in the seating area where they are projecting horror movies. When you're sufficiently rested Pirates offers discounted tickets by the main entrance so you can do it all again! SFPhotoCraft 2005 The best SCREAM in the Bay Area happens each year in Fremont, during the month of October. This is a cross between the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean in Disneyland, with some VERY REAL scares thrown in! The pirates dock in a large field in Fremont. While driving up Warm Springs, you will suddenly see an oversized skull in the middle of a field, what appear to be several large circus tents, and police directing traffic here in the middle of nowhere. You have just found the best thrill in the area! Parking is free, but it's a bit of nightmare--almost as scary as the main event. This is a hugely popular event, and the field has plenty of parking but way too many people to make it flow. The lines are always long to get in. The doors open each night at 7pm, and already you will find endless lines of eager people waiting to get in. The best tip I can give you is that, for $25, you can buy a VIP pass online which allows you to cut to the front of the lines. We splurged on the extra $10 (the regular ticket is $15) this year and were happy we did--it saves time and boredom and keeps you out of those slow moving, endless lines. I highly recommend it! The event is made up of three area of fright. The sets are very well done, and you go through dark mazes with horrible scenes of ghostly pirates. The most thrilling part is the large number of costumed pirates who jump out at every turn. Everyone is screaming, from young kids to teenage dates to old goats like me! There is no way your heart won't skip a beat or two when what you think is a make-believe statue suddenly gets down from his perch and starts chasing you down a dark hall. The actors stay in character and seem to have a great time scaring the wits out of the willing customers. Many of the sets are complete with strobe and black lights that give you a feeling of uncertainty. You completely lose your sense of direction and just move ahead, trying to find the exit. And once you are done with that maze of terror, you have two more to go! There are a lot of haunted houses around this time of year, but few are better done than this one. Our kids look forward to it each year, and so do we. I advise you to check out the web page for dates. It does change slightly each year. I also advise you to get there early, and by all means, buy the $25 VIP ticket. The Bay Area is great during Halloween. It seems to be one of those places that really embraces the season, and The Pirates of Emerson is one event you shouldn't miss during this season. It's frightfully good! Member recommendation: Very Highly Recommended IBMer 2005 The Pirates of Emerson is a haunted house type thing in Fremont. IBM rented the entire thing out for the night for all IBMers to go for free, and to bring friends and family. So Alla invited me and I went with her, Silke, and Georges. It was actually lots of fun. There was a haunted house, where Alla and Silke got a lot of surprises. Also a weird strobe maze where the strobing makes it hard to see where a wall is. And finally a sort of 3-D haunted house with less scaring and more 3-D effects. Alla's mom also showed up, although she didn't go through any of the stuff with us. Silke was very interested in knowing how the 3-D glasses work, and we figured out that it acts like a lot of tiny prisms and refracts different colors of the light at different angles. That forces different colors to appear like they are coming from a different point in space, thus causing a 3-D effect when multiple colors are involved. Alla got a big scare at the beginning when a pirate came up behind her. We had a few run-ins with that pirate later on, because Alla is an easy target for jokes and scaring. Even Silke scared her a few times just while going through the haunted houses. Rachel 2005 I loved the Pirates of Emerson!!! I made him go through twice. Great detail, great theme. There is a fork in the road where the paths separate before coming back together and both sides were great. The second time through was better than the first, we remembered some sections but not others, still got lots, still got very scared!! Also their 3D house (which is included in the price) was great. Not as scary, but very cool and freaky! I had written off 3D houses before this because I had seen them so badly done. Both houses were worth the time and money!!!!!!! I so love Halloween! Maximus_Ridiculousness 2005 We just got back home, ourselves. We went to see the Pirates of Emerson in Fremont (CA). It's the BEST haunted attraction in California. I screamed the whole way through. Hubby laughed the whole way through - at my incessant screaming. Tom Anger, Live 105 2005 My favorite haunted house for the last few years. They make great use of their space with a scare around every corner. Wear thick clothes if your date has long nails. They have a lot of un dead lurking around that will make them grab and tear into your flesh. This Fremont native of 14 years blows away everything I have seen at the big chain haunted houses. Worth a drive to Fremont from any part of the Bay. On the downside, they can have long lines as you get closer to Halloween so go early in the month or give yourself plenty of time. Boooo! Mary 2005 The Captain and his crew of scally wags and wenches have done it once again... If interested in a screaming good time Pirates of Emerson is the place to be. A Place all Pirates at heart will feel at home. Thrills around every bend, and chills around every corner. The faint at heart will get the scare of their lives. This is Pirates of the Caribbean taken to the extreme with a scare factor of 10 + !! Every year is a tantalizing surprise. You never know what to expect. The details of the sets are so realistic that you tend to forget you are in a haunted house in Fremont. At least until that second look gets you a unexpected fright. There are Pirates lurking in every dark corner just waiting to scare the yell out of ya!!! Don't expect to keep your friends close cause the Pirates have other ideas in mind.... Each trip through is a different adventure with decisions and choices to make which will determine the outcome of your experience. To round out your fun there's also the Awesome 3D underwater adventure and the disorientating strobe maze to enjoy. So if you want to scare up some fun the Pirates of Emerson is an adventure you don't want to miss. Jill 2005 FOR ALL THE CLAYTON & CONCORD PEEPS THIS IS DEFIANTLY A 40 MINUTE ROAD TRIP TO TAKE. THE MAZES WERE AMAZING. US MOSSY GYRLS HAD A BLAST. WE SCREAMED AND LAUGHED SO HARD THAT AT ONE POINT IN THE HAUNTED PIRATE SHIP WE HAD TO CATCH OUR BREATH BEFORE WE WENT ON TO THE NEXT ROOM. THE OLD SEA HAG WITCH WAS THE BEST. SINCE SHE SMACKED MY SISTERS BUM WITH HER BROOM AND YELLED MOVE!! IT WAS PURE FUN AND TRULY SCARY. WE RAN INTO MIC THE SCALAWAG AND HE WAS A GREAT JACK SPARROW LOOK ALIKE AND TRULY A FUNNY PIRATE. HE TOLD US THE LEGEND OF THE PIRATES AND EVEN GAVE US SOMETHING WE COULD ALL TAKE HOME WITH US AND THAT WAS BEING POKED BY A PIRATE WITH HIS FINGER. IT WAS JUST PURE ENTERTAINMENT AND WE ARE SO GOING BACK NEXT YEAR. THANKS PIRATES FOR A GREAT HAUNT!! IgoUgo The best SCREAM in the Bay Area happens each year in Fremont, during the month of October. This is a cross between the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean in Disneyland, with some VERY REAL scares thrown in! The pirates dock in a large field in Fremont. While driving up Warm Springs, you will suddenly see an oversized skull in the middle of a field, what appear to be several large circus tents, and police directing traffic here in the middle of nowhere. You have just found the best thrill in the area! Parking is free, but it's a bit of nightmare--almost as scary as the main event. This is a hugely popular event, and the field has plenty of parking but way too many people to make it flow. The lines are always long to get in. The doors open each night at 7pm, and already you will find endless lines of eager people waiting to get in. The best tip I can give you is that, for $25, you can buy a VIP pass online which allows you to cut to the front of the lines. We splurged on the extra $10 (the regular ticket is $15) this year and were happy we did--it saves time and boredom and keeps you out of those slow moving, endless lines. I highly recommend it! The event is made up of three area of fright. The sets are very well done, and you go through dark mazes with horrible scenes of ghostly pirates. The most thrilling part is the large number of costumed pirates who jump out at every turn. Everyone is screaming, from young kids to teenage dates to old goats like me! There is no way your heart won't skip a beat or two when what you think is a make-believe statue suddenly gets down from his perch and starts chasing you down a dark hall. The actors stay in character and seem to have a great time scaring the wits out of the willing customers. Many of the sets are complete with strobe and black lights that give you a feeling of uncertainty. You completely lose your sense of direction and just move ahead, trying to find the exit. And once you are done with that maze of terror, you have two more to go! There are a lot of haunted houses around this time of year, but few are better done than this one. Our kids look forward to it each year, and so do we. I advise you to check out the web page for dates. It does change slightly each year. I also advise you to get there early, and by all means, buy the $25 VIP ticket. The Bay Area is great during Halloween. It seems to be one of those places that really embraces the season, and The Pirates of Emerson is one event you shouldn't miss during this season. It's frightfully good! RD Alright, So here is my quick review. After a nice talk with the owner or the compound, and a quick tour he had me listen into the woman at the front's story. Telling how the pirates came to be, and why they are angry.. First thing to note, Pirates of Emerson does an excellent job of breaking you into small groups. I of course was by myself. So I head into the first room where I receive my rules.. The first room is different from last year, as is the whole maze. Many parts are similar in design as last year, including multiple doorways, but the maze seemed much darker and eerier than last year. The first room includes a waterfall, and an awesome little pond. It's amazing what they can get into that little tent, and the maze utilizes every bit of space available. At a few points in the maze you cross back behind a part you ahve been through already.. I walked behind the waterfall at the begenning etc. So into detail about the maze, I'm not going to ruin it, but the Heavy themeing in the maze is insane. The amount of work put into detail is incredible, and you will find some of your favorite PoE props throughout. I missed the Sea Hag at the end, but most of the maze is truley Frightful. I had a few good scares, and of course the typical good scare techniques were used. The maze is simply amazing, and the amount of time put into it doesn't even match. I give the Main Haunt at PoE a 10/10 this year. I'll have another review after Thursday when I get to experience the full Haunt. Now onto the compound, this year they have new towers out front, and the front has a whole new look. Turrets and Towers adjoin the front enterance. It's amazing what this group of people did in a month. After talking with the owner, I learned only two people are working from the orgional haunt, 13 Years ago. If you dont' know, the Haunt started as a Front Yard Display and soon turned into something big. Congratulations to PoE crew for putting on the best Display in Northern California. Urban Diversion blog After leaving the corn maze, we headed over to the Pirates of Emerson. I was told its a haunted house with a pirate theme. Most of the haunted houses I'd been to were really lame. They consisted of "eerie" music, people in bad costumes, and fake spider webs scattered about. When I was a kid, they did blind fold me and put my hand in "brains". I felt around and declared it felt like cold spaghetti, which it was. Needless to say, it takes a lot to impress me. The whole Pirates of Emerson compound was built out in a field. When I drove by, I could see a large black tent in the middle and several smaller buildings surrounding it. There was so much traffic in and out of the parking area that the local police had to direct cars. The line seemed to stretch all the way to the end of the parking area, and I was tempted to call it a night and not wait so long for a haunted house. But, I found the group again and decided to stay. The tickets were pricey for a haunted house, but the person accepting the money said they have three attractions inside. The first section we went to was a 3D under the sea haunted house. The walls of the narrow corridors were painted with fluorescent paint showing off all sorts of fish and jellies, and even a skeleton or two. With our 3D glasses, the different colors of paint appeared to be different distances from us. They also combined real props to accentuate the affect. The combination produced a dramatic overall effect. There were times where I felt like the fish were actually swimming in front of me. I even reached out a couple of times to try to touch them. The end of the walk-through had us go through a large rotating cylinder. Fluorescent stars were painted on the inside, giving the illusion of tumbling through the cosmos. Fortunately, the builders had hand rails on the walkway because I felt like I was going to flip onto my head at any minute. Of course, that's the spot Kumi decided to take a picture. So, we stood on the walkway, experiencing vertigo until she got the shot she wanted. By the time I reached the end, I was staggering around like a drunken sailor. The next thing we went through was the Widow's Web. This is a small maze made out of chain link fence. They had strobe lights all around the maze. The flashing shadows through the links made it difficult to determine if it was just a shadow, or really part of the fence. But, after the corn maze, this one was a piece of cake. We were able to make it through in under a minute. A couple of people who came in just after we did stayed in there for about fifteen minutes. Good thing they didn't go to the corn maze, or the Corn Cops would have to rescue them. Finally, we went on to the main attraction. All we saw was a large tent, dominated by an animatronic pirate that would shout about us all being doomed if we dared to enter. He'd do his gig, then lie down for a while. The first time he popped up, it made a few people in line jump. It was entertaining as we waited in line. This has to be the most impressive haunted house I've ever been in. The first thing we encountered was a waterfall. After walking across a bridge, we waded through something that felt like a swamp, complete with wet spongy bits on the walkway. Going down narrow corridors proved frightening because we didn't know when someone would jump out at us, or grab us as we passed. One guy in our group got into the spirit of this by hiding around corners and jumping out. Sometimes, he'd do this to other people besides those he came in with. Things like this don't easily frighten me, but I have to admit there were a few times when I jumped, and at least once where I yelped. I found the clothes closet particularly frightening. There was no way to tell when someone was going to jump out at you, and having to walk through the clothes on hangers made me feel a little apprehensive. While some in the group were worried about things going bump in the night, I spent most of the time in awe of the whole set-up. Although most of the haunted house was low tech, the detail they put into it was impressive. Each section looked exactly like you'd expect. Someone obviously had a lot of imagination and time on their hands. WC Alright, I posted this on a few sites, but I wanted some WC people to see this. This is a Haunted House in Fremont California right between 880 and 680 on Warm Springs Blvd. None the less, if you live up in NorCal or will be up here before the 31st get to this place. It's simply amazing. The detail and work put into this hautned house is emaculate, and puts some Haunt mazes to shame. None the less, for more info visit http://www.piratesofemerson.com Strobe Maze 7/10 Although this maze is the same as last year, just two times larger, it was still fun. It's free this year also, which is an added bonus. Those strobes can be pretty crazy after a while, and I ran into a few fences to say the least. Pirates of the Deep 9/10 This maze is pretty much a 3D maze which uses some great effects with fog, black light, and some awesome paintings. And was pretty similar layout as last year with some GREAT scares. The maze is well themed, and no wall is blank, although the maze could use more props, the use of space was excellent. I think the most impressive element for me was the animatronic at the begenning of the maze which was singing a song. The animatronic had bubbles coming out his mouth and it was an excellent effect, it really added to the maze. I don't remember this from last year. I had a few REALLY good scares in here, they kept me on the edge of my toes. There are some awesome sptos for scares, along with a spinning tunnel at the end. GREAT though. Really an amazing maze. Pirates of Emerson 11/10 So my last visit didn't do this maze total Justice. The owner had told me their "Elevator" wasn't working last time, and that was because of technical difficulties. None the less, this week it was. Let me just say, what a GREAT effect. I know it left everyone in our group talking about it. It simulates you going down under the ground into the "bay." It was just simply amazing, spinning, shaking, rocking and a crazy pirate really make this intense. Along with the elevator, we enjoyed a maze filled with actors, and intense props. Seriously what an amazing Haunt. I think everyone who went really was impressed. Of course the Sea Hag at the end of the maze was around, and got her swat in at everyone's butt's.. But wow. Let me just say again, GET OUT TO THIS MAZE. The attention to detail is incredible and makes this haunt my top pick in the Bay Area. I really want to commend the owners and actors for making this such an incredible place. The fact that it started as a home haunt is even crazier. WOW. Alright, so that is about it, after the visit we headed out to Carls Jr. and talked more about how amazingly awesome the place was. So yea, if you get a chance, get to Pirates of Emerson in Fremont. It's freaking amazing. KTVU - Channel 2 Anyone who enjoyed Johnny Depp in 'The Pirates of the Carribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl' is sure to get a kick out of the elaborate scares in store when you visit the Pirates of Emerson. A Fremont tradition for 12 years, the Pirates started as a group of friends looking to organize an authentically scary Halloween attraction for teens and adults. What began as a backyard operation has evolved into one of the most elaborate haunts in the Bay Area. With its spooky dungeons, the Isle of Emerson's eerie lagoon, an impressive 3-D maze and an ominously foggy cemetery, the attraction offers plenty of thrills, and screams as enthusiastic Pirate participants do their best to scare patrons straight into November. Be warned that the Pirates of Emerson take their mission seriously; kids under 13 had best stick to more Disney-oriented fare. Theme Park Adventure Magazine Once again, it's Halloween in the Bay Area and once again, screams rise into the night in Fremont, a quick 35-minute drive from San Francisco and Oakland. This is the time of year that fans search out the finest halloween horrors to behold; again, Pirates of Emerson stands unchallenged as the region's best haunted attraction. Pirates began 12 years ago as a home haunt and has since grown into a full-blown event, complete with concession stands and now three separate mazes! It's a home haunter's dream-come-true; it's also a hefty undertaking to produce something of such high quality year after year. Pirates of Emerson takes up a good chunk of a vacant lot in Fremont, California and as guests arrive, it is very apparent that this is no small-time operation. Police and parking attendants direct cars into a parking lot, where everyone is in a festive mood while standing in line waiting to purchase their tickets. In the background, loud noises, sound effects and blood-chilling screams can be heard; it charges the guests with fear and excitement as they prepare for their pirate-themed trip into terror. For the faint-of-heart, or those too young or simply not willing to brave the mazes at Pirates of Emerson, a small "theater" is set up, showing pirate-themed movies, etc. This is a great touch and goes to show that while this is a scare event, the good folks behind Pirates of Emerson want every guest to feel welcome and have a great time while in their care. The theater and concession stands add a professional touch to Pirates that is rarely seen anywhere but in full-scale theme park environments. We think this is fantastic and encourage everyone to feel free to buy drinks, snacks, etc. to help support this haunt. While Pirates of Emerson does have a lot of robotics and industry standard effects, we were very surprised to see that the Fremont haunt now has an "Impaler" figure - the same toy that Knott's Berry Farm purchased this year for its Halloween Haunt event in Buena Park. The Impaler is a 13-foot-tall fully animated figure that is quite the toy at any haunt - it's not a cheap piece of equipment and we were very surprised and impressed to see that Pirates of Emerson is able to step up and buy the same type of hardware that Knott's Scary Farm does for its world-famous event in Southern California. Guests to Pirates will find this nasty creature in front of the main pirate maze, standing in the middle of the wreckage of a ship (last year was the shipwreck's debut; this is its final appearance as the maze's facade because it's such a challenge to assemble and maintain), thrilling guests waiting in line. While The Impaler is the single largest creature prop at Pirates of Emerson, the mazes are packed full of creepy sets and effects that leave guests fully satisfied. This year, guests have three mazes to choose from at Pirates of Emerson - the main maze, the 3-D maze "Pirates of the Deep" and a new "Skeleton Maze" that is a large labyrinth lit only by disorienting strobe bursts. Major changes have taken place in the haunt's 3-D maze, and while TPA isn't a huge fan of the whole 3-D scene anymore, we were impressed and had a great time checking out Pirates of the Deep this year. As the name implies, the theme of the maze is that you are under water with spooky skeletal pirates and every nasty creature of the deep you can imagine. The usage of the 3-D paint is fantastic and the maze is very nicely designed. Inside the Pirates of the Deep, guests will find the haunt's only vortex tunnel; it's very nicely done (as it has been for several years now) and guests are thrilled by its 3-D appearance! Can you walk through the tunnel without holding onto the rails? Let's see ya do it! The crown jewel of Pirates of Emerson is the big maze itself. Year after year, we expect the maze's momentum as far as change and detail to slow down; to wear off a bit. However, as we are each year, the design is completely different and the layout simply kicks our butts. That is thanks to Brian Fields, the haunt's main maze designer. Brian simply kicks ass year after year and the Bay Area is lucky to have such a creative genius behind Pirates of Emerson. Mucho props to you, Mr. Fields! We were impressed by the big changes made this year inside the main maze at Pirates - mainly the fact that guests even have a choice of route through the twisting halls of this demented pirate nightmare. That alone was very impressive and worth the trip to see Pirates this year! While having a choice to make as far as which way to go through the maze may confuse some people, it seems that it was a very successful addition to the attraction's layout. We didn't even realize we had a choice until we went through the maze to take pictures for the TPA site - when we did figure this out, we were absolutely floored. Other than regular labyrinth mazes, we've never been to a haunt where we had the choice of direction to make. We're not saying this doesn't exist in other haunted houses - we just have never personally come across such a thing, and in turn were blown away by this touch. In addition to some new scenes, a few oldies but goodies remain at Pirates. Our personal favorite is the fact that at some point in the maze, you come to see the outside of a pirate ship, rising from the fog as it sits in a man-made harbor of water; it's something that needs to be seen to be appreciated - there is too much fog and moisture in that area to ever get a decent shot, so you have to take our word for it; it's a haunt visual that surpasses most anywhere else. Another favorite is the kinda-sorta vortex tunnel in the main maze that looks as if you're walking through the creaking, rocking hull of the pirate ship. Chandeliers sway violently as skeletons on hammock nets swing within reach of guests walking through this room. It's stunning and something that the staff behind Pirates of Emerson should be very proud of. Again, this is always too foggy to take pictures of, although we try our best year after year, dangit! Maybe one of these days! Design aside, people make or break a haunted attraction. If you have a great crew and a so-so maze, people will have a good time. If you have great people and a fantastic maze, you have Pirates of Emerson. The staff is professional, courteous and very enthusiastic about what they do! Year after year, we marvel at how cool everyone is at Pirates. From vets to newbies, everyone is proud of their haunt - as well they should be. It's also fun to start recognizing certain crew members that have been there for several years and it's always very, very cool when people recognize us and say hello. We love that and it gets us even more pumped about this particular Bay Area haunt. There is still time left to check out Pirates of Emerson in Fremont. If you're on the fence, thinking about whether or not to go, just go! You'll thank us later. To the cast and crew of Pirates - God bless ya. This is our favorite haunt anywhere outside of Knott's Scary Farm and we look forward to our visits to see you each year with great anticipation. It's a hell of a thing you guys and gals pull off each season and we look forward to covering you guys for the rest of our readers for many years to come. www.hauntedbay.com 2003 marks the 12th year that Fremont based Pirates of Emerson has been scaring the public right. At Pirates of Emerson you journey back to the Isle of Emerson, a circa 15th century pirate village where the pirates don't want you to stay but might not let you leave! We actually visited the pirates twice this year, first on the 10th and a second time on the 15th. This was for two reasons, we first wanted to make sure we got a typical experience (opening nights can be a little rough as actors and equipment get sorted out) and second just because this haunt is so much damn fun. Located in a wide-open industrial area of Fremont, Pirates of Emerson (POE) is free from distractions that might spoil your journey back in time, such as street noise and traffic lights. This year the POE compound hosts three haunts: the main haunt containing the "Village of Emerson", the "Pirates of the Deep" 3D haunt, and a new "Skeleton Maze". The "Skeleton Maze" is $2 in addition to the general admission price. POE also offers a spooky graveyard scene, a small area with seating where you can watch a cool horror movie (Cutthroat Island was playing when we visited, not terribly spooky but very appropriate), a booth where you can buy hot dogs and drinks, and an ever so handy booth selling discounted tickets if you want to go through the haunts again. You might want to buy these up front because believe me, you will want to go through again. The Main Haunt, "Village of Emerson": On our most recent visit to POE we started with the main haunt. This is where POE really shines. This is the most richly decorated haunt in the Bay Area. There is something to look at everywhere and everything fits with both the overall theme of the haunt and the room you are in. From the ceiling to the floor, each room is richly and fittingly decorated. The details were carried through even to the quality of the air. In a section where you are walking through a cave the air is cool and had a damp earthy smell. While in the dungeon it was warm and almost dusty. Such attention to detail is rare and greatly appreciated. In a great twist this year they have added the element of choice. Throughout the haunt there are doors you can open to choose your path. Some doors are real, some aren't. There is an easy way to tell but I won't be the one to do it. The acting on opening night was average. There were several instances where the actors either laughed after scaring a guest or could be heard talking out of character behind the scenes. Kind of a mood spoiler but this appears to have been cleared up by the time of our second visit. The actual scares were also rather one dimensional the first time through with every scare being a pirate yelling "Yarrrrrrr". On our second visit, the pirates were in character and were mixing up their scare tactics, which was overall much improved and very effective. Also missing on the first night but added for great effect on our second visit was the fog inside the haunt. While I enjoyed seeing everything in clear detail the first time through, the fog really added a mysterious and foreboding feeling and set the scenes it was used in perfectly. The Hauntmistress particularly enjoyed the door room where you are presented a bewildering number of doors to choose from as well as several of the pirates she thought were static props that turned out, most dramatically, to by live actors. Perhaps the thing that impresses me the most about the main haunt is its length. You feel like you've spent a long time in the haunt and have fully explored every aspect of the "Village of Emerson" (Pirate's homes, their dungeon, their ship, the cave where the treasure is hidden, etc) by the time you've left. POE is very much unlike other attractions, where, after standing in a very long line, you feel like the payoff wasn't worth the wait. This one haunt alone would be worth the price of admission. Pirates of the Deep: "Pirates of the Deep" is a remarkably well done 3D haunt exploring the pirate filled horrors at the bottom of the briny sea. Just as with the main haunt, our second visit was much better than our first. The pirates had gotten their rhythm down and were delivering good scares from all angles. The Hauntmistress is well known for being an easy mark when it comes to scares. It wasn't long before, what seemed like all the pirates at POE, had converged on her to scare her at every possible turn. Pirates were jumping out at her from around corners, following her down hallways and growling, yarr-ing, and hissing at her. At one point, in a flash, five pirates converged on her and made her scream near to the point of crying. So sad was the Hauntmistress' state that pirates were foregoing trying to scare me and moving in directly to get her again and again. While I particularly enjoyed how well painted the the scenes were and the clever construction of the sea creatures (I really liked the jellyfish) the Hauntmistress' favorite part, aside from being scared silly, was the vortex tunnel near the end of the haunt. For those who don't know what a vortex tunnel is, it is a brightly painted tunnel that spins around you as you walk across a bridge through the center. The spinning of the tunnel and the pattern painted on it cause you to loose your equilibrium. The haunt ends with you exiting into the graveyard for one or two last good scares. As with last year, the lights were out when we arrived on opening night but were on for our second visit. Skeleton Maze: As we mentioned before the "Skeleton Maze" is new this year and an additional $2. It was open on opening night but not when we returned on the 15th. It's a rather novel form of a maze constructed entirely out of chain link fence so you can see from one side to the other. Overhead is a powerful strobe light which can disorient you. However, the maze was far too simple for adults. Neither the group before us or our group was caught in any dead ends and the whole maze took about two minutes to complete including the obligatory trying to ditch your friends. When we exited the maze we were assured by the nice pirate that there were dead ends that have trapped other visitors. We thought the maze was an interesting addition but should probably have been included in the cost of admission. As a $2 extra it might be fun for younger children. Alternately, a much expanded and more complex maze could be worth an additional charge next year. Overall, this haunt has been, by far, the best haunt we've been to in the Bay Area. I don't hesitate in recommending this one to everyone. "Come early, come often", would not be too strong a phrase used in describing the Pirates of Emerson! Note: Pirates of Emerson has fog and strobe lights are used in several sections of the haunt. It is also quite intense and scary and not recommended for small children. www.NorCalCoaster.com I went to the Pirates of Emerson the first night they opened, and went again tonight. WHAT A DIFFERENCE! First of all, this time the "compound" had many more lights and props around, including a few live actors. Now let me say, I'm not one to easily be scared, it takes quite a bit, as nothing at (name deleted) scared me, or anything at (name deleted). So we head to the 3D maze first. 3D Pirate Maze Score: 9.5/10 The first part of the maze starts off a little slow, but defiantly picks up fast. This includes the artwork. After a quick jaunt through the underwater scenes, and a few quick scares later, we got the beef of the maze. The maze soon became quite a bit scarier, and FOGGIER!!! YES FOG! Anyways, the fog started to get thick, now people are popping out everywhere including the "Shiver Me Timbers" Guy. The artwork also picks up and I got some QUALITY Scares. We found our way going through the Vortex tunnel, after that there really isn't anything else in the maze, except for the Graveyard Exit, which had some unique scares. Also fun to watch "the puppet." So we headed to the main maze next, but we will save that review for last. So Skeleton Maze was next. Skeleton Maze Score: 5/10 This isn't really a talent based maze, but more a disorienting maze with lots of strobes, and defiantly the chain link fence can become quite disorienting itself. A pretty small maze, but was fun to just run around in, towards the end I thought I was lost, but wasn't. Still definitely good fun. I don't think I would go in a second time though. So last but least was the main maze.. Main Maze Score: 12/10 The main maze was truly "Scary." The first time we went, they only let us go 2 people at a time. So this time it was definitely much improved from the first time. The beginning of the maze had quite a few more actors, and some of the animatronics actually worked this time around. So we continue through with continuous scares, including blasts of air, and actors left and right, everytime I turned around there was another actor following me. We took the left door the first time, which is Pitch Black... That was pretty scary alone, but with people jumping out at you.. So the ship scene was amazing tonight, it was simply super foggy, and there were actually actors around.. Watch out for the slider, he definitely caught me off guard. This is probably the most effect filled part of the haunt, simply amazing! The ship rocking, the strobe lights, the red lights, and the fog, simply make this really, really disorienting... You are in for a surprise. The end of the maze was still filled with actors, and of course the Sea Hag who loves to hit everyone in the butt with her broom. Ok.. Here comes the load of praise for Pirates of Emerson. Pirates of Emerson was one of the best Haunted Houses I have ever been in, the effects, the actors never broke character, they were all there for the good scares, and I saw quite a few good "tag team scares." The main Haunt looks like something Disney put together, and I really enjoyed this haunted House. Definitely a great Haunt, and I encourage anyone who hasn't been out to it, to definitely check it out. I might be out there one more time with my friends from School. Just all the work that goes into that haunt is simply amazing, I applaud the actors and everyone else. It was soooo good, we went in a second time! For $5 you can re-gain access to all the haunted houses. During the second round in the 3D maze, I got my best scare in there of the night, as two monsters got me from the right and left in a fog filled room. The Main Haunt wasn't as scary the second time around, but the Sea Hag insisted on hitting me again... Arg. Anyways, PoE owns, anyone who hasn't gone, needs to go. Don't forget about the coupons at Theme Park Adventure. Overall this Haunt gets a 11/10 It was just that damn good.. Ryan Now I have heard great things about PoE over the past two years. All I can say is Wow! The main maze was amazing, not because of the talent, but the details and time that was put into the decorations and scenes. Basically the mazes are located in Fremont right off Warm Spring Blvd... Wherever that is. Anyways you enter into the "Compound" to see two haunted houses and one "maze." First up was the 3D pirates maze. Admission is $12 on Fri and Sat, and $10 on Sun - Thur. 3D maze - I can't remember what it was called, but anyways we entered this maze not knowing what to expect, so many good comments have come out of PoE over the past few years. Ok so you get your 3D glasses and head into the maze, some good 3D effects in the maze, including a spinning tunnel, which can be quite disorienting. Anyways, some of the scenes were really put together well, but other than that.. It was mostly paintings on the walls, and people jumping out behind curtains. As you leave the maze, watch out for the two "scroungy pirates" as they tirade your party. The can provide quite a scare... Score: 7.5/10 Mutiny - This was the main maze. Basically one of the better mazes I have ever been in due to the detail. There was not one detail left out, from the wood planked ceiling, to the water in the "ocean" there was nothing to gripe about in details in this one. Some of the scares were rather dead, but a few got us good, with many holes, and places for the monsters to stick their heads out of, this could be a great place. Definitely a great maze, with the ending "big" room is just amazing, I'm not gonna spoil it for anyone,. but the ship, and dock, and ocean are awesome. Basically a great Haunted House, with a lot of effort and time put into it. I was rather amazed at how much went into this place. Even the facade of the place was decorated nicely. A ship sits out front, with a blue ocean glimmer cast over it, with a 16 foot monster that stands up and opens his mouth to guests. The pirates roaming the "compound" were definitely good stuff. Anyways... No Fog.. But this showed how you can use no fog to create something creepy.. Score: 9.9/10 Old Crow Our PoE trip was well worth the 2 hour drive to Milpitas. Finding PoE isn't really easy and it's in this dusty gravel lot of a RC airport. Make sure you wear shoes and not sandals when going to PoE because the dust level there is quite amazing. I would have had tons of photos but the dusk really interferes with the flash. On to the real description. The compound is fenced off and you have to pay $10 to get into it. We had the TPA coupons so we paid $7. As you enter the compound it is quite dark and it takes a good while for you eyes to adjust. A pirate stands in the center of the compound and if don't pay attention, he will come off his stand and scare you and spout some random pirate saying, arggg! Your ticket to the compound allows you to go to two mazes. The 3-D maze and the Main (Don't know what they really called it) maze. We did the 3-D maze first. All the employees are dressed in a pirate theme and they keep the act alive by speaking and acting like dirty, aged, pirates. As we enter the 3-D maze there are pseudo fish tanks filled with glowing sea life and dead bodies. The maze itself is just a series of wood painted walls that have a paintings of different glowing sea life. Within those walls are the employees hitting them and making loud noises. Some pop out and say a silly pirate statements, some pop out and follow you till you turn around and see them. The paintings are basic as you start the maze and get more complicated and more 3-D like when you get to the end. At the end is a spinning tunnel which makes you feel like you are leaning. This is a good first start to the scares but I wasn't really scared when we went though this one. The puppet at the very end outside was funny to watch because it would come out and try to grab people. I give the 3-D maze a 7 out of 10. (I'm more strict in Haunted Houses and Mazes) The Main Maze is what I really came for and I was not let down. This maze is so highly themed that it could easily stand on it's own at any major theme park. Again we did this one twice and both times saw something new and exciting. As the lady in front of the maze informed us of the different floors and textures of the maze we made our way into the first room which is just a holding area so the creeps can pace the scares. We are again informed what to do and what not to do. The themeing is amazing. There is not one inch that isn't covered by some kind of wallpaper or rock cave wall or some kind of boxes or lighting. The scares again were people based jumping out of curtained areas or jail cells. There is one section where you need to decide what route to take and a good surprise can be found in that room. Most of the decor is a dusty pier theme or an old room with cobwebs. The maze is quite dark and fog fills the halls. A 3rd of the maze themed to items you'd find in an old house another third is like a jail cell cave motif and the last third is like a swamp containing a ship. The most impressive part of this maze is the swamp/ship scene. You literally walk from a cave into a bayou swamp style porch that overlooks a nice watery area that has an alligator and a rocking ship. As you leave the porch, you enter the ship and the walls and ceiling sway from side to side. This is where the "slider" runs at you and the strobe behind him makes it difficult to tell what he is. As you leave the ship you walk though this really nice dark tree area that has some great lighting. This leads to the sea hag house where you get your ass swatted 1 or 2 times The second time I tried to grab her broom and make off with it but I only got a second swat as we ran out the exit. This maze has to be experienced to truly believe what I am saying. There is so much detail for a stand alone haunt to describe every detail. I give the main maze an 9 out of 10. The skeleton maze was the weakest part of the compound. It costs an extra 2 dollars and isn't really worth the extra cost. It's a series of chain link fences that have strobes on top of them. It's quite confusing and you can get a little dizzy if you stay in there long. It's not hard to get out and I did manage to do some scaring myself at the end of this maze. I give it a 4 out of 10. The compound itself is quite a place and features the entrances to all the mazes and some great props. One of them is a giant skeleton warrior that is fully mechanical with sound and fog. It stands up and roars for about a minute. Next to him is a old boat that has a blue light on it that simulates a watery look to it. There is a grave yard and a couple of booths for vendors. Overall PoE is well worth the $10 and you might find yourself spending the extra $5 to reenter both mazes. Beware of the dust! Furby Very detailed inside and out. Staff stays in character no matter what, and the new version on the 3D maze is incredible! 5 stars to the Pirate crew. A must see for the season. June Your haunt is SO wonderful, I visit every year, even though I *hate* getting jumped out at! Such is the lure of your exceptional set design and creativity!! I tell everyone who is looking for a good scare about you, too. Some day, I'd like my life to be organized enough to come work at the haunt, doing- what else- jumping out at people!! Thanks for the magic! Marianne R. Your show was excellent. I went last night and I couldn't tell if I laughed more or screamed more. The effect with the mirror was great as was the pirate who stepped away from the wall in front of the two doors. And the vertigo I felt in the spinning room! I actually had to close my eyes to get through that. Wonderful. You've got a new customer every year from now on. Thanks for entertaining me. It was well worth the price of admission. www.hauntedbay.com (2002) Is it possible that the Pirates of Emerson is twice as good as last year? This is what I found myself asking as we sat out in the parking lot after our visit this Saturday. Even though I thought it could not get any better, it somehow did! In short, stop reading this review and go there now! Now in its eleventh year, Pirates of Emerson covers almost three acres and requires a crew of 12 to work almost 40 days straight to build the props and another 63 to staff the attraction and run the background operations. These 75 must work their butts off because this haunt doesn't disappoint. Pirates of Emerson (POE) is based in a compound containing the main haunt, a 3D maze, a graveyard, and a small concessions area. Just to make it confusing I'll talk about these back to front. The Graveyard - This is in the backmost section of the compound adjacent to the exit of the main haunt. While we were there they were showing a movie and we later found out that they show three features nightly. The graveyard has some very Cool props but need to be lit more effectively for nighttime viewing. The 3D Maze - This will knock your socks off. You and your 3D glasses walk through a maze of black light and bright colors. Skulls pop out of the walls at you and scary creatures lurk here and there. The highlight is a spinning tunnel that you walk through that completely throws off your equilibrium. Just like last year, I (the Hauntmistress) would have bet money that the floor was moving because I could not stand up straight to save my life and I had to grip the handrails to avoid falling over. The tunnel must have been rotating faster and/or been more brightly lit than last year because even the Hauntmaster who last year did not feel like he was falling over felt safer holding on to the handrail. The Main Haunt - This is by far, the best haunt we have been to - ever. It has it all, scary characters, wonderful props, amazing sets, differing levels and excitement throughout. Props that you wouldn't normally get excited about, like ropes and fishnet, are wonderfully placed and authentic. The ship in the haunt is outstanding. It moves back and forth, as if in a storm, and has rats abandoning ship. I was very impressed. The haunt uses strobe lighting to great effect. In one scene, you walk toward a skeleton pirate head on a wall and we would have bet money that it was actually moving toward us. It was very disorienting and a perfect example of how POE takes a simple prop and makes it into something terrific. The actors are superb and well placed. When one jumps out at you and you turn, another is right there waiting. The use of darkness is great too. Often you can't see when a pirate is sneaking up on you until they are right in your face. We also really enjoyed that so many of the scares came from above or below eye level adding much to our uneasiness and the depth of the haunt. I can't say enough about the set design and originality. Most haunts are designed for throughput and keeping the guests out of the illusions. POE has gone to great efforts to put the guests into each scene. With that in mind lights are, wherever possible, placed in nooks or behind shields to light scenes and paths. Everywhere you look there is a prop or painting or other form of decoration. A lesser haunt would just assume that people are going to be looking in one direction and not bother with an immersive experience. There are few if any barricades to your exploration, rather they design the path to follow with your desire to explore or flee in mind. Toward the end of the haunt there is a split path leading back to the same hallway, either way you go, be prepared to be spooked. Hopefully this is just the beginning of a trend toward multi-threaded haunts. A haunt with a strong story like this could be even more outstanding with two or more routes to take and encourage multiple trips through. Theme Park Adventure Magazine (2002) Several years ago, after moving to the Bay Area from Southern California, I found that there are far fewer Halloween events up here than there are in Orange County and Los Angeles. In fact, finding quality haunts proved to be quite the challenge. And then I came across a site for a haunt called "Pirates of Emerson". I was intrigued by this then home haunt, as the theme was pirates and we all know that I have a thing for them. To my surprise, I read that the haunt had out-grown its home location and was now being set up in a vacant lot in Fremont as a stand-alone haunted house. I drove across the bay to check Pirates of Emerson out and the rest is history. TPA feels that this is hands-down the best San Francisco Bay Area haunted attraction. The attention to detail is remarkable, the layout of the maze is stunning and the sincere love and hard work that goes into this attraction make it well worth the drive from San Francisco. If you live anywhere within an hour of Fremont, Pirates of Emerson must be on your "To Do" list each October. And each October, TPA has gone and visited our friends at Pirates of Emerson in what's become something I look forward to personally every year. It doesn't matter how many times I have been to Pirates; every single time, I get butterflies in my stomach when I see it off in the distance as I put the pedal to the floor while cruising down Grimmer through Fremont. Fridays and Saturday can be a bit crowded - and usually are the closer it is to Halloween, so I usually hang out on a Sunday evening and then return with friends and family later in the month, also on an off-night; Sundays are great if you're planning which night to go - you just cannot use the TPA coupon on that night. Now in its 11th year, Pirates of Emerson is bigger and better than ever. Even after going each year to cover this attraction for Theme Park Adventure, I am still dumbfounded each season. Pirates never ceases to amaze and always kicks some serious butt. The scale of this maze is very impressive. Housed under a large tent, your journey through Pirates of Emerson will take you through a pirates' den, the belly of a ship, a lagoon-side village, dungeons and more. When it appears that you're outside, it's always a trip to look up through the fog and haze and barely make out the inside of the tent, or show building. Pirates has thunder, lightning and even rain running off the roof and into a lagoon that you walk along (and over, depending on the layout each year). The inclusion of a lagoon inside the maze is absolutely marvelous and wins us over each year regardless of how it's used; we love it! Another favorite element within Pirates is a section that takes you through the belly of a ship. You're surrounded by the creaking, swaying ship and it's fantastic. Unfortunately, the amount of fog used in the swaying ship section and the way it's set up make it virtually impossible to shoot an image of, so you'll just have to take our word for it that this is one cool effect; definitely worth mentioning. There are several animated props found within Pirates of Emerson, which is always impressive to me. I'm terrible at building things like that for haunted houses, so whenever someone gets animated toys into their haunt, God bless 'em. My favorite aspect of Pirates is that you are not just walking through a maze, looking at different scenes; in Pirates of Emerson, you're in each scene. Everything is up-close-and-personal, from artwork hanging on the walls to the monsters themselves lurking in the darkness. The detail blows my mind and I always wonder how in the heck Pirates isn't stripped clean of its set decorations after opening weekend. Probably the single most impressive aspect of Pirates of Emerson is that the layout is completely different each year. That's almost unheard of when it comes to haunts. Usually, a maze will be created and will remain virtually the same for several years, if not longer. Small additions are made and "NEW FOR 2002" or whatever is trumpeted shamelessly. Pirates makes no mention of this, and yet, the thing is different each and every Halloween season. Granted, there are some elements that remain the same such as the lagoon and witch's shack. However, TPA gives mucho respect and major props to the entire Pirates team for being original each year and keeping it fresh. It would be much easier just to tweak it a little year after year, but that's not what this group is about - it's all about change and delivering a top-quality product. And they do. That's why they are our favorite haunt in the entire San Francisco Bay Area. A few years back, Pirates added a "pre-maze maze" that featured 3-D effects (glasses are included with your price of admission) when the whole 3-D craze hit. Now, that secondary maze has become an entity of its own, and there are pirates lurking in both locations now, which is wonderful. I'm not a huge fan of 3-D mazes, but this needs to be said: In the 3-D maze at Pirates of Emerson, there is a spinning vortex tunnel that it painted and lit by blacklight. It is the best 3-D vortex tunnel we've ever seen, without a doubt. The paint job is perfect, the speed is excellent and the lighting superb. Even compared to "large-scale" theme park events, no one comes close to the quality of vortex tunnel found at Pirates! Bravo! The facade from the 2002 season of Pirates of Emerson is a massive ship wreck that is illuminated by "water reflection" lights. It's an amazing sight to behold; I stood there staring at it for a good 10 minutes or so when I arrived! I'd known that the front was supposed to be a ship, but this totally surprised me and impressed me completely (can you tell)! If you haven't been to this haunt, do yourself a favor and go. I wouldn't praise them up and down if the haunt was lame or even so-so; that's not how we work around here, and I think y'all know that. Enjoy this fantastic haunt and to all the folks at Pirates of Emerson, we thank you. Kudos and props, you guys! Happy Halloween! Chateau Bizarre The first house we visited was Pirates of Emerson, and the 13th seemed an auspicious day to start out travels. Fremont is a modern town, full of apartment complexes, strip malls, and where we were headed, office buildings. So there was some wonderful surrealism in seeing a huge light-up skull head grinning out over the highway, out in the middle of nowhere, letting us know we'd arrived. We hate lines, so we opened the back of our station wagon, climbed in, and sipped absinthe from a flask while we waited for the gates to open, feeling like a deathrock tailgate party, watching people slow down on the highway to stare at the skull and get honked at by less enamored drivers. Finally the line began to move, and on the way in, I ran into Jen, aka horrorvenus, whom I met through buying a gorgeous Catherine Coatney skirt on ebay. She was kind enough to let me pick up my purchase in person, and included two two-for-one tickets in the package--Yahhh! She was dressed in a stunning medieval ensemble that included a lovely ruched blouse and a set of fangs that turned all of her front teeth into nice sharp points. Also nicely bedecked was the hostess who welcomed us at the castle's entrance with the story of the pirates, entreating children to protect their parents(nice touch). We were told to go on ahead to the next guide, but didn'ts ee anyone, and it was the weirdest feeling to knock on the door of a haunted house("Well, it is somebody's house, after all.") We were welcomed into the charmingly rotted foyer by Kelly, who was clad in Castle Blood and who we found out is going to C9 also. And then, we were set loose in the house. This is a damn good house and definitely worth a visit if you are in the bay area. Apparently it's been around for years and just keeps getting better. The scenes are detailed and unique, and it is obvious that a lot of work went into them. The first room is a dead woman's bedchamber, and there's a neat scene where you pass through racks and racks of her rustling gowns while someone jumps out between them to scare you. They also managed to somehow put a pond inside the castle, complete with mist rising from its surface, after which you walk into a cute little house and get smacked on the butt by a witch with a broom. Actors poke their heads out of the nooks and crannies to catch you off guard, and they came quite close to us--I worked in a haunt a couple years ago in which we were repeatedly reminded to NEVER touch customers walking through, out of fear of lawsuits or assaults(in my childhood I remember one of my parents friends, a real tough broad named Lois, went thru the dearly departed Brigantine Castle in New Jersey. A guy in a vampire costume who walked up to her and just said "Boo" ended up getting knocked out.) so they were pretty brave. They also kept following us as we have a tendency to linger behind and look at all the work that went into the displays, so we christened them the "Move Your Ass" people. Outside, there was a second attraction, a 3-D maze. You put on a pair of 3-D glasses, which they let you keep, and you walk through walls covered in painted scenery. They did a hell of a job out here too. There was a corridor of little skull-and-crossbones like a demented kid's wallpaper, highlights picked out in giant faces, and one room where there was a gate leaning against a wall that had been painted into the illusion. There were a few actors in here, but not many. The one room that everyone will be talking about when it's over is the spinning tunnel done in true funhouse style. The trick is to make you feel like you've spinning too, while the handrails move up and down to tweak you even further. People, I have never in my life walked into an illusion that grabbed me by the senses and refused to let go-I almost fell over the railings and literally had to crawl out of it while Jack happily stood stock-still in the middle of it and announced "It's just a 30-degree angle!" (Kelly, the hostess who greeted us inside the castle said she couldn't walk in there without barfing, so there you have it from a haunt professional. Good stuff!) At the other end, when I finally got the world to sit straight again, was a gorgeous antique coffin carriage, with glass and draperies and all the old-fashioned trimmings. Outside, they have a TV set up with some logs in front of it so you can watch some pirate movie with Geena Davis in it, and there are a couple more ghouly displays. Unfortunately we didn't get the chance to take pics inside the attraction, and all our attempts to photograph the giant skull from the other side of the highway all turned out dark, so you'll just have to take our word for it's GOOD. $8-$12 a person, and there seem to be some 2-for-1 coupons floating around. M.Chung I visited Pirates of Emerson for the first time last friday with some friends and two children. I have to say from going to [name deleted] for Halloween every year and many times not being satisfied from the long 2 hour waits and sometimes a laugh instead of a scare of a time, your haunted house was a real treat and suprise. We arrived around 8:00 and only waited in line for 20-25 minutes. I found out about your haunted house on the internet when I decided to check to see what other haunted houses were located in the Bay Area worth going since I was tired of [name deleted]. We were all very impressed and beyond scared. All the adults had just as good of a time and scare as the kids did. I was most impressed by the 3D Maze and Rocking Pirate Ship. I regret not knowing about your haunted house earlier, but am glad I was fortunate to experience it this year. I have already told several people about the great experience I had and hope they plan to visit soon. Keep up with the great work and I am excited to see what you have in store for everyone next year! Narco We went to Pirates of Emerson last night and it was by far the BEST haunted house type thing I have ever gone too.. even better than some amusement park ones! it was like a haunted Pirates of the Caribbean! B. Gomez You and your outstanding crew did it once again. My friends and I were awe struck by the whole set up. We haven't been to any haunted house attractions for years because we always left very disappointed. It was not the case at the Pirates of Emerson. We can't wait for next Halloween. Keep up the great work. hoodoo7 We went to POE last Friday (10/25) and it was awesome (as usual). We, too, noticed the improvements from last year. Even with keeping a "sharp eye", those wily pirates and witches somehow "get you". The witch got me twice in the rear with her scratchy broom - once inside the actual "haunt" and another time when I was looking at my ticket outside. We were touring the haunted graveyard and watching the feature of the evening, when this HUGE, Grim Reaper-like character came through the gates (it was so tall, I don't know how it negotiated it). My daughter didn't see it until it was on top of her. She ran screaming and it chased her all around the graveyard. Then it turned on me (I hid behind some other screaming people). The 3-D maze was awesome. I couldn't stand up straight for about five minutes after getting out. POE is definitely one of the best haunts for the money. Note: I would not recommend it for children under 7. Even though there's no "gore", there are lost of "surprises" that may frighten small children. mahleri1 POE was incredible as always! I loved the clothing room and the swamp, and the attention to detail this year was nothing short of perfect. The best haunted attraction I've ever been to by a LOT. Granted, nothing ever happened in the Graveyard - I waited for a Reaper... nada. Sigh... (what _is_ the point of the graveyard?) But I was able, last night (the 30th) to walk through SOLO (I went twice - 1st time with gf) without running into anyone ahead of me or behind me! Wow! And as my gf said, "Then the witch hits you on the butt with her broom, and it's all over." Whoever did the witch - very well done on both nights. M.Vaughn Hello and thank you for a wonderful Halloween event. I would like to express how much your haunted house has thrilled us for the past three years straight. We have watched your event truely mature in the past two years. The mini maze this year was spectacular! "Pirates" is by all means the best haunted attraction we have ever visited. Effyouess I enjoyed the 3-D effects a lot. For ten bucks, it's the best haunted house I've been to. A definite must for Halloween and Haunted House fans. Roger Hello everyone! My name is Roger and I'm from Chula Vista, CA. The Haunt itself is FANTASTIC! A LOT of work (never-ending?) has gone into the show and WHEN you go you will see it for yourselves. Great ambiance, scenes, flow and the actors made the Pirates of Emerson stand out in my book! I thought the drive from San Diego to Fremont and back was well worth the experience the Pirates gave me. If you have the chance to go, don't miss it!! Thanks again to the Pirates of Emerson. Mutant I just got back from the Pirates' haunted house. It was fantastic. My fifteen year old and his friend had to go through again. My nine year old wants to go back next week. I live about 35 minutes from the Pirates of Emerson, and it was non stop talk about it on the way home. For those of you who don't know, it's two haunts in one there is a 3d section. you get to keep the funky glasses. It has a vortex tunnel, paintings and the 3d effects. If this does not make you disoriented there is somthing wrong with you. The second one is more traditonal. I do recommend that you leave a bit of room in front of you. We ended up behind a slow moving elderly gentleman so the actors did not have time to reset for us. The two girls behind us were so scared that they wanted to join our group. Amy Adams, DigitalCity The Pirates of Emerson has taken the traditional haunted house and turned it into all-senses Halloween adventure for adults and teens. Although the haunted house includes several pirate-themed attractions, the main event is a journey back to the Isle of Emerson in the 1500s, when pirates reigned supreme. The reincarnated pirates carry on battles as you make your way through their domain. With the extensive use of animation and computer-controlled special effects, you'll find yourself an unwitting participant in the undead-pirate skirmishes. If you escape the pirates' lair without having to walk the plank, check out the 3-D maze created with painted murals. Wearing 3-D glasses, you'll wind your way through a frozen pirate ship and try to find your way to freedom. There's also an enigmatically named Dot room and a vortex tunnel. Be warned that the lines can be long on weekends. Food is available inside. Meph I went last night to Pirates of Emerson in Fremont and it s was pretty damn cool! They have these three-dee effects that kick! The haunted house itself was looonngg...and there was some seriously damn cool effects! I recommend it to anyone who is remotely near by! Check it out! PSMATHE We had the fortunate opportunity to experience the Pirates of Emerson Saturday night. If any of you SF Bay Area listers have not had the chance to see this for yourself, I HIGHLY recommend it. I went and it was definitely worth the ride. It is so awesome, I would Love to have a party on that pirate ship!! The kids couldn't get enough - we've raised them right!! Diablo Magazine The most notable Halloween haunt in the Bay Area requires a bit of driving, but it’s well worth the trip for a top-notch scare. Voted one of the 13 best high-tech haunts in the country by Playboy.com, Pirates of Emerson may be the scariest spot in the Bay Area. Set on the pirate-infested Isle of Emerson during the 15th century, Pirates strives for uncommon realism through the use of robotics, animatronics, and computer-controlled environmental effects. Those stout-hearted enough to brave the Isle will encounter plenty of pirate-themed terrors and may even find themselves unwitting cast members in the drama as they interact with any of the feature’s more than 20 actors. Started 10 years ago by Karl Fields, his wife, their two sons, and a group of friends, the Pirates of Emerson is now housed in a 30,000-square-foot compound in Fremont, with the main haunt contained in a 5,000-square-foot tent within. Other frights include a 3-D maze, a vortex tunnel, and a cemetery. Admission to this arsenal of frights is $10 for adults, $8 for children. All technology aside, Fields says adrenaline-pumping action is what this fright fest is all about. “We have a more intense atmosphere [than other haunted houses]. We don’t use any blood and gore, but it’s a lot more intense, and we don’t tone it down for anyone.” [45031 Warm Springs Blvd., Fremont, (510) 657-2121; www.piratesofemerson.com.] Pugsley Monday night, my lovely wife, Sue, finally made it down to the Pirates of Emerson, just a hop, skip and a freeway down the road in nearby Fremont, CA. The first treat is the 3D maze. Amazingly well done, with more than a couple of surprises to keep the heart pumping. The second treat is a (rapidly!) spinning tunnel. Easily the best one I've seen. Sue almost gave up her dinner while I was holding on for dear life. The main haunt was terrific! Bouncy floors, rough hewn walls and creaky doors. Lots of twists and turns, doors and curtains, strobes and fog and noise, air cannons and actors all used to great advantage. Scares and startles to shake the steadiest amongst us. Pirates appearing out of nowhere to deliver the goods and disappear. Faces inches from my own only to vanish into the mist. I've a permanent pucker in the back of my jacket from Sue holding on so tightly. And it seemed to go on forever. Each time I thought we were heading back out, we'd just go deeper into the maze. And lots and lots of terrific pirate eye candy along the way. One highlight, for us at least, was the Extroverted wench who burst from her Closet to plant a couple of wet ones on us and retreat (wink, wink). Another was the "scarecam" set up to watch the fun inside from the outside. In a nutshell: I laughed, I cried, I peed my pants. Pirates of Emerson deserves its reputation as the bay areas premier haunt. Great job! Definitely deserves a visit or three. Mark If you live anywhere near Fremont in Northern California, you must go and see the show that the Pirates are putting on this year. This is my third year going and by far the best show yet. The sets are beautiful! The scares are textbook and EXTREMELY effective. It really is a masterpiece. I was in awe for most of my trek. My friend said it made him feel like he was on the set of a horror film. The whole experience was better than some of the best theme parks. We're going back next week. I only wish they were set-up year round. I could get used to this on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. Theme Park Adventure Magazine (2001) Well, my family and I just got home from our annual trip to Pirates of Emerson, and WOW, WOW, WOW! The crew have outdone themselves yet again and have proven to be the BEST haunt in the Bay Area. Folks, if you're still thinking about attending this haunt, JUST DO IT. We were SO impressed that we're gonna go back late Sunday night to video tape and take pictures to share with you all here on the TPA site! Several days left 'til Halloween - get your booty over to Pirates of Emerson! M.Harvey ...Next we went to Pirates of Emerson. This was my third year going and so far the best show yet. The Pirates do an incredible job. The sheer beauty and detail of the sets make you feel like you are in another place. This year the maze seems longer, more scares, and much more to disorient. I was in awe almost the whole time. Their haunt is exactly what I enjoy, great scares, excellent sets, no gore, no chainsaws and seamless storyline. The new prison/jail/dungeon was a highlight. The atmostphere around the haunt also key and again, excellent. One of the guys who went with us hadn't been to many haunts, now he's hooked. We will be going back next week. I suggest to anyone who is even remotely local (they're in Fremont) to go see what they've done this season. It truly is special. Kevikev02 This is by far the best haunt in Northern California. The only reason I didnt give a 5 star is so they continue to strive to be the #1 Haunted House in the USA. A MUST SEE. Goth Gloom & Dreemweaver Well we headed out to Fremont tonight to see the Cap'n and his Pirates of Emerson and boy did they put on an incredible haunt!! We were glad to see a long line of people waiting to buy tickets. Since it was Sunday night we didn't think there would be a big crowd but word is getting out that this is a must see for Halloween so we gladly took our place in line. We took some friends who don't frequent Haunted Houses like the rest of us, ya know those strange folk that we love to scare the wits out of, and those Pirates had them jumpin at every turn. They had me leading the pack with Dreemweaver following me and our friends tightly hanging on to her. I think Cap'n got word to them Pirates inside to scare us extra good and we had so much fun!! That vortex tunnel was amazing, usually I never have any problems walking through those, I usually stop in the middle and just hang out, well this time I was hanging on cause I was feelin that dizzy feelin which made those behind me even dizzier. I was still walking crooked after we got out of it. As others have said before, it seemed alot longer with more twists and turns like it was never ending :-) The whole show is just getting better every year, we loved the new facades, the ticket booth and entrance and all those details. If you haven't gone yet, don't pass the chance as this is not to be missed. Just a word of warning, watch out for the pirate with the "Red Eye" he'll get ya everytime! Three cheers to you and your crew!! Sandy I went through again on Thursday, Oct. 25. Had a great time, again!! Brought one of my friends/actors. She loved it too. Greg I took my niece Sarrah out to the Pirates last night and she had a good time, and so did I. This was my third trip to pirates and it was well worth it. The detail on everything was excellent and so were the people running the haunt. Half way throh we picked up a woman and her daughter. The daughter grabbed Sarah's hand and her mothers with there other. With Sarrah attached to the back of my jacket we made it through the haunt. On my second trip I took some Ex co workers through and they said it was worth the trip from the peninsula and Berkley for the spinning 3d tunnel. You guy's have I think the best Haunt of the years I have gone to pirates. BGomes I WORKED THERE ONE NIGHT AND EVEN THOUGH I DID, IT STILL SCARED ME AS I WALKED THROUGH ALONE. IT IS GREAT. LEAVE THE LITLE ONES AT HOME. Jimmy, Initial Spark Just wanted to thank you again. Jason really liked the moving room inside the tent, and I really liked the dungeon. Cool lighting, original sets, and well thought out scares. Twice as good as the "first" year. Keep up the hard work! www.hauntedbay.com (2001) The Pirates of Emerson started out as a backyard attraction and quickly grew to its current incarnation, covering almost three acres. It takes a crew of about 75 people to build the props and staff the attraction. 2001 is the 10th anniversary of the Pirates of Emerson, and like a fine wine, it's only getting better with age. This is one of the most intelligent, well-done, scary, and visually appealing haunted houses I have ever visited. The special effects, actors and props make it more than worth the $10 admission fee. In this haunt, you will journey back to the Isle of Emerson, circa 15th Century, when pirates ruled the lands. You become a part of the adventure as you walk and sometimes run through the rooms of the haunt. The costumes of the pirates are incredibly detailed and the acting superb. A favorite room of mine on the tour is a mirrored room that gives no indication of which way to go next. Trial and scary error is your only recourse. (Hauntmaster: Although I did enjoy this, I'm more impressed by the pirate ship in the center of the haunt. It's so detailed and well done you would expect a strong breeze to send it sailing away. Pirates of the Caribbean watch out.) An especially fun part of the attraction is the 3D rotating tunnel. It's actually separate from the main haunt but is included in the price of admission. You enter through a long dark hallway where you aren't sure what will "get" you. Just as you start to relax they enter your group for the scare of your life. You start to run and round a corner only to be confronted by a long tunnel. You enter the tunnel on a catwalk but the brightly painted black lit walls are spinning, making you dizzy and disoriented. Hold on to the walkway's handrail so you don't fall down! (Hauntmaster: this is a very well done version of the old fun house classic. I really enjoyed this one but not as much as seeing the Haunt Mistress leaning at a 45° angle on the stationary catwalk, desperately clutching the railing, trying to walk through this with her 3D glasses on. Bravo POE) Another interesting feature that is fast becoming standard at better haunts is the addition of a closed video system that catches the action from within the main haunt. After you exit the main haunt you can cross the path to a spooky graveyard. In the back you can watch several TV's showing the action inside. If there was a section where you really got scared you can feel a little better watching everyone else getting spooked at the same spot. The line for the haunt wasn't too long and there is plenty to look at while you wait. You enter the house in small groups, but soon become so lost in the visuals of the attraction that you don't notice anyone else is with you -- until you reach for them in panic when a pirate jumps out at you! (Hauntmaster: I particularly liked how they will send you into the haunt in your own group. When we went there was just two of us and we were allowed to go in together. It's nice to see a haunt focus on the quality of the experience as opposed to through-put.) The Pirates of Emerson is one of the Bay Area's top haunted attractions and no matter how far away it is from you it should be on your short list of haunts to visit this Halloween. Be sure to check their website for the latest information. Thanks for visiting our review area. If you have something you would to see posted here, just send it along to Pirates and please put "review" in the subject line. |