The Queen Mary, located in beautiful Long Beach, California, is one of the world’s most famous attractions, almost to the point of being a household name. The famous ship is one of the last fully intact reminders of the past, good and bad. Aside from the rich and famous passengers it’s carried over its nearly century-long existence, it also served as a World War II troopship. As amazing as its history is, the towering ship itself is a wonder to behold as well. To say that the size of the ship is breathtaking would be an understatement. From the moment you first lay your eyes on it, you almost can’t look away. So it is when one arrives in the parking lot to participate in the yearly tradition that, at its inception, immediately created a new titan in the Southern California scare industry each October. That tradition is “Shipwreck!”.
Now in its 12th year, Shipwreck takes the already (supposedly) ghost-infested ship and fills it with mazes that take you from the very top of the uppermost deck to the depths of the hull where you get a full haunting view of the giant engine that pushed the ship through the water in the days of old. These mazes are filled with ghouls that jump out at you at very unexpected times, unlike many places where you have a scare around every corner. The Queen Mary is unique in that it uses the already spooky environment and well-known and documented history of the ship as a tool to scare the patrons instead of just relying on hordes of actors to do the job for them. On top of the four mazes inside the ship, Shipwreck has 3 outdoor mazes as well, two of which that are specifically designed to be gone through with the 3D glasses they provide. Each maze featured in the event is unique and even the least favorites provided a good amount of jumps for all walking through. As if this weren?t enough, for those tired of getting the ship scared out of them, there are two gigantic dance areas which feature some of Southern California?s most popular DJ?s pumping out dance music like there?s no tomorrow. One of these areas is an almost Epcot-like Dome called the “Dome of Doom, which is directly adjacent to the ship. The other area is called the X-Hall, and takes place inside the ship itself!
Three levels of the ship, in fact. These areas get filled to the point of maximum capacity, making it seem almost like an incredibly fun all-ages clubbing experience rather than a night of fright. If you enjoy dancing, these dance areas (all of which run from when the park opens to 12 a.m. at the earliest) are worth the price of admission by themselves. Never fear, though. Lots of security are positioned in all dance areas to ensure everyone has a safe and fun evening. In addition, Shipwreck has invited some of the today?s hottest bands to play in Purgatory park outside of the ship at 9 and 11 pm each night, so the weary traveler can sit at a table, grab some food from one of the many conveniently placed vendors, and watch a great concert on the house. In almost every area of the “park”, there is an ID check table where, once you prove you are 21, you will receive a wristband that enables you to buy alcoholic beverages from any of the many full bars located throughout the place. If you are interested in pictures documenting your experience, you can have your picture taken with Dahlia Dark, the Shipwreck?s Fright Mistress and Elvira look-alike whose skimpy outfit is sure to provide many goggling guys with less-than-happy dates. Not everything can be good in an unbiased review, though, so here are some of the not-so-good points. Although all the mazes are fun, many of them have the same design and sometimes you forget which ones are which because of the similar design. Also, most of the time, the supervisors of each maze put people through too fast, causing the experience to be less personal than it should be. Almost everyone who goes to the event have dates, so you?d probably have a better time bringing friends or a date then by yourself.
Many of the attendants stationed throughout the park were unable to direct us to
where the individual mazes were, instead directing us to find it through the marginally confusing guide they hand out at the entranceway. Other than those small things, though, the event is very entertaining. I would not recommend it for anyone under 13, as so many of the patrons are drinking and so many of the attractions are adult-based (such as dance areas and the fright mistresses? lair) that it may not be a suitable environment for younger children. However, with a an admission price of only $30 (which provides access to all mazes, dance areas and concerts), it is well worth the trip. Haunted evenings are Oct. 13-14, 20-22, 27-31 and are $30. The event normally runs from 7pm to 12am, although some nights run later. Costumes and cameras are not permitted and guests enter at their own risk. Visit for more info.
Price of Admission: $30
Attractions: 7 mazes (4 in ship, 3 outdoor), 2 dance areas, concert stage, fright mistresses? lair
Location: 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach, CA 90802
Alcohol served?: Yes (Must have proof of age)
Security?: Yes, lots of it.
Positives: Large mazes, over 400 actors in roaming the park, fun dance areas, safe environment, good amount of scares for even the most brave of people, free concerts, unique atmosphere
Negatives: Too many people at once, similar designs for the mazes, not a very likely place for single people to meet.
Conclusion: Queen Mary?s Shipwreck! 2006, although it does have its minor flaws, is one of the most well put together (not to mention most fun) events this year. The low price along with the large variety of things to do makes it well worth getting a group of friends together and making a trip to visit. Although not geared towards anyone under 13, the many different options provide something for people of all generations, from teenagers on. The many different full-service bars give older people looking to relive their youth a fun way to do that, and in a society where most Halloween attractions are based primarily towards teens, that is a very rare thing to find. I give it a 4 out of 5 and say go and let the Queen Mary and its crew give you a frightful night you?ll never forget!
