Busch Gardens Williamsburg Howl-O-Scream 2023

Attraction Lineup​

Haunted Houses​

1. Death Water Bayou: Full Moon
   • Located in Festa Field behind Roman Rapids
   • Updated version of the new-for-2022 house, Death Water Bayou
2. KILLarney DIEner: Infested
   • Located in the Killarney simulator building
   • Updated version of the new-for-2021 house, KILLarney Diner
3. Lost Mines: The Descent
   • Located below Escape from Pompeii
   • New house for 2023 (replacing 2022's Inferno)
4. Nevermore: Chapter 3
   • Located in Drachen Fire's station building
   • Third iteration of the new-for-2021 house, Nevermore; replaces 2022's Nevermore: Chapter 2
5. Witch of the Woods: Scorched
   • Located in the woods behind Festhaus Park
   • Technically the second iteration of the new-for-2021 house, Witch of the Woods though Witch of the Woods was reversed in its second season without a name change

Terror-Tories​

1. Fest-Evil [New] (Festa Italia)
2. Gorgon Gardens [Returning] (Da Vinci's Garden of Inventions)
3. Meat Market [Returning] (New France)
4. Scary Tale Road [Returning] (Rhinefield)
5. Ripper Row [Returning] (Banbury Cross)

Other Scares​

1. Hack Pack [Returning] (Roaming)

Shows​

1. Jack is Back [Returning] (Killarney)
2. Monster Stomp on Ripper Row [Returning] (Globe Theatre)
3. Phantoms of the Festhaus [Returning] (Das Festhaus)
4. Skeletones [Returning] (Il Teatro di San Marco)

BOOze Bars & Bites​

1. OktoberTaps [New] (Oktoberfest)
2. Stone-Cold Spirits [Returning] (San Marco)
3. Pete's Provisions [Returning] (New France)
4. Jack's Nightcap [Returning] (Killarney)
5. Frost Bar [Returning] (Oktoberfest)
6. BarKastle Spirits [Returning] (Oktoberfest)

Official Website​

Howl-O-Scream: Virginia Halloween Event | Busch Gardens Williamsburg

The spirit of Halloween is unleashed at Howl-O-Scream! Find haunted houses, escape rooms, scare zones, live shows & roller coasters if you dare.

buschgardens.com

 

[DarkastleFan]

I was thinking that king Ludwig could be the icon next year maybe have a darkastle themed house in the festhaus park event building to promote Darkoster

 

[Jonesta6]

Under the announced DarKoaster storyline, Mad King Ludwig is still frozen in time, so not sure he's the appropriate icon.

But, if the ride keeps any semblance of a dark storyline then I agree it could be a good/obvious inclusion to HoS in some way.

 

[DarkastleFan]

They did that with axe alley a couple years ago to promote invadr

 

[Aidansn07]

I am hoping next year they bring back Killarney Dinner, and have Nevermore Chapter 3: the final Chapter.

Also hope they bring back Gorgon Gardens, scary tale road, dead a head, and ripper row (it’s a HOS staple)

 

[EdK]

We were at the park all day on Friday 10/14. The park was crowded but the ops were terrible. Griffon was the worst - I think they sent a train out every 5 to 10 minutes. Initially I thought it was down and they did close it at least twice due to technical problems. The only coaster with good ops was Invdr. Apollo, Griffon and Alpie were all running just two trains. Very disappointing day given the size of the crowd. I can only imagine what Saturday must have been like (hopefully more trains and better ops).

 

[Jonesta6]

Aren't Alpie and AC permanently limited to 2 train ops while they rotate out trains for yearly maintenance?

 

[Coasternerd]

Apollo has been doing 3 train ops recently. I’m not sure if it still is, but I know they were doing it this year.

 

[horsesboy]

Now that the 2022 has come to a close its time to let the speculation on 2023 start. My understanding is that the current plan is that BGW will receive one of Tampa's current houses. Supporting this is that BGW's new head of Entertainment was one of the lead guys other at Tampa in the Howloscream design.

 

[Alpentheon]

I hope we get that Christmas one! I heard it was great!!

 

[October13]

Now that the 2022 has come to a close its time to let the speculation on 2023 start. My understanding is that the current plan is that BGW will receive one of Tampa's current houses. Supporting this is that BGW's new head of Entertainment was one of the lead guys other at Tampa in the Howloscream design.

If this is true and comes to fruition, I can only see us getting scraps from the rotting corpse of their Death Water Bayou. The Forgotten and Witch of the Woods were new in 2021, so I doubt there already cutting those. Stranglewood Estate is absolutely stunning and was new this year so there is absolutely no way it’s that one either. That leaves The Residence which has never been received well until this year when they gave it a Christmas style makeover and I doubt they would do all that work just to give it away after one season. Who knows, Tampa did cut Demented Dimensions after one year despite it being loved at the event, so maybe BGW is in for a treat.

 

[Alpentheon]

If this is true and comes to fruition, I can only see us getting scraps from the rotting corpse of their Death Water Bayou. The Forgotten and Witch of the Woods were new in 2021, so I doubt there already cutting those. Stranglewood Estate is absolutely stunning and was new this year so there is absolutely no way it’s that one either. That leaves The Residence which has never been received well until this year when they gave it a Christmas style makeover and I doubt they would do all that work just to give it away after one season. Who knows, Tampa did cut Demented Dimensions after one year despite it being loved at the event, so maybe BGW is in for a treat.

i miss demented dimensions bgws version was soooo good

 

[horsesboy]

I am hearing one of the 2023 mazes is scheduled for demolish any guesses as to which one?

 

[Aidansn07]

I am hearing one of the 2023 mazes is scheduled for demolish any guesses as to which one?

Nevermore chapter 2 area makes the most since, I think they will give witch on the woods one more year. If they want to do Nevermore chapter 3 (I hope they do) the can do it in the new event building or France (catacombs building), they could also add another house behind darKoaster much like they did with cornered and root of all evil.

 

[horsesboy]

Parts of Inferno's maze have been yanked out and can be seen amongst the maintenance storage behind Pompei.

 

[Aidansn07]

Parts of Inferno's maze have been yanked out and can be seen amongst the maintenance storage behind Pompei.

I know that they would always do that for deadline. I am hoping that the house will be returning. Honestly I wish all the houses would return including witch of the woods (it was a severely underrated house) but I wish they would bring back some of clown house because honestly death Water bayou was a huge disappointment.

 

[Jonesta6]

Parts of Inferno's maze have been yanked out and can be seen amongst the maintenance storage behind Pompei.

Good images, how'd you get them?

 

[AIR]

Good images, how'd you get them?

Looks like from the Skyride.

Parts of Inferno's maze have been yanked out and can be seen amongst the maintenance storage behind Pompei.

It's also parts of Christmas Town lights that go on Pompeii. Entertainment has way more stuff out there than maintenance usually. Right now, Lochness and Pompeii have lots of stuff out there too though. The last picture you posted here is actually covered Lochness bodies and chassis.

 

[horsesboy]

I know that they would always do that for deadline. I am hoping that the house will be returning. Honestly I wish all the houses would return including witch of the woods (it was a severely underrated house) but I wish they would bring back some of clown house because honestly death Water bayou was a huge disappointment.

In recent years they have left that house standing as is. There is either a issue that required then to remove part of it to fix or they don't plan in it'sreturn.

Good images, how'd you get them?

Sky ride with a decent zoom.

 

[SkyGriffon]

I know that they would always do that for deadline. I am hoping that the house will be returning. Honestly I wish all the houses would return including witch of the woods (it was a severely underrated house) but I wish they would bring back some of clown house because honestly death Water bayou was a huge disappointment.

Inferno was kinda meh imo. I liked witch of the woods and thought death water bayou was pretty good too.