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

 

[RollyCoaster]

Cardboard Boxes and black walls 2023 edition

 

[horsesboy]

I am hearing info that makes me doubt that we should expect to many huge changed THIS year.

 

[Coolguy15]

I am hearing info that makes me doubt that we should expect to many huge changed THIS year.

And I’m alright with that, because last year, in my opinion, was pretty solid.

 

[Zachary]

An Inferno replacement is the only consistent rumor I've heard. Wouldn't be surprised to see the other four return.

 

[horsesboy]

An Inferno replacement is the only consistent rumor I've heard. Wouldn't be surprised to see the other four return.

You could see parts of it torn out and behind Pompeii from the sky ride during the off season events.

Interesting they are NOT celebrating this year as the 20th anniversary because they are not counting the Covid year.

 

[Aidansn07]

An Inferno replacement is the only consistent rumor I've heard. Wouldn't be surprised to see the other four return.

Haven’t heard that rumor but that would be interesting, Inferno was an ok house, it was a great concept but execution was not great. In my opinion it was better than dystopia. I believe the best house ever in that spot was dead line.

 

[Irishlad]

Yeah I actually liked inferno!

 

[Aidansn07]

Any idea on when we will get announcements? We are 30 days away from the start of the event without any info at all.

 

[Diamond Dave]

October calendar. I find it interesting they're open Tuesday the 31st; probably will have crowd levels closer to a Sunday than a Friday/Saturday. I imagine Sunday the 8th will have crowds comparable to the 7th and the 14th, because of the 9th being a holiday.

I am happy to see they are continuing Thursdays and two Wednesdays. Even though the park doesn't get a ton of traffic, I'm certain having those open days takes some of the guest load away from already busy weekend days.

 

[Coasternerd]

I’m almost certain we’re getting Nevermore: Chapter 3, as I was riding by on the train today and the exit ramp with the crows now features a series of red curtains as well.

 

[Aidansn07]

I have heard multiple rumors that inferno is not returning and nothing will be in its spot. Makes me wonder if they will use the France house spot again.

 

[Aidansn07]

Which of the wood, and Nevermore chapter 2 signs are still up from last year.

 

[Aidansn07]

I spot things happening inside of Pompeii building

 

[horsesboy]

A semi reliable source is saying that Inferno is being replaced with a Coal Mine theme.

 

[Murphy]

A semi reliable source is saying that Inferno is being replaced with a Coal Mine theme.

Wasn’t that a PR disaster for KD a while back?

 

[Zachary]

Wasn’t that a PR disaster for KD a while back?

Yep, it was, leading to a house that only operated for a few days before being shut down. That said, Hershey got away with it last year and they're in a far more coal mining-heavy area than BGW so maybe the coal special interests have lost interest in park Halloween events.

 

[Gavin]

Now severed heads on the other hand...

 

[Icer]

Curious if this will be scarier than a West Virginia 7-Eleven. That too is a coal mining horrorscape.

 

[October13]

A lot of taboo haunt settings (hospitals, prisons, and coal mines) have had a recent resurgence because they are given a supernatural twist. They no longer use inmates, the mentally ill, or dead miners as the primary scare. Instead, they have opted for ghosts or monsters. Look no further than Hellblock Horror or Depths of Fear at HHN or Paranormal Inc. at Knotts/ SCarowinds. Also The Depths at Knotts starts with miner scares but gets supernatural real quick. If the rumor is true they could easily have a story where the miners dug too far and found a nest of monsters (similar to the 2008 film The Decent, trading caving for mining).

 

[mtpelepele]

Just wait until the Williamsburg Gazette hears about this.