Six Flags is shaking up Halloween for 2025 — but not everyone is excited about all the changes. While the parks promise bigger scares, more elaborate mazes, and brand-new horror IPs, the company is also introducing a controversial new element: an upcharge for Haunted Maze access at all parks, including those that used to include it with admission.
As part of the update, Six Flags is rolling out the Haunted Attractions Pass — an exclusive upgrade now required to enter any Haunted Maze at select parks. Even scarier for your wallet? If you want to experience The Conjuring: Beyond Fear, the highly immersive new headline attraction, you’ll need to pay extra on top of that, unless you opt for the Haunted Attractions Express Pass, which includes both priority access and the premium maze.
The New Scare Lineup
The 2025 Halloween season promises a lineup stacked with well-known horror franchises. Depending on your park, you might step into the worlds of:
- The Conjuring Universe (The Conjuring: Beyond Fear)
- SAW: Legacy of Terror
- Trick ‘r Treat
- Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022)
- The Strangers: No Escape
- Army of the Dead
On paper, these sound like dream haunts for horror fans. Six Flags says the Haunted Attractions Pass will help keep experiences more intimate, with scare actors able to focus on smaller groups. Whether that translates into truly better scares or just a steeper bill remains to be seen.
Daytime Fun, Nighttime Fear
Not all Halloween fun is locked behind the new pass. During the day, families can still enjoy kid-friendly festivities — games, trick-or-treating, and lighthearted shows — without any upcharges. Once night falls, Scare Zones, themed entertainment, and atmospheric frights remain included with park admission. The pass only affects Haunted Mazes and The Conjuring premium attraction.
My Take on the New Changes
I’ll be honest — I’m not a fan of this new Haunted Maze upcharge. Coming from former Cedar Fair parks where mazes were part of the experience, this shift feels like a downgrade for guests. I know Six Flags’ legacy parks have already used upcharge models for years, but expanding it across the entire chain just doesn’t feel like the best move for fans.
Yes, I get the reasoning — smaller groups, better production, more “premium” scares — but for regular visitors, especially families, it means paying more for what used to be included. For me, it takes away from the all-inclusive seasonal excitement I’ve loved in the past.
What This Means for Park Fans
If you plan on visiting a Six Flags park this Halloween and want the full haunted experience, you’ll need to factor in the Haunted Attractions Pass (or the Express version) into your budget. For hardcore haunt fans, this might be worth it for the upgraded scares and licensed horror IPs. But for casual visitors or families, the decision may come down to whether the added cost matches the value.
Bottom line: The scares might be bigger than ever, but so is the price tag.