In this episode, Sydoney Banks reviews the Nightfall at Old Tucson event, highlighting its immersive experiences, themed attractions, and family-friendly activities. The conversation delves into the various haunted mazes, character development, and the overall atmosphere of the event, emphasizing the importance of storytelling in creating a memorable experience. Additionally, the episode discusses dining options and the value of different ticket packages, ultimately recommending Nightfall as a must-visit for Halloween enthusiasts. oldtucson.com/nightfall https://qrco.de/beJjEa
takeaways
Chapters
00:00Introduction to Nightfall at Old Tucson
03:05 Thematic Overview of Nightfall
06:14 Attractions and Experiences
11:53 Detailed Review of Haunted Mazes
20:00 Character Development and Storytelling
27:11 Dining and Family Activities
30:15 Final Thoughts and Recommendations
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Sydoney Banks (00:01.634)
Well hello everyone, and it is getting closer to the best day of all days, Halloween! But today we're talking about
Nightfall at Old Tucson 2024 So yes, again, it's been a while. Sorry been busy. It's our busy season, but We are going to tell you about Nightfall at Old Tucson now we went a while ago and of course, you know, it takes a while to write a review which we put out we did write one and then kind of
think about everything and look over the written one to do this are
podcast review. So you're listening to, of course, Haunted Tractions and Horculeur podcast and like I said tonight we're going to be talking about Night Falls at Old Tucson. So Night Falls at Old Tucson is a huge event that has lots and lots and lots of different activities and things that you can do. It is crazy. You're going to want to get there from opening and pretty much stay there until closing.
because there literally is something to do the whole entire time. Now we went as soon as opening and we were pretty much like there probably the last to leave because like I said there's so much to do and so little time. Now, Nightfall at Old Tucson this year is Region of Terror.
Sydoney Banks (01:46.838)
So that is the theme of this year's Region of Terror. The fall, you know, fun festivities.
for old Tucson. So this fall she rises. So there's a whole story, a background and everything to old Tucson, which is really cool and makes it more fun for you as the audience and as the participant because again, most attractions, not all attractions, but are just kind of there for scares. So you're going through a different, you know, attraction. Some have stories, some don't. Some stories don't make sense. And some attractions have like seven
different attractions and all of them aren't cohesive together like you're in a mansion then all of sudden you're in a clown house then all of sudden you're with aliens like it just...
It doesn't necessarily go together. Well, Night Falls is pretty much based on Old Tucson, the whole Old Tucson lot. So they kind of make the story of what they have around them. So they use like the Wild West and the stories, you know, that could go along with that. Again, they have characters and each character has a background and they all intertwine and go together. So again, it makes it kind of more like
not scary form or a little bit more like universal and some of those other haunts because there's a story they have scare zones they have character development you're going through there's a story being told and everything that's happening around you somehow goes with the story from the scare zones to the haunts themselves to the shows they all kind of
Sydoney Banks (03:35.514)
intertwine and tell the story. So it's very very cool and I love more story-driven theatrical attractions which again this for sure is one.
If you're into that kind of thing, this is for sure for you. If you've always wanted to go to Nutscary Farm but it's too far away and you live in Arizona, this is totally for you. So I'll kind of try to read a little bit off their side of what the story is. again, you can go to oldtucson.com and read about it yourself. So like I said, Night Falls at Old Tucson, Region of Terror, this fall, She Rises. Once, yeah, so.
I'm going read off the website and kind of tell you the story.
Sydoney Banks (04:51.368)
but dead resistance rise up from one for one last battle I'm just like sick so I'm sorry if I butchered that a little bit experience 20 plus acres of new terrifying haunted maze haunts mazes roaming roaming scares stunt shows musical theater magic shows comedians
and delicious food, drink and family friendly attractions. Free parking all attractions included with admission. Park hours 6 p.m. to 1130 p.m. Join us Thursdays for our door buster. 29 tickets. 44 standard pricing. Children 5 and 12. $34. Children 4 and under are free. So they have all kinds of good deals. And like I said, 20 plus acres like I said, they have they have
haunts, have the scare zones, have actors walking around every actors and actresses walking around everywhere, they have shows. I mean it's it's literally packed with so many things and you you have a map and you can kind of like plan everything out but I tell you it it is so much to do and you really have so little time. So my suggestion would probably be going at least more than once to Old Tucson because you want to see everything and experience everything.
and sadly we didn't get to
I wish we could have, but we did as much as we could. Now like I said, they have regular passes where you can go and then they have a fun pass which is admission to Night Falls and Yuletide which is their Christmas thing and it's $69 unlimited passes available for 2024. Then they have their RIP pass which is like their VIP pass and it has private lounges, skip the line access
Sydoney Banks (06:49.366)
at selective attractions it has front row seating for the shows exclusive mug and popcorn bucket and so much more it also has discounts on different things and
It's very much worth it because that's what we were given. So thank you again for old Tucson inviting us and giving the passes. Again, if we didn't have the RIP passes, we probably would have even done less. We were able to get into the shows first, which was awesome because we also have a handy, capable person. So we were able to get into the shows first and get good seating so she may be able to get a good seat since she was in a wheelchair.
or a scooter, scooter, wheelchair, whatever you want to call it.
Like I said, we were able to skip the line for the attractions, which was awesome because again, I don't know if we would have gotten to do as much if we didn't have that pass. So I highly, highly, highly, highly, highly suggest the RIP pass so you can do as much as you can. And like I said, you get better parking, you get front of line access, you get to skip the line, you get a free bucket of popcorn as well as a drink cup, which is awesome. And where you get
that is the creamery. We had people all night asking us where we got it from because we got it at the beginning of the night because my dad was hungry. So we got the popcorn and the soda and we just happened to be by the creamery. I didn't know that that was the only place you could get it. But we were going to get him something and we saw that they had the popcorn and the drinks there. So we went ahead and used our pass and got our popcorns and our drinks and we walked around and people were like, hey, where did you get that? Where did you get that? So
Sydoney Banks (08:38.556)
It's the creamery The creamery is where you can get your your drink and your popcorn bucket if you have your RIP pass so for sure RIP pass and also the fun pass would probably be also really a good one to have because Then you can go to night falls as many times as you want and see the shows maybe more than once or Go to the attractions or get to really see everything because like I said, it's so good It's so entertaining. It's so much fun
You're gonna want to see and experience everything if you go one night even with the RIP pass You won't get to do everything you'll get to do probably more than the average person But you won't get to do everything and we also got the seance add-on pass add-on ticket again. Thank you to old Tucson and the seance is the burning of Emily Bridge and It's a seance. It's for it's like an
on exclusive and it's limited seating available and again discounts for our AP ticket holders and all that
but it's like a little show. actually really quite good. I enjoyed it very much. I was kind of skeptic, but it actually is very entertaining and it's very cool. And the two ladies who are the hosts do an amazing job. Their character development is on point. So good. They interacted with our handicapped lady, which was so cool because sometimes those people get ignored and they did not ignore her.
they talked to her, included her, even made her a part of the seance at one point. it was really, really, really entertaining and very good. So I highly, highly, highly suggest doing the add-on seance. It's a lot of fun. It's a cool story. It's cool effects and the character again, their character development is on point. Each character that walks around and you come in contact with, they have a
Sydoney Banks (10:48.07)
story they have great makeup the costumes are freaking good and I mean I was so impressed just with the characters and how in character they are and how true to the character they are and how they all interact with each other and how everything is all together it's really I've never been to not scary form
I've only, you know, watched documentaries, seen videos and stuff. Huge, huge, huge fan. But I would say this is probably the closest thing that Arizona has to Nut Scary Farm. And the cool thing too is they have a lot of fun family things too. So again, you can bring the whole family. They even sell necklaces that the kids can wear and the actors will not scare them or bother them. So you can bring the whole family. There's all kinds of fun stuff to do. And the haunted attractions will go
By each one and kind of talk about it, but yeah the passes
Again, RIP for sure and probably the fun pass would be a good one, especially if you live close to old Tucson. I wish I was closer because yeah, would totally get one and go to probably would for sure go to Night Falls more than once. And I've never done the Christmas one, but I'd love to see that. So maybe we'll be able to do a review for that. We'll see. Fingers crossed. So the first one we went through was Dabin's
fun house. So it's a clown maze. So clowns have taken over the wolves den.
Sydoney Banks (12:30.286)
Queen Mary has appointed Deben, the clown, as Nightfall's Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr.
Sydoney Banks (13:00.192)
That was the only maze that I actually really had a good jump scare. It was towards the beginning, it was a female clown and she came out of nowhere and got me. And I even like, clapped and I was like, good job, you actually really scared me, that was awesome. I was filming, so it's even harder to kind of like, get.
Scared I guess or really into it because you're really trying to hold the camera and make sure that you don't drop it and stuff but That clown did an outstanding job. I loved it. It was a lot of fun. The colors are fun. There's writing on the walls. There's Animatronics there's dummies the characters were good again. The makeup was fantastic I wouldn't say it was necessarily terrifying, but it was a lot of fun and that first clown was really good Again, it was the handicap accessible
which was great. was probably one point where it was a little bit hard to get through and we had to kind of back up and go back and the actor was really nice and noticed that and kind of just was there like trying to help. But again, great, a lot of fun. If you're afraid of clowns, probably going to be a hard one to go through. But it was it was really cool. Again, I love the colors. I love anything that's the black light kind of thing. They didn't do the 3D
glasses but they did like I said it was a blacklight haunt so they had the neon colors that you know glowed in the dark and stuff and they had some cool laser effects and lighting I think that that was also the haunt that had the swamp effect
The only downside to that that there was nobody hiding in the swamp which was kind of sad because I was hoping to see someone pop in and out and I didn't see anybody. So I think they were maybe down a little bit on staff because there was some areas that didn't seem like they had enough characters. But I mean it still was really really good. So there is that one. That one was a good one. The next one we went through was the mirror prison. And that one's Reverend Templess.
Sydoney Banks (15:08.708)
alternate personalities have been banished from his body and imprisoned in the mirror realm, a dimension with the mirrors that inhabit the Iron Dorn, the Iron Dorn main.
Sydoney Banks (15:28.59)
Oops, sorry. I saw something. So this is in the Iron Doran mine, which is the mineshaft that they have there, the one year we did go was really, really cool. And I mean, the mineshaft itself is really awesome. It's just awesome.
It's a really cool set and it really feels like you're in a mine shaft. They did a really good job on that.
Now this one, this year was a little different. They had TV screens that had like playing different videos of I think the Reverend and stuff and different souls that were trapped into the maze. I think at one point there was a, what do they call that, the double mirror where there's somebody hiding behind it. So it looks like a mirror and then when the light flashes you can see the person on the other side. That was really cool. The actor in the beginning was a little...
I there was a little bit more energy. They were kind of just like, beware, you might get trapped. But it wasn't like great acting, was kind of just saying it. It was kind of like I wish there was a little bit more, especially being in the mind. It like I wish there was a little bit more. But I mean it was okay. The makeup was good and what not. There wasn't a whole lot of characters I don't think in this one I don't remember.
But it was, again, was really cool just because of the setting itself as it being the mine. And you going through and seeing the mirrors and stuff. It was a very cool concept. I liked it a lot.
Sydoney Banks (17:21.354)
It was really good and the actor that was in the mirror that, you know, looked like a mirror and then the light came on and you saw them. That was really, she did a great job. That was really cool. And, but really there wasn't a whole lot of actors I don't remember seeing, but it was, it was really well done. The, again, the mine shaft itself is really cool. The flooring is amazing. They have some effects in there. I don't want to give everything away, but really, really well done. really, I really did enjoy
that one. The next one we went through was Hell's Gate and let me read that one so it says Queen Mary has opened a portal to the underworld through which summoned demons to her to have her serve technically. Are you brave enough to journey through the labyrinth of demonic creatures and the glimpse of the portal in the heart of the maze? So
This one was a little confusing, I'll be perfectly honest. So when we first walked through...
There was like Christmas trees and leaves and vines on the wall. So I was a little bit confused. was like, okay, is this supposed to look kind of like Christmas-y? And then I thought about it, like, well, maybe they're trying to make it look more forest-y. So I was like, okay. So I kind of let that go and I was like, okay, so it's supposed to more look like a forest and we're walking through and there was like a demon on the train did a really good job. good jump scare. And there, there was
couple of demons. They did really good. The acting was good. They had masks, not necessarily makeup, and the masks were pretty cool. And the maze was very red and very foggy, which again, guess, you know, Hell or, you know, Hell's Gate would probably look like that. So it wasn't bad, but again, the Christmas trees just kind of got me off a little bit. So I was like, okay.
Sydoney Banks (19:19.936)
interesting but as we went through I kind of let it go and we were walking through and like I said we see the demons and the different things and there's a lot of hiding places and holes and stuff where I think the actors can kind of like play more than once with the the the
the customers, they can play more than once with them, because they made like open slats and stuff so I think they could weave in and out. Again, I think they were short on people because it didn't seem that there was enough and there were times where you would walk by like an open window or a hole and you'd kind of look in there and there'd be no one there and you're like, okay. Which, I mean, okay.
But then there was one point in Hell's Gate where there was the Krampus animatronic and I was just- then I was really kind of taken back from it and I was like, wait what? So the Christmas trees and then Krampus got to me and I was like, is this supposed to be Christmas-ish? And I was like, okay well, technically Krampus is a demon so it could make sense that he's in Hell. But... It just- that kind of confused me a little bit and then I was- I was a little bit like, what?
So that was just a little confusing. And then we went through whatever, but the character at the very end of Hells Gate did a great job. Great character development and communicating and interacting with the crowd. Great, great, great job. Really, really good. Again, I wouldn't say it was necessarily scary, but it was quite entertaining and very cool. So that leads us to the last haunt.
And it was just interesting how this was the last one we went through, so it is like literally saving best for last. So the bloodletting... I can't even wait to tell you about this one, so no longer needing to keep...
Sydoney Banks (21:11.672)
So this
Sydoney Banks (21:41.568)
Actually my favorite. Which I thought it was going to be the mine, but this one was really really good. The actors and actresses were phenomenal. They were great with the howling and the makeup and the costumes. This one was by far the best attraction. There was quite a few jump scares. I probably would say it was the scariest one.
really really well done. The sets were awesome, the story was awesome, and like I said the werewolves were really really good. That was a really really good attraction and I didn't I didn't think much about that one to be honest going through because anytime werewolves have been done in haunts here in Arizona it's been really bad.
I went through a haunt before where was werewolves and vampires and I didn't know which was which they all looked the same and They all howled and stuff. I had no idea what that one was. So I've never really seen werewolves and vampires Like good together in Arizona
So this is the first time actually where I knew which was which. They looked the part, they played the part, and it was really, really good. So the bloodletting, if you do go to Old Tucson, for sure make sure you go to the bloodletting. That was the best attraction, and I would say it is scary. The other ones are more entertaining and fun. There are some jump scares and stuff, but the bloodletting, I would say is scary. There is some good scares in there. The actors are, like I said, phenomenal, great job.
Just wow. I mean they really really did a great job. So hats off to The bloodletting guys you guys did great. I forgot to mention one thing about the mirror prison Now I don't it's like I hate sharing negative things, but I think I should share this so when I was in that maze with my family and all with my family my haunt family and
Sydoney Banks (23:51.854)
my reviewers, we were walking through and I was last because I was filming. It was towards, I want to say the end of the haunt. We go through and I saw some movement in a cage so I thought it was probably an animatronic or something because it didn't go off or anything when they went by. So I was like, okay, maybe it's, you know, slow or something. So I turned to videotape the...
You know, I thought it was an animatronic, but it was actually a person. And it was an older guy and he looked at me. And kind of with an attitude. And he said, thanks for ruining the scares for everybody. You know, something about me recording. And I was like, I got permission and I'm a reviewer. And I told him I'm a reviewer and I kind of just walked away. But I was like,
How did I ruin the scare for you when I was the last person? My whole group went by you and they didn't even know, cause when I asked them they didn't even notice you were there. So I think some of it was I got him off guard that he wasn't scaring or doing something, I don't know. But I thought that was kind of rude. And I was like, okay. It was just, that was really confusing.
Anyways, back onto the bloodlining. For sure, must see attraction. Amazing, great makeup, great job. Werewolves, you were on point. It was really, really, really good. So, thank you for that. And then, like I said, they have different scare zones. I'm not gonna go into the scare zones too much. They have remains of the occultus, terror walk, devil's playground, underworld above.
The Collectors and Abab National Row. So they have these different scare zone areas and I'm not going to read the description or everything. You can go ahead and go onto the website and see more about it. they have these different scare zones so while you're walking through Old Tucson and going from different attractions and whatnot you enter these scare zones. And like I said they're different characters but again everything makes sense. There's a reason for everything. All the stories intertwine. Everything intertwines.
Sydoney Banks (26:14.6)
And if you go on the website too, you can see the map of Old Tucson, all the things they have, the attractions, the scare zones, and of course they have souvenir shops and gift shops. They also have their own brewing company where you can actually get nightfall beer and drink. They also have, like I said, have shows and they have dining experiences.
They have so much. They have family attractions. You name it, they have it. yeah. The gift stores, like I said, they have sweets, they have a glow store, they have a corner store, and they have the last outpost. Then, for the Nightfall show, they had the gargoyles of Nightfall. They have the trial of Tom Olsen, the opening scare-a-mo-ny, which that's what we went and saw. was really cool. I would highly suggest for sure. Again, you want to get there when they open. You don't want
get there after. Cause you're gonna literally need to be there for the whole time. The comedy stunt show, The Art of Silence, Science, we did go to that one. That one was really funny and a really really good show. Dabin's Magic Spooktacular, I wanted to go to that but we didn't get to. The Time just didn't line up. I really wanted to see that one though. They have Nightfall's musical, Love is Blindness, and then they have an action stunt show, The Anniversary Games. So they have, like I said, they
have shows, have all kinds of different things. They have family attractions, face painting, they have carnival games, they have...
Midway games, which is the same as carnival games. They have the carousel in the petting zoo. They have mini golf They have kids mazes. They have bull roping. They have day of the dead festival They have a train they have a shooting gallery you name it They have it probably most likely and then they also have dining So if you're hungry or feel like I said, you want sweets or anything like that They have the elixir they have the demon Queens pub, which is where you can get the specialty beer They have big Jake's bar
Sydoney Banks (28:22.368)
BBQ, the High Noon Pizzeria, the Grand Palace Saloon, Rosina's Cantina, the Nacho Nuke, the Creamery Riz, where you get their soda and your popcorn bucket. They have the Hideout Grill, and then the Devil's Den, and Brews at the Blood Letting.
There's a lot. Now when we went, we got to eat and we ate out at Big Jigs Barbecue and they were like almost running out of everything. There was a lot of people the night we went. They were, like I said, it's a popular place. They had a lot. They were running out of ice. We wanted to get the brisket, but they were out by the time we got there. So instead we got the pulled pork sandwiches and side of fry. It was pulled pork, fries, and we could have got a drink, but we already had one. And let me just say it was real
good. Great barbecue, very tasty, very busy, and the fries were phenomenal. Also one of us got a side of macaroni and cheese. Very good. So Big Jake's barbecue is really really good. We did eat there, highly suggesting Big Jake's barbecue and the Creamery. Again that's where we got our soda and our popcorn. For sure you want to get a check out the Creamery as well.
So, like I said, they have a lot of things, family attractions, like I said, they have a trick or treat train, they have the creepy carousel, the petting zoo, the mini golf, face painting, cartoon artists, they have a lot. Like I said, there is a lot of stuff going on. And even the shows and the entertainment, they have different times. There's only one open scaremony because it's the opening of the park, so 6.30, like I said, you want to get there.
when they open and you're gonna pretty much probably be there until they close. So like I said VIP package, get there early, probably gonna want to be there more than one day. I would go to their website and check out.
Sydoney Banks (30:31.372)
you know, the maps and the times and stuff before even getting your tickets and all that. Kind of look and see. I suggest the seance, the add-on. Like I said, there's so much to do in so little time. Nightfall is so much more than just an attraction. It literally is. You go there and you can spend the whole entire night doing all kinds of fun events for the whole family. So get your family and friends. Get scared. Have a good time. Eat something. Drink something. Be merry. Be scary.
See a show or two and Have fun Nightfall for sure is a great place to visit for the season And again just the location itself being old Tucson is also really cool Western storytelling Great makeup great costumes check out the characters Great show. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you all to saw night falls for having us. We hope to go back next year was a lot of fun and
And we can't wait to see what you guys have for next year because this year was quite amazing in itself. So thank you for listening to us and have a wonderful fall season and remember every day is Halloween. Until next time.