Come One, Come All To The Carnies of Devil’s Bayou!

Carnies of Devil’s Bayou, a home haunt by Ashes Tales of Terror (the same people who produced Santa’s Slaughterhouse in 2020), will terrorize Orlando audiences for two spooky weekends next month. October 15-16 and 30-31, you can experience this incredibly unique backyard maze featuring detailed sets, talented actors (including side show performers like the Human Blockhead or Lobster Boy), and professional quality special effects! I was honored to be part of a special media preview for Carnies of Devil’s Bayou, and I am so impressed by the creativity, care, and expertise displayed by this awesome team. A big THANK YOU to Ashes Tales of Terror for inviting me out!

Who Are The Carnies of Devil’s Bayou?

Every good haunt needs a captivating story, and Carnies of Devil’s Bayou does not disappoint! Haunt Creator Ashley shared some details with me about the family’s ill-fated journey to the Bayou and what guests might discover when following their path. Here’s my brief summary of the maze’s macabre tale:

In the 1960’s, a fabulous carnival – operated by a family of colorful characters and “weirdoes” – passed through a small, Louisiana town hoping to perform. Instead of a warm greeting, however, the carnies were met with hostility as the local residents did not appreciate strangers (especially the odd kind). Forced to make camp outside the city’s borders, the carnival performers unknowingly set their tents near a toxic waste dump – poisoning their minds and bodies. As the carnies slipped into mania, deformity, and depravity; the townspeople hid their cruelty by keeping the infected individuals hidden at the bayou. Today, only myths and legends remain about the carnival family and their gruesome fate. Do you dare visit Devil’s Bayou? Rumor is, you won’t come back!

I cannot tell you how much I love this story. Ashes Tales of Terror has managed to take two traditional haunt settings (Louisiana bayous and carnivals) and mash them together in a totally unexpected and extraordinary way!

What Can I Expect At Carnies of Devil’s Bayou?

As previously mentioned, Carnies of Devil’s Bayou is a home haunt – so be prepared for street parking. Once you arrive, you’ll check in at the front table and wait for your trip to Louisiana! While the maze is large enough to accommodate more than one party at a time, Ashes Tales of Terror has chosen to entertain groups individually. This allows for a completely personalized experience, with tailored intensity levels and sensitivity concerns.

Yes, you read that correctly. Ashes Tales of Terror values accessibility – for both seasoned horror fans and timid newcomers. By communicating your group’s needs ahead of time, Ashes is able to adjust the intensity of the frights (from tame to super high gear) and scares to accommodate a wide variety of guests. As someone with partial hearing loss (and massive anxiety surrounding the protection of my remaining hearing abilities), I asked that any traditionally loud sound effects be muted during my visit to Devil’s Bayou. Not only did the team graciously grant my request, but they were able to modify the trail so well that you would never even notice anything was missing. Thank you, Ashes Tales of Terror, for the incredible gift of experiencing a haunt WITHOUT worry about my hearing health!

I’m not going to give any spoilers for the actual maze, but I do want to say that you are going to be super impressed by the variety of scenery, quality of sets, and sheer scale of construction that went into creating this Carnies experience. But what really brings this trail together is the passion and talent of the actors. As skilled improv and character performers, they ensure that no two trips through Devil’s Bayou will ever be exactly the same!

How to Reserve Your Spot for the Carnies of Devil’s Bayou

In order to avoid overcrowding and long wait times, Ashes Tales of Terror requests that all guests book a specific date and time slot on the event’s hauntpay website. If you have any issues or challenges booking with the site, you can also email Ashley at ashestalesofterror@gmail.com.

Haunting for a Good Cause

Instead of traditional admission fees, Carnies of Devil’s Bayou accepts donations benefiting the C.A.R.E. Foundation – an exotic animal rescue and educational facility. Located right here in Central Florida, this organization provides permanent homes to over 200 non-domestic, non-releasable animals like big cats, birds, monkeys, and more!

The suggested donation is $5 per person for your initial tour through the Carnie’s swampland (walk through a second time at no additional cost!). Donations are accepted through the hauntpay link, or you can contribute onsite using physical cash, Zelle, or the Cash app.

Halloween Trick or Treating

But Ashes Tales of Terror isn’t just for adults! Little monsters can visit the trail on Halloween evening for scare-free trick-or-treating fun! Arrive between 5:30-6:30pm to participate!

Grab Your Time Slot for Carnies of Devil’s Bayou!

If you’re a fan of haunted attractions (and if you’ve read this far I assume you are), I highly encourage you to check out Carnies of Devil’s Bayou! You’ll get an awesome, personalized haunt experience and support an impactful, local nonprofit organization at the same time. It’s a win-win!

Thank you, Ashes Tales of Terror, for inviting us to your media preview. We look forward to visiting the full event next month!