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Scarizona Scaregrounds

Startled Darkness: The Dark Can See You

Startled Darkness is a dark haunted house at Scarizona in Mesa, near Phoenix: extreme darkness, tight confined spaces, and startle scares from every angle. You can't see in the dark, but the dark can see you.

Select nights Sept 25 to Nov 1 · Tickets from $19.95 plus fees · Free parking

8.35/10 from The Scare Factor (2024) · 2024 Highest Rated Cast Award (Southwest)

Before You Enter This House

Startled Darkness is built on extreme darkness and dark confined spaces, with close encounters from every angle. If tight, pitch-dark rooms are your limit, take the other two houses and stay out of this one. Closed-toe shoes are required to enter, with no exceptions. Scarizona is designed to be intense and is not recommended for guests under 12, but parents and guardians know their children best.

Photosensitivity notice: This page and the attraction both use flashing lights, strobe effects, fog and moving images. If you are sensitive to motion or light, turn on “reduce motion” in your device’s accessibility settings and this site will hold its animations still.

Check Dates 2026 Season Calendar 21 open nights · First check-in 6:45 PM · Pick a night to buy

The House

What Is Startled Darkness?

Extreme darkness. Nowhere to look.

STARTLED is a pitch-black haunted house built on extreme darkness and a variety of startling sounds, jolts, jumps, and scares. Remove the light and every sound turns into a threat, because the dark takes away the one sense you were counting on to see the scare coming.

The encounters come close, and they come from all angles. Something may be beside you. Something may already know exactly where you are. If dark confined spaces or things lunging out of them are more than you want tonight, let this house go and take the other two. That warning is not decoration.

Startled Darkness key art, the dark haunted house at Scarizona Scaregrounds in Mesa, AZ

Three things the dark does to you

What to Expect Inside This Dark Haunted House

Extreme, Pitch-Black Darkness

The lights do not come back. Startled Darkness keeps the lights out from the door to the exit, moving you through extreme darkness where your eyes stop protecting you and every sound becomes a warning. You cannot see in the dark, but the dark can see you.

Startle Scares From Every Angle

A variety of startling sounds, jolts, jumps, and scares wait in the black. Close encounters come at you from all angles, so the thing beside you is never where you expect it and never when you expect it.

Dark, Confined Spaces

The walls close in as you move deeper. If you do not like dark confined spaces or things jumping out at you, turn around at the gate. Read that twice before you step inside.

Startled Darkness Reviews: They Went in Blind

It was a fun bit of scares and Halloween during g Christmas time. The dark scare is very, VERY dark. And the medical one has real medical gear and some great costumes. They even send cast out into the parking lot to scare people sitting in their cars, which really set the mood! After a lackluster Halloween haunted house experience, this was a welcome step up. P.s. where you exit has a "Do Not Enter" sign posted that you just ignore.

Kara Karlson, Local Guide / Google · Dec 2025 to Jan 2026

Read our Google reviewsRead our Yelp reviews

  • Recent

    it was soo much fun! i came here with a bunch of my friends and it was something i wont forget, 100% recommend!!

    J
    Jayla Mullins
    Google
  • Recent

    It was very fun and scary

    R
    Ryder
    Google
  • Recent

    Had a great time here, best haunted house in Arizona! Plenty of scare actors and attractions making it such a fun experience

    T
    Taylor Tarver
    Google
  • Recent

    Spooky, scary and fun. Tons of actors with weapons to frighten you.

    D
    DJ Sifu
    Google
  • Recent

    Different houses with decent characters.

    A
    Amaya Davis
    Google
  • Recent

    Scarizona is such a hidden gem of a haunt and everyone needs to know about it! My husband and I went there for the first time last night and this place blows everyone out of the water! The actors are phenomenal at doing their job, to be scary! The staff was all great and very informative. We can not say enough about this place and can not wait to come back year after year. One of the best parts about this place, they send you through the mazes with just your group! If I could give Scarizona 100 stars, I would. Keep being scary and Happy Halloween!!

    J
    Jessica Castellanos
    Google
  • Recent

    Such a great experience! Staff is friendly and fun. Perfect amount of scary for kids 8/9 up. Perfect for teenagers to go with friends, bday party, date nights.

    K
    Kendall Billings
    Google
  • Recent

    It was creative and scary good family outing

    C
    Cornell Brown
    Google
  • Recent

    This is the BEST Haunted Attraction, that I've been to here in Arizona! The houses were very well put together and provided lots of jump scares, and the actors did an outstanding job at providing entertainment and scares, they actually seemed to enjoy their job, unlike other haunted attractions in Arizona where the actors just go through the motion and have no enthusiasm. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed Scarizona Scaregrounds and will be back next year. AWESOME JOB Scarizona!

    D
    David Rivas
    Google
  • Recent

    Three haunted houses, each one different from the others. The characters all different and the scare level was just right. I come every year with my friends.

    A
    Aliza Schild
    Google
  • Recent

    It was great I had the best time and it was great group date place

    C
    Chase Grohman
    Google
  • Recent

    My wife and I went here for the 1st time. We have gone to 13th floor and fear farm. Scarizona by far is the best ! The others felt like a waste of money. We highly recommend coming here

    l
    locksmith surgeon
    Google
  • Recent

    SO MUCH FUN!!!!! They did an amazing job and actually put effort into it. Best haunted houses in AZ!!!!! Beats all the others by farrr. Get there early and there's no lines too. Didn't want it to end!!! I'm hard to scare, and i literally screamed continously in every haunt. WELL DONE SCARIZONA!!!! WILL BE BACK NEXT YEAR!!!!! 10 STARS

    R
    Rachel Brown
    Google
  • Recent

    Best haunted house I’ve been to in years. The fast pass is definitely worth it. Will be going back if I’m in Arizona again during October. Outstanding job!

    T
    Travis Koldenhoven
    Google
  • Recent

    Soooo much fun. So worth the money. So glad we went. Three super fun attractions and we were screaming our heads off. Wish it was a bit more lively outside the haunted houses. But it was opening night so maybe October is more lively!

    T
    Tommy English
    Google
  • Recent

    The ICU attraction this season was great

    F
    Frederic Polaha
    Google
  • Recent

    1st my teens had a great time and enjoyed the scare but I wanted to share how amazing the staff was. My wife is a newly amputee and some of the houses had some challenging spots for her to walk. All the staff were so quick to warn her when she needed to watch her step. One awesome guy walked in front of her and made sure she knew what to expect with the floor. I can't thank you all enough.

    S
    Shawna Johnson
    Google
  • This is the absolute BEST set of houses in the Valley! The house design was impeccable, the actors were really awesome and extremely professional. If you like a good, genuine scare, you have to come here. It’s worth every minute and dollar you’d spend. 10/10 would recommend!

    D
    Dennis Gable
    Local Guide, Google
    Nov to Dec 2025
  • The halloween haunt is 🔥. The Christmas haunt is 🔥. Don't sleep on scarizona! They are miles ahead of fear farm!!

    J
    Jeremy Johnson
    Google
    Nov to Dec 2025
  • Scarizona Scaregrounds did not disappoint! Took a large group of friends and had a great time! Entrance, parking, and ticketing was effective, quick, and painless. Had a great open space with concessions available to mingle with friends while also getting snuck up on my actors! Double face Olaf was the absolute best! The 3 haunted houses were great scares, especially the new ICU - The set up was creepy and actors were really into their roles. Special shoutout to the creepy doll room too! Overall, can’t wait for next year! Thanks Scarizona!

    J
    Jon Mobley
    Google
    Oct to Nov 2025
  • Mayhem in the madness was by far the best haunted house I’ve ever been to. 10/10. There were scares around every corner. They gave us a story to carry throughout. It was fantastic. Will be back next year. Loved the other haunts as well. Very detailed. Scare actors were on point. Especially for a black out event.

    C
    Carlysle
    Google
    Oct to Nov 2025
  • This haunted house is far superior to Fear Farm! They have a great selection of attractions at reasonable prices, and the actors perform exceptionally well. The best part is the pacing of the crowd, which allows the actors to rest between performances. The way we entered the house really enhanced our overall experience. Thank you!

    S
    Samantha Reaves
    Google
    Oct to Nov 2025
  • This haunted house is way best then fear farm! They have a good selection and good prices and the actors do a good job. The best thing is the pace the crowd so it gives the actors time to reset. Pacing the entry of us entering really let us get the full experience. Thank you!

    D
    Dawn Reaves Reaves
    Google
    Oct to Nov 2025
  • This was so much fun and scary! 3 different houses all creepy and scary in a different way. We went with a big group and screamed the whole time. The actors were awesome, the sets were creepy, and we had such a great night. Definitely recommend if you love a good scare.

    M
    Michael Just
    Local Guide, Google
    Oct to Nov 2025
  • First time coming here had a blast want to go back enjoyed ourselves! It was so much fun 10/10 would definitely go again.

    M
    Michael E.
    Phoenix, AZ, Yelp
  • Had a great time with my family. The characters were interactive. There are two haunted houses but worth the time.

    R
    Regina J.
    Los Angeles, CA, Yelp
  • To my haunted house-loving friends, this was the coolest, most impressive haunted house experience I've ever enjoyed! They really went above and beyond, the actors were great! The setups impressive, the haunts wandering through the lines were so fun.

    E
    Elicia N.
    Scottsdale, AZ, Yelp
  • Scarier than Fear Farm! Will attend every year for sure! I have a few people in mind for dark room challenge!!!! So much fun!!!

    D
    Deanna J.
    Mesa, AZ, Yelp
  • Seriously everything there is creepy spooky scary and freaking intense - I saw a grown man crying!!

    F
    Freaking Scary!
    Verified review, azhauntedhouses.com
  • It was worth every penny … The actors need special mention. It was an act of passion they have for scaring people and they do it with finesse. Loved their makeup and costume.

    L
    Loved the Outfits
    Verified review, azhauntedhouses.com
  • Completely different than other haunts I visited … full of enthusiastic actors, magnificent sets, and never before seen scares. Super fun and scary!!

    T
    Truly frightening
    Verified review, azhauntedhouses.com

31 reviews rotating

One price also walks you through Mayhem in Madness and Dr. Death's Haunted ICU. Timed entry means the busy nights sell out first, so book your timed slot ahead.

Startled Darkness FAQ: Before You Step Into the Dark

How dark is Startled Darkness?

Extremely dark. Startled Darkness is a pitch-black haunted house, and the darkness is the whole attraction: it closes over you at the door and it holds. You cannot see in the dark, but the dark can see you, and the startles come from sounds and movement you never see coming.

Is Startled Darkness claustrophobic? Are the spaces confined?

Yes. Startled Darkness runs through dark confined spaces with close encounters from every angle. If tight, pitch-black rooms are the one thing you cannot do, sit this one out and let the other two haunts have you. Your price covers all three either way.

Can the actors touch me?

Our actors will not intentionally grab or restrain you, and guests may never touch the actors, props, or scenery. Keep your hands to yourself in the dark, and the creatures will do the same.

What do I need to wear for Startled Darkness?

Closed-toe shoes are required to enter Startled Darkness, with no exceptions. No open-toed shoes, flip-flops, or sandals. You are walking through darkness on uneven outdoor ground, so sturdy soles keep you upright when something you never saw decides to move.

Is Startled Darkness the same as Blackout Night?

No. Startled Darkness is dark every night of the season, and it is one of the three haunts your ticket covers. Blackout Night is a separate one-night event on Nov 1 when the lights go out in all three haunts and each group gets a single glowstick.

Where is Startled Darkness?

Startled Darkness is one of the three haunts at Scarizona Scaregrounds, 1901 N. Alma School Road, Mesa, AZ 85201, minutes from Phoenix, with free parking on site.

How much are Startled Darkness tickets?

One timed-entry ticket covers Startled Darkness, Mayhem in Madness, and Dr. Death’s Haunted ICU, from $19.95 plus fees, on select nights from Sept 25 to Nov 1.

The Dark Is Already Waiting.

One price walks you through Startled Darkness and the other two haunts on your chosen night. Timed entry means the busy nights sell out before the gates ever open. Closed-toe shoes required, no exceptions.

Select nights Sept 25 to Nov 1 · Tickets from $19.95 plus fees · Free parking

8.35/10 from The Scare Factor (2024) · 2024 Highest Rated Cast Award (Southwest)