Terrifying True Stories Presents a Special Experience for Halloween Season

Earlier this year, Terrifying True Stories hosted an event called Victorian Horror Stories in the Dark. They’ve returned with another immersive experience for spooky season titled Terrifying True Stories by Candlelight and I was grateful to be invited to attend. It was thrilling to be back at Heritage Square Museum in Los Angeles to take part in the activities and witness macabre storytelling unfold right before my eyes.

For this edition, new tales have been dug up to entertain and astound guests. The Heritage Square Museum is an ideal place for an event like this because it’s the site of several Victorian homes that already come with their own paranormal history. Each activation (story) took place inside a different 19th-century structure. Suffice it to say, there was a haunting energy that permeated throughout the spaces.

When I arrived, I made my way up a dimly lit pathway. The full moon in the sky made the evening all the more mysterious. I was given a card listing each attraction and the building it would take place in. Entering the grounds was like laying eyes on a sinister playground. There were large skeletal animatronics, a small graveyard with ghostly children playing “Ring Around the Rosie,” phantoms with glowing red eyes, and skulls strewn around.

I decided to start the night at Salem’s Circle. This ritual took place outdoors in front of a derelict train car situated in the center of the premises. Thirteen torches surrounded the area. A clever magician presented all manner of sleight of hand and illusions to trick the mind. He left most people second guessing what they saw.  

Next, it was time to participate in an exorcism performed in an abandoned church. Exorcista was the ceremony that would be performed. Two women draped in black garb welcomed parishioners into the inner sanctum. Faux candles lit up the interior and at the front was a stage with an empty chair. Who would take that seat, I wondered? Two priests cautioned us about what we were going to witness. A possessed female was brought before us with an inverted cross on her forehead and a pallor that made her look like death. She was the epitome of blasphemy. The ritual that ensued tapped into all senses. Wind blew in our faces, a mysterious liquid was sprinkled on us, and flashing lights distorted our vision. It was incredible! But the question we were all left with at the conclusion was if the exorcism really worked.

It was onto the next eerie adventure. I headed to Final Prophecy in the Perry Mansion. A group of us entered a stately room and were greeted by Franz Anton Mesmer. His gifts were quite impressive. He asked for a handful of volunteers and gave them each a piece of paper and pen. Each were given a different prompt and told to write their answer on the paper. When they were done, they dropped their pieces into a skull goblet. At no time did our host see what they were writing, but as he grabbed each scrap of paper out of the cup, he was able to guess exactly what was inscribed on each one. The really creepy demonstration was the one that followed. It involved Tarot cards and Franz Anton Mesmer announcing that he would predict the death date of one lucky individual who pulled a card. All I will say is that the chosen individual within our group turned out not to be so fortunate.

My next stop was the Hale House. This structure is an absolute emblem of Victorian architecture. Doctor Wax was the narrative that transpired within its walls. There were several porcelain dolls sitting straight up looking at us as we entered the parlor and a ghost named Eliza who pleaded for our help. After the experience, I learned an intriguing fact about this house from an employee of Heritage Square. She informed me that Hale House is currently being used to film a project by screenwriter Ryan Murphy for his next Monster series on Netflix! It may possibly center around a person by the name of Lizzie Borden. I’m assuming this was the reason no recording or photography was allowed inside.

Nest of Spiders inside the Shaw House was definitely not for anyone suffering from arachnophobia. Dr. Eliza Fanny Staveley told us of her studies and experiments on arachnids. She was accompanied by her overeager and humorous assistant. When she was ready to show our group her eight-legged test subjects, she realized the case was empty. Her fear was that the escaped spiders would have grown to unimaginable sizes. On that note, we were rushed out to avoid a fatal encounter, but we managed to run into a few.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have a chance to check out Resurrection in the Octagon House. This activation told the story of Marjorie McCall who rose from the grave and returned as something darker. I did have a chance to enter the Octagon House when I attended Terrifying True Stories’ previous event earlier this year. This structure is said to have the most paranormal activity of all the homes at Heritage Square Museum.

In addition to the main activities, there were food vendors, a psychic reader, and a few small businesses set up selling spooky goods. Throughout the night, I was also approached by inhabitants of the underworld who gifted me with trinkets, such as a jade cross, a miniature Jesus figurine, and a golden key. All for my protection, I’m sure.

I have to say that I’m so happy I had the chance to attend another Terrifying True Stories event. Their immersive experiences put a fun spin on storytelling and make you feel like you’re part of the tale. While the event at Heritage Square Museum in Los Angeles ended, there are two more experiences happening in October. The next will be in Hollywood at a haunted theater on the 17th, 18th, and 31st. The third option is taking place at Heritage Square in Oxnard on the 24th and 25th.  Different time slots are available, and I recommend arriving about 30 minutes early so you can check out everything that’s offered. Get your tickets now to witness Terrifying True Stories by Candlelight.

Where to Stalk

Terrifying True Stories

Heritage Square Museum Los Angeles