Talking with the dead always goes swimmingly, right?
One of the country’s top haunted houses is right here in Baton Rouge, and its opening a new attraction Friday night, Sept. 26, with more frights, terrors and screams.
At 13th Gate’s newest experience, Séance, horror-seekers can join a ritual led by the eerie character duo of Madam Morgan Dupre and Doctor Nicholson, who interact with an entity known as Marie Widlock. The show is located in Carnevil Haunted Midway, which is across the street from the 13th Gate.
The immersive horror show is something different, said 13th Gate owner Dwayne Sanburn.
“It’s an adrenaline rush,” Sanburn said. “We make you feel very unsafe, although you’re very safe.”
When living in Louisiana, it’s hard to talk about the paranormal without paying homage to New Orleans. Séance’s exterior and interior design draws some inspiration from The Crescent City’s architecture.
“It has definitely a New Orleans feel to it — that old history to it,” Sanburn said. “Certainly the story of Marie Widlock and all of the characters fit that.”
The first show is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday, with exactly 30 seats available to create an intimate atmosphere. Because Séance has time-ticketed entry, arriving on time is a must.
The attraction will be here for the year, Sanburn said.
Keep in mind, the show has effects like sudden air blasts, strobe lighting, wind, scent effects and audio effects. Individuals who are pregnant, prone to seizures, have a heart condition, have a pacemaker or are claustrophobic are not recommended to participate.
After summoning the dead at Séance, folks can walk across the street to 13th Gate’s haunted house and experience the new Frankenstein’s Castle, a segment with gore-covered lab equipment, chemical experiments and a familiar green monster.
Three decades of frights
Sanburn has been in the business of scaring adrenaline junkies since 1991, opening 13th Gate ten years later in 2001. With lines of people often wrapped around the building and down the street, 13th Gate was named the country’s top haunted house in 2024 by haunted house directory hauntworld.com.