Set in one of the most unique locations of all of the haunts in Colorado, Haunted Junk Yard takes visitors on a twisting, turning, terrifying stroll through a real junk yard, jam-packed with stacks and stacks of disposed steel, located in an industrial section of Commerce City oozing authenticity. That realism sucks visitors in, and makes the Haunted Junk Yard a gritty, great time!
The cast at Haunted Junk Yard did a spectacular job of filling the space and bringing high energy all throughout the haunt, despite the odds being stacked against them. Although we try to avoid opening nights with the haunt crew fresh on the job, that wasn’t possible this time, and our haunt team was among the first visitors to the haunt. Other than a few calmer spots that allowed us to catch our breath, while also allowing our hosts to reposition through the 60+ hiding spots and paths to scare us again and again, the action was almost constant. More than once, we were literally surrounded by sordid clowns bearing down on us from all sides before permitting us to slip through to the next area. Those cast members were all highly interactive, hitting us with questions, quips, and squeaking horns while swooping in, popping out, and rushing around in a cacophony of chaos. We have no doubts that the Haunted Junk Yard will be even more impressive with its full cast and with more screams under their belts as scream season goes on. Even the hauntmaster, proprietor, and king of the junk yard himself, Gene, brought his presence to bear with a roar, starting us off with an airhorn that sounded like it would echo for miles. He also found us partway through the haunt to offer some much-needed but ultimately unhelpful guidance, and gave the finale the big jumpstart it needed!
The costuming at the Haunted Junk Yard is the definition of simplicity, most of which is supplied by the actors themselves, but it’s precisely what the job calls for. Cast members chose between their classic clown uniform or to wear their own worn work clothes, which fit the junk yard theme perfectly. The clown masks, while each being unique, are the same simple sort of off-the-shelf masks one might find in any Halloween costume aisle in the country. They were slung haphazardly over the actors’ heads as if to hide the men’s identities while committing unspeakable acts, more so than to convince anyone they were in any circus. One actor went for a more wild look, which was a nice contrast and offered some variety. If that additional costume is indicative of what visitors can expect when the Haunted Junk Yard is at full cast, guests will be in for a treat!
The customer service at Haunted Junk Yard is on par with any other well-run haunt, with some of the nicest and most helpful folks one can imagine, happy to help guests. However, we would love to see the Haunted Junk Yard get some additional digital presence to help people find them and stay up-to-date on the schedule. Be forewarned: folks wanting to visit are encouraged to call for reservations. (Pausing a moment for those of us petrified by the notion of making an actual phone call.) That shocking dearth of web presence for the Haunted Junk Yard also makes finding information difficult. The haunt occasionally maintains a Facebook page (stressing “occasionally” hard), and that’s it. So, give them a call at (303) 287-3075! Although people without reservations won’t be turned away, reservations are suggested and will help cut down on wait times.
It is also worth mentioning that, although there didn’t seem to be anything truly dangerous or harmful in the Haunted Junk Yard, as Gene noted, it’s a real junk yard. As their theme goes, “real junk yard, real dangerous, real scary,” and that’s all accurate. Nevertheless, the pathway was reasonably free from obstructions, with minor faltering in a few places due to a rocky walking surface. Rest assured, as we were making our way through the dark and winding path while being heckled by demented clowns, there ultimately was no need for tetanus boosters. Make the call, and we have no doubts that you, too, will be warmly welcomed to the Haunted Junk Yard family! You’ll have a great time trying to survive!
As we were there earlier in the evening on opening night, there wasn’t much of a haunt vibe yet when we visited. The ticket line and pre-haunt areas were all ready for guests, giving a taste of the stacks of old metal miscellany that make up much of the haunt itself, complete with a real old coffin guests can use for photos. Adding a few groups of people teetering on the precipice between excitement and fear that are likely to be at the attraction on other nights will make the pre-haunt vibe much stronger. Similarly, the end of the haunt puts visitors out a little down the road and next to a car graveyard. It’s here that guests will face a choice. Either head away from the haunt, in which case you are just back in an industrial area of Commerce City, or double back to the front of the haunt to keep the flow going a little longer.
Inside of the haunt, however, the immersion is complete. The setting is as realistic as it gets, both within the junk yard itself and also the junk yard’s location in industrial Commerce City. Driving into the area alone is its own experience, as it’s easy to imagine Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholas battling it out along an I beam over a large vat, anywhere you look. Then, being stalked throughout the real junk yard by a dedicated cast in costumes that fit the theme perfectly brings an incredible sense of immersion. That immersion didn’t break until we walked out of the exit, which is a testament to our host and haunt creator and his crew.
As we’ve mentioned, Haunted Junk Yard is an old-school haunt that derives its energy from the living, not the power grid. That being the case, though, there was no lack of effects. Hoots and hollers from human lungs, complemented by scraping metal, thundering on metal drums, a blaring alarm, and screaming chainsaws, filled the airspace that is reserved for speakers and sound mixers in other haunts, but the effect was no less dramatic. On the contrary, the decade of human-powered scare design fits the Haunted Junk Yard’s feel like a glove.
21. How scary was it? (35% of score): 7.75
22. How well did they provide scares to everyone in the group? (15% of score): 7.88
23. How predictable were the scares? (25% of score): 7.13
24. How well did they provide a wide variety (types) of scares? (10% of score): 7
25. How strong was the ending / finale? (15% of score): 7.13
The Haunted Junk Yard left us screaming with the visceral fear of being hunted by malfeasant clowns through the twisting trail lined with decrepit treasures and trappings. The singular focus on scaring guests is readily apparent, given the absence of high-tech distractions, and the cast did a great job bringing the necessary energy to the fright. The variety of engagements thrilled as the cast approached with humor, or at times direct threats, and sometimes they just opted for the nonverbal yet surprisingly aggressive honk of a horn. The cast also did a spectacular job causing chaos in our group, coming for each of us with no one getting a full reprieve. The finale kept that same fun but scary energy all the way until we stepped foot outside of the haunt. The Haunted Junk Yard has brought the fear to Commerce City, just outside of Denver proper, for the past decade, and stepping through the gates is like a welcomed step back in time that’s sure to provide scares to the whole group!
With a walk-through time of 13 minutes, Haunted Junk Yard is on the more expensive side of other haunted attractions in the Denver metro area, but it is one of the most unique haunts in all of Colorado. The classic vibe begins by making a call to reserve a spot, and continues from the moment guests enter the gates until the moment they escape.
For both real hauntheads and those dabbling for the season alike, this is a must-see attraction that will transport you into a nightmare full of twisted clowns, dilapidated metal, and the yearning to run for your life while also not wanting the experience to end. Call Gene and make your reservations today! (303) 287-3075
6530 Brighton Blvd, Commerce City, Colorado 80022
