Hera’s Nightmare Returns for a Second Season of Scares
WESTMINSTER, MD — For a second consecutive Halloween season, the TownMall of Westminster welcomed Western Marylanders into the darkened halls of Hera’s Nightmare. Following a debut season of rave reviews, industry awards and gradually increasing foot traffic in 2024, owner and creative architect Carlos Rivas was determined to bring one of Maryland’s newest haunted attractions back in a big way for this year’s event; and for Carlos, the aspiration was quite literal. Across its original three storefronts and the newly-acquired expansion space, Hera’s Nightmare now commands about 4% of the total square footage of the TownMall.
“I have almost too much space. I think I’m at I’m at 27,000 square foot with everything - with the store, with, like, how much space I have for the haunt - and then that doesn’t include the midway, but I don’t know if you can include the midway.”
We missed out on Hera’s first season due to a perfect storm of illness and other seasonal commitments, but we’ve had the pleasure of visiting Hera’s Nightmare on two prior occasions - once for their ‘Cursed Cottontail’ event in April of 2025, and once for their ‘Summer Screams’ event in May of 2025. On both occasions, the three scare mazes looked completely different, but the overall flow and the offerings available were consistent. Five months later, the overall experience is so drastically different that you’d think the original configuration to have been a spooky fever dream.
Assuming that you approach Hera’s Nightmare through its main entrance between the Belk Outlet and the Boscov’s storefronts, you’ll first be greeted by all-new signage, fog and uplighting - clear indications that you’re in the right spot. During the prime haunt season (late September through early October), Hera’s “midway” overtakes most of the entryway to the TownMall’s interior. As you walk inside, you’ll be met with the towering props that dwarf the average customer, many of which actually move and some of which roar as you get closer enough to trigger their respective motion sensors. Music is pumping, multi-colored lights are dancing and fog is wafting gently through the hall, all of which is free to enjoy regardless of whether you’re intending to brave the mazes. As of this year, you can also pick up a freshly made donut or any other snack from an assortment of hot and cold food and drink in the stand across the hall from the ticket booth. This is to say nothing of the incredibly well-themed merchandise shop and all of the branded materials therein.
But I digress, let’s get to the good stuff…
Since opening in 2024, Hera’s Nightmare has offered three interwoven - but separate - haunted attractions. One ticket allowed patrons to experience all three scare mazes in a linear order, beginning with “Hexen Hollow”, going on to “Containment” and concluding (previously) with “Reign of Darkness”. The overall structure and flow of this experience has not changed…but the content of the experience has changed dramatically. In a nod to Hera’s predecessor, Hackney Haunts, the third attraction has been reborn as “Bite Fight” - and damned if it isn’t one of the most immersive walkthrough experiences you’ll see this far North of Orlando. The other two attractions, while holding onto their original titles and stories, have been updated and polished and are every bit as captivating and terrifying as the all-new attraction. Assuming you survive all three mazes, you’ll make your way through forests, temples, government facilities, castles, cemeteries, wind, thunder, fire and so much more. The actors are on top of their game and the costumes are magnificent, be it face or fur.
New as well for the haunt’s second season is an add-on experience tailored to a younger generation of would-be haunters…but super fun for everyone else in your crew, too! For a small surcharge, visitors to Hera’s Nightmare can venture into the Horror Vault, an immersive walkthrough featuring props, sets and costumes themed to various horror tropes across a wide and gruesome spectrum. Unlike the scare mazes, pictures and video are encouraged and the experience is to be taken at your own pace. Best of all, the Horror Vault is automatically included with the Fast Pass and Combo Pass* ticket tiers - effectively increasing the value of premium tickets by no less than 25% and sending you home with extra memories and TikTok drafts that you’d otherwise not have been able to obtain.
Though it’s one of the youngest haunts we’ve ever visited, Hera’s Nightmare offers a full and complete haunt experience on par with that of haunted attractions that have been operating for a decade or more. The sets are spectacular, the acting is above and beyond and the scares are authentic…all for a starting price of roughly $40/person. And if the 2025 season is any indication, Carlos is just getting started. While we wait to see what he has up his sleeve for the weeks, months and years ahead, you can check out our extensive coverage of this year’s event in our experience vlog below.
Hera’s Nightmare is expected to return in 2026, in addition to hosting off-season events for Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Halfway to Halloween (“Summer Screams”) throughout 2025 and 2026. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://herasnightmare.com/index.html.
*Combo Passes allow same-night fast pass entry to both Hera’s Nightmare in Westminster, MD and its sister haunt the Final Bell Haunted Schoolhouse in Hampstead, MD. As of 2025, combo passes must be purchased onsite.
