Yuma Nightmares Converts Haunted House Into Christmas Experience

Yuma Nightmares officially opened its Christmas themed experience on December 5, transforming the popular Halloween attraction into a mix of festive and spooky sights that will run through December 20. The venue is operating Wednesdays and Thursdays from 6:15 to 9:30 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 7 to 10 p.m. Visitors can choose between a drive through experience and a walk through haunted house, and most performers appear on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Owner Mark Plante described the concept as “a combination of Halloween and Christmas, kind of more family friendly… the kids seem to do great with it. It’s a way of introducing yourself to the haunted house stuff without being too intimidated.” That emphasis on accessibility marks a deliberate pivot from pure shock based entertainment toward programming that can attract families and broader demographics during the holiday season.

For Yuma County that pivot carries economic implications. By extending operations into December, Yuma Nightmares spreads revenue beyond the October peak for haunted attractions and helps generate evening foot traffic in a period that can be quieter for local hospitality and retail outlets. The dual format of drive through and walk through access can broaden the customer base, accommodating households that prefer lower contact experiences as well as traditional patrons who want a live show.

The concentration of performers on weekend evenings concentrates demand into predictable peak hours, which can simplify staffing and safety planning while increasing sales on high traffic nights. Local restaurants, convenience stores and gas stations located along routes to the venue stand to see incremental business from patrons arriving for shows. Venues that diversify programming in this way illustrate a broader trend in experiential entertainment toward year round activity to stabilize cash flow and employment for seasonal workers.

Looking forward the Christmas run through December 20 functions as both a community event and a market test. If attendance and revenues track favorably, expect similar off season programming in future years, and potential collaboration between event operators and local officials on traffic management and public safety during peak evenings. For now Yuma Nightmares offers residents an option for holiday season entertainment that blends familiar scares with seasonal cheer.