A Petrified Forest is revealing what awaits guests when Chaos Reigns takes over the Central Florida scream park for its 19th season.

Opening October 2, 2026, in Altamonte Springs, this year’s event features five new horror attractions, including three original scare trails and two additional experiences designed to take the scares beyond the traditional haunted-house format.

The 2026 season runs select nights through October 31.

Chaos Reigns at A Petrified Forest

This year’s overarching theme, Chaos Reigns, imagines a world where society is breaking down, reality isn’t necessarily what it seems, and survival is far from guaranteed.

The theme connects three new scare trails — The Craving, Last Responders, and Drawn to Death — alongside The Keeper’s Offering and Psychosis.

Here’s what’s coming this October.

The Craving

Humanity has always been hungry, but The Craving takes that idea somewhere considerably darker.

According to A Petrified Forest, the attraction explores a hunger that has existed since the dawn of time. While it has traditionally been satisfied by animals and vegetation, those lurking in the darkest corners have discovered another potential food source: their fellow humans.

Probably don’t stop for a snack inside this one.

Last Responders

A massive comet has struck City Hall, but the impact may only be the beginning of the disaster in Last Responders.

The comet brings with it a tone that transforms people into something dangerous and deadly. As its effects spread through the local government, the situation escalates into a citywide catastrophe.

Drawn to Death

Saturday morning cartoons probably aren’t supposed to hunt you.

Nobody told Drawn to Death.

The new trail transforms familiar cartoon-style characters from zany into vicious as they embark on a killing spree. Guests become their targets as childhood nostalgia takes a very unpleasant turn.

Of the three concepts, this may be the one we’re most curious to see brought to life. Taking something intentionally colorful and innocent and twisting it into horror has all kinds of possibilities.

The Keeper’s Offering

A Petrified Forest is also expanding beyond its traditional scare trails with The Keeper’s Offering.

Guests begin what appears to be an innocent prop tour through the woods before the experience is derailed by sinister inhabitants. With assistance from a friendly soul, guests must make choices that determine their path back to safety.

The experience combines elements of a haunted house, live-action ride, immersive show, and interactive game into a single large-scale attraction where groups’ decisions can physically change the experience around them.

The Keeper’s Offering will have limited availability, with day-of tickets available on site.

Psychosis

Then there’s Psychosis, which sounds like it may be one of the more intense additions this year.

Guests enter an enclosed box with therapist Dr. Draft before being sent down an 85-foot track into darkness.

From there, reality begins to blur as guests encounter the terrifying traumas that shaped the character.

A waiver is required for the experience, and A Petrified Forest warns that guests will be touched and may be separated from their group. Psychosis is not recommended for guests under 13.

Availability is limited, with day-of tickets available on site.

More Than Haunted Trails

The attractions aren’t the only things happening throughout the scream park.

A Petrified Forest says its 2026 season will also include backstage tours, laser tag, roaming scareactors, live DJs, local artists, and food vendors.

Several returning special event nights are also planned during October.

Kid’s Day – October 10

Running from 9 a.m. to noon, Kid’s Day is A Petrified Forest’s annual charity event benefiting Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida.

The daytime event includes games, activities, and trick-or-treating through a kid-friendly portion of a trail.

Dark Road Riders and Psychosis will not be available during Kid’s Day.

Blood Moon – October 11

Guests with a Bite Mark Pass can experience unlimited trips through the scare trails from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m.

Accessibility Night – October 14

Running from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Accessibility Night features modified lighting, sound, and effects for guests who may benefit from additional accommodations.

Total Eclipse Nights – October 21 and 28

Things get considerably darker during Total Eclipse Nights.

From 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., guests will navigate the scare trails in near-total darkness with only a glow stick to help guide them.

Because apparently normal haunted trails weren’t stressful enough.

Tickets and Dates

A Petrified Forest opens October 2 and runs select nights through October 31, 2026.

General admission starts at under $40 per person and includes admission to all three scare trails:

• The Craving
• Last Responders
• Drawn to Death

Additional experiences including The Keeper’s Offering, Psychosis, backstage tours, and laser tag are available separately.

Tickets are on sale now through APetrifiedForest.com.

With three completely original trails and two experiences experimenting with more interactive forms of horror, Chaos Reigns looks like another example of why A Petrified Forest has developed such a loyal following among Central Florida Halloween fans.

And with Halloween season now officially underway, October suddenly doesn’t feel quite so far away.

So until the next blog, podcast or livestream, keep making memories.