Step inside M.A.R.S. Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens. Face alien swarms, failing life support, and the cursed crew in this thrilling space horror experience.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is cranking up the terror for this year’s Howl-O-Scream, running on select nights from September 5th to November 2nd! We’ve been eagerly awaiting more details, and the latest sneak peek inside the M.A.R.S. haunted house has us on the edge of our seats.

The newly released images and a chilling short video offer a glimpse into the horrors awaiting within the crashed Elysium spacecraft. As the backstory reveals, this once-proud vessel, sent to explore the outer reaches of our solar system, met a violent end on Mars. Now, a search-and-destroy team is venturing into the wreckage with a terrifying objective: eliminate any threat, human or alien, before it can escape.

What we’ve seen so far confirms this mission will be anything but routine. The images showcase one of the aggressive, insect-like alien creatures that overwhelmed the original crew. Well, it also could be a crew person changing into one of these insect-like creatures. This nightmarish being sports a distinctly insectoid arm and appears drenched in blood – a grim testament to the fierce battle that took place. The atmosphere inside the M.A.R.S. house looks claustrophobic and menacing, perfectly setting the stage for a desperate fight for survival.

Prepare for Martian Mayhem: A Dive into M.A.R.S. at Howl-O-Scream

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is cranking up the terror for this year’s Howl-O-Scream, running on select nights from September 5th to November 2nd! We’ve been eagerly awaiting more details, and the latest sneak peek inside the M.A.R.S. haunted house has us on the edge of our seats.

The newly released images and a chilling short video offer a glimpse into the horrors awaiting within the crashed Elysium spacecraft. As the backstory reveals, this once-proud vessel, sent to explore the outer reaches of our solar system, met a violent end on Mars. Now, a search-and-destroy team is venturing into the wreckage with a terrifying objective: eliminate any threat, human or alien, before it can escape.

What we’ve seen so far confirms this mission will be anything but routine. The images showcase one of the aggressive, insect-like alien creatures that overwhelmed the original crew. This nightmarish being sports a distinctly insectoid arm and appears drenched in blood – a grim testament to the fierce battle that took place. The atmosphere inside the M.A.R.S. house looks claustrophobic and menacing, perfectly setting the stage for a desperate fight for survival.

Premise of M.A.R.S. Howl-O-Scream:

Once the crown jewel of the space fleet, the Elysium was built to explore the outer limits of our solar system and search for signs of life. But on a routine mission to Mars, disaster struck. The ship crashed violently onto the planet’s surface—damaged beyond repair. Most of the crew perished on impact. The few who survived now face freezing temperatures, failing life support, and something far worse.

Drawn by the crash, a swarm of aggressive, insect-like alien creatures surrounded the wreckage within minutes. The remaining crew fought back, but the enemy was too strong. Now, a new mission has begun: a search-and-destroy team has been deployed to ensure nothing—human or alien—makes it off the Elysium.

Your objective: enter the ship, reach the core, and destroy it before the threat spreads… or before you become part of the crew of the damned.

Still, the terror doesn’t stop there! Busch Gardens will offer a haunted lineup for this year’s Howl-O-Scream, featuring a total of five haunted houses, including the new M.A.R.S. Howl-O-Scream and the upgraded Ravens Mill – Lambs to the Slaughter, as Busch Gardens Tampa Bay officially called it in a press release. Guests should prepare to navigate three new scare zones and encounter two new hordes, all while experiencing terrifying entertainment designed to make you scream.

Howl-O-Scream 2025: Other Houses and Scare Zones

• NEW! Ravens Mill – Lambs to the Slaughter: This once-thriving mill has taken a gruesome turn, grinding flesh and bone with scarecrows stitched from the missing townspeople. Expect a horrifying harvest outside, with cages and watchful eyes at every turn.
• NEW! The Pestilence: In a town still haunted by the plague, the gas-masked Mob Doctors roam the streets, deciding who will meet their end in the Ashen Furnace. No one is safe from their “precautionary” measures.
• NEW! Breadcrumbs to Nowhere: A deceptively sweet cottage in Havenwood Forest lures the lost into the clutches of a twisted fairy tale, where Hansel and Gretel lead others to the Crone’s lair with no escape.
• NEW! Murders at Buckshot Ridge: A logging camp reclaimed by the forest holds dark secrets, with former workers transformed into something sinister amidst shifting trees and deceptive paths.
• Ragnar’s Wrath: Brave the icy winds and the stench of death as you enter a charred Viking longhouse filled with unspeakable horrors.
• Shadows of Wonderland: Wonderland has been warped by the Queen of Hearts’ reign of terror, with once-playful characters now bitter and vengeful.

Also, during a recent visit, we saw some Howl-O-Scream scare zone construction. Did we see Tree Lot Massacre, or is it something else? Is Murders at Buckshot Ridge using the Christmas Trees from Tree Lot Massacre, a scare zone from 2024?

Sinister Shows and Entertainment

• Familiar Fear! The Reckoning: Witness the battle between good and evil as Lark faces her judgment day with the Gatekeeper in the fiery depths of Hell.
• Cirque X-Scream: An electrifying stunt show that promises to keep you on the edge of your seat (when you’re not screaming, of course!).

Want the ultimate Howl-O-Scream experience? Busch Gardens offers several Evil Upgrades, including Front Line Fear passes for quicker access to the haunted houses and even Front-Line Fear Extreme for roller coaster fast passes. For the truly fearless, the Ultimate VIP Tour provides unlimited front-of-line access, a meal, private beverage locations, and preferred parking.

Important Note: Howl-O-Scream is a separately ticketed event taking place after 7 p.m. Parental discretion is strongly advised due to graphic and mature content. Costumes are not permitted.

Don’t miss out on the terror! You can purchase your tickets and learn more about Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay here: https://buschgardens.com/tampa/events/howl-o-scream/attractions/

Are you brave enough to face the horrors of M.A.R.S. Howl-O-Scream? Let us know in our Facebook community. For more theme park-related news and information, visit MSM News.

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