How the animatronics work
See professional animatronics in action, with the hardware exposed. Get an inside look at the solenoid valves, controllers and pneumatic systems that drive the effects.
The VIP experience
Dramatically cut your wait with separate VIP lines for all three haunts and waiver check-in. Typical waits are just 5 to 10 minutes. Then go beyond the scares with a backstage tour including make-up, costuming, and historic prison spaces.
Inside the private Education Wing, watch live sculpting and ask the makers anything. Get close to original creature art from over 30 artists. Finish upstairs at the VIP bar, with a free drink included.
Go backstage.
Explore the prison.
Your guide takes you into backstage makeup and costuming areas and historic prison locations. See what happens behind the haunts and learn about the building around them.
20-minute tour Departs every 30 minutes
What VIP guests say
★★★★★
“Oh and VIP is
totally worth it!”
★★★★★
“We had a great time and really enjoyed the VIP tour after!”
★★★★★
“I recommend you splerge and get the VIP tickets, we learned a lot, the site is rich with history and wonder”
Inside the
Education Wing
Meet the people who build Dark Prison. This part of VIP brings you into the process, from the first sculpt to the machinery that makes a creature move.
Live sculpting.
Ask us anything.
Holly Spahr or Matty Hawkins sculpts live on every show night. Watch them work and ask about the haunt, VEXA or sculpting.
VEXA is our sister company and winner of Best New Vendor at TransWorld’s Halloween & Attractions Show in 2026. A majority of the sets and props inside our haunt come from VEXA.
Matty is VEXA’s Lead Fabricator and Head of Shop.
CEO of Dark Prison / Dark Corner Creative, LLC
Five years of Dark Corner Creative
The installed timeline follows our beginnings in downtown Reno in 2021 through the launch of sister prop studio VEXA, winner of Best New Exhibitor at TransWorld’s Halloween & Attractions Show in 2026.
Museum of
Curiosities
Explore Dark Corner Creative’s private collection at your own pace. One-of-a-kind originals from more than 30 creature and effects artists share the room with an oddities collection, including a two-headed chickie. Photos and videos are welcome and encouraged anywhere within the VIP areas.
Some of the artists whose work is featured in the museum
Jordu Schell
Creature designer and sculptor whose film credits include Avatar and Hellboy. Artist biography ↗
Steve Wang
Creature designer whose work includes the original Predator and Abe Sapien makeup design for Hellboy. Meet the artist ↗
Jordan Patton
Sculptor and mask maker behind DeadNeck Studios, seen on SYFY's Face Off. SYFY artist profile ↗
Patrick Magee
Creature and makeup effects artist with credits including Jurassic Park III and Men in Black 3, plus work for Universal Studios Hollywood's Halloween Horror Nights. Studio credits ↗
Michael Chaille
Discover work by Michael Chaille of Ghost Ride Productions, alongside the collection's other creature and effects artists. Ghostride.com ↗Image: Ghost Ride Productions studio work.
Kyle Thompson
Founder of Midnight Studios FX, a creature and practical-effects studio whose credits include Bonehill Road. Studio credits ↗Image: Midnight Studios FX studio work.
Cockroach petting
Meet Gayle Anderson and the creatures she cares for. Cockroach petting has become a guest favorite, and it’s included with VIP. Get hands-on with a live Madagascar cockroach, ask Gayle why she loves them, and you might fall for one yourself. Feeling brave? Ask whether one could come home with you. That black cat can wait. This Halloween, your new favorite pet might have six legs.
The bar
comes to
life.
Dark Prison×Brandon Evans
From the sinister mind of
Brandon Evans
Our new Head of Technology for Dark Prison and VEXA
Brandon crushed it with this year’s haunts, taking the animatronics, lighting and effects to another level. Then he kept going. Now he’s bringing the VIP bar to life. Every 25 minutes, you’ll see what he’s been working on. The rest stays under wraps until you’re here.
If you see him in the VIP areas, give him a high five and ask him your geekiest questions.
“I've never seen another bar like it. The haunts are rad AF but damn this bar is crazy now....”
Jeremy Baumann owner of Verdi Local Distillery
Take a piece
of Dark Prison home.
Every VIP guest receives a VIP badge and lanyard, a limited edition 2026 Dark Prison enamel pin, and their choice of a free sticker from our Dark Prison Gift Shop.
Pick your night.
2026 show nights · September 25 to November 1
Choose a show date, then select VIP and your entry time at checkout. VIP capacity is very limited.
September
Fri25Sat26
Gold dates are scheduled show nights. Dimmed dates have passed. VIP availability and entry times are confirmed at checkout. View the full season calendar.
Dark Prison • 2026
VIP admission
Choose your show night and arrival time.
$74.95
Buy VIP ticketsOnline ticket price
Availability and the final total, including any applicable fees, are shown at checkout.
Your VIP ticket includes
- All three haunts through a separate VIP entranceCell Block C, Unit 15 and The Institute for the Unwell
- The prison yard entertainment and actor photo opportunities
- The 20-minute backstage and historic prison tour
- Live sculpting, artist conversations and the animatronics display
- Museum of Curiosities and cockroach petting
- Upstairs VIP bar access, with one drink
- Limited edition enamel pin, badge, lanyard and sticker
Dark Prison · Visitor briefing
Before you
come inside.
What's the difference between VIP and general admission?+
Both include all three haunts and yard entertainment. VIP adds a separate entrance for waiver check and all three haunts, plus the upstairs experience, guided tour, museum and maker demonstrations, an included drink and keepsakes.
What does the included tour cover?+
The 20-minute VIP tour includes backstage areas and historic prison locations. Tours are scheduled every 30 minutes. It is different from the separately ticketed, hour-long Behind the Screams event.
When does the VIP bar come alive?+
The animated VIP bar debuts Friday, October 9, 2026, with a reveal every 25 minutes.
Can I explore the museum on my own?+
Yes. VIP guests can explore the Museum of Curiosities at their own pace during their visit.
What drink is included?+
One beer or wine for guests 21+, or water or soda. Additional drinks are purchased separately.
Is the upstairs VIP area wheelchair accessible?+
The upstairs VIP bar and museum require stairs, and portions of the VIP tour are not wheelchair accessible. Contact us before buying to discuss your access needs.
Where do I find directions and arrival information?+
Visit our location page for directions to Nevada State Prison in Carson City. Choose your arrival window at checkout and follow the information on your ticket.
Dark Prison · The VIP experience
Your night in prison.
Make it VIP.
Go backstage. Meet the makers. Finish upstairs with a free drink.
Get VIP ticketsVIP has very limited capacity. Choose your night and arrival time at checkout.
See the show dates
