Howl-O-Scream doesn’t start until September, but Busch Gardens is using Friday the 13th to help promote this year’s event a few months in advance. In this case they’re having a faux realtor style “open house” for Stranglewood Estate which essentially amounts to a lights-on tour opportunity. The event is actually two days, running Friday the 13th and Saturday the 14th. Halloween is big business at theme parks with year round planning for what are essentially several large extra attractions for those months. Tickets are already on sale for Howl-O-Scream 2025 at Busch Gardens Tampa and no doubt the goal of the June 13-14, 2025 event is to build excitement for this year’s event.

The nightmare you’ve tried to forget is opening its doors… Join us for an Open House and Estate Sale at the infamous Stranglewood Estate.  The spacious living areas are ideal for entertaining, if your guests don’t mind the occasional scream from the walls or the feeling of being watched. Downstairs, you’ll find a full basement, large enough to hide the occasional victim, with heavy tapestries thick enough to absorb all kinds of screams. Don’t forget to pause at the second-floor balcony, where you’ll enjoy a breathtaking view of the garden… and stand at the exact spot where she fell… and never truly left. Outside, enjoy a fenced backyard lined with hedges, a gated entrance, and a location just 2 minutes from Cobra’s Curse and the Serengeti Overlook Restaurant.

The park will have guided tours from 1–4 PM and 6–9 PM. and self-guided lights on tours from 4-6 PM each day. There will also be an “estate” sale with t-shirts and other merch at a 13% discount. In addition they’ll also be selling Cursed Cupcakes and Voodoo Nightshine Shots.

The Stranglewood Estate house near Cheetah Hunt is essentially a permanent structure with an interesting history as a former horse stable. It looks so peaceful in the daytime in June, not so much at night in October. I was once a worker for a single evening at a large haunted house (long story), but that one night gave me tremendous appreciation of everything that goes into putting on an evening at one of these attractions. I’m sure the lights-on tours have to be fascinating to see some of the hiding spots and how some of the special effects work. Hope you all enjoy Friday the 13th and perhaps Stranglewood Estate could become your forever home!