Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier has opened a newly reimagined Funhouse, designed and produced by EPIC Entertainment Group. The 2,800-square-foot attraction officially debuted September 10, marking the return of a concept with deep ties to Southern California amusement history.
Reviving a Santa Monica Tradition
The original Toonerville Funhouse first entertained guests at Ocean Park Pier in the 1920s, later reappearing at Pacific Ocean Park in 1958. Hidden away for decades, its whimsical yet unnerving legacy has now been reintroduced for contemporary audiences. The new Funhouse features nine themed chambers filled with optical illusions, distorted perspectives, and playful-yet-eerie design. Rooms include Mirror Madness, Puppet Master, Gumball Glazy, and Vanilla Chill, each designed to disorient and surprise guests.
Story-Driven Design
The Funhouse is more than a collection of tricks and mirrors—it also carries a narrative. Guests enter what appears to be an abandoned storage area tucked into the century-old pier. Inside, Sprinkles the Clown and a Fortune Teller conspire to draw visitors deeper into the maze, toward their fate in the ice cream freezer. This layered storytelling approach reflects EPIC Entertainment Group’s emphasis on blending history with immersive production design.
Collaboration with EPIC Entertainment Group
Pacific Park partnered with EPIC Entertainment Group to bring the project to life. “Working with EPIC Entertainment Group has been an incredible experience—their creativity, attention to detail, and passion for storytelling brought this vision to life in ways that exceeded our expectations,” said Nathan Smithson, Senior Director of Business Affairs at Pacific Park.
For EPIC, the project builds on a portfolio of large-scale themed attractions and seasonal events across the country, including their continuing role in Dark Nights at Hersheypark.
A Permanent Addition
Unlike seasonal overlays, the Funhouse is a year-round installation designed to surprise guests long after the Halloween season. For Pacific Park, it represents both a nod to the Pier’s history and a commitment to new, guest-driven experiences. For EPIC Entertainment Group, it is another example of their ability to translate historic inspiration into immersive, story-based entertainment.
The Funhouse is now open to guests at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier.
