Fear Factory SLC 2025: Everything You Need to Know About Utah’s Ultimate Haunted House—Opening Dates, Tickets & New Terrifying Attractions

SALT LAKE CITY—Smoke and orange glow startled downtown commuters Wednesday evening as a fast-moving grass fire ignited in the rail corridor just south of Fear Factory, the popular haunted attraction at 666 W. 800 South. According to Salt Lake City Fire Department battalion chiefs, the blaze erupted shortly after 8 p.m. and was “knocked down within minutes,” but not before it destroyed one storage shed and scorched several trees and patches of brush abutting the Union Pacific tracks. No injuries were reported. Three Fear Factory employees who were inside the main concrete-and-steel building were quickly accounted for, and the historic factory itself—famous for its towering smokestacks and fall fright nights—suffered no structural damage. “Our crews launched an aggressive attack, laying large-diameter lines to protect the attraction and adjacent rail cars,” SLCFD spokesperson Captain Anthony Burton said on scene. Train traffic was temporarily halted and police closed 800 South in both directions between 600 West and 900 West while engines refilled water and investigators combed the charred debris. The road reopened around 10 p.m., but drivers may notice lingering lane restrictions today as cleanup continues. Fire investigators are focusing on two possible ignition points: a discarded cigarette found near dry weeds and a sparking brake from a slow-moving freight car reported by a Union Pacific inspector. Official cause remains under investigation. Fear Factory management posted on social media that the attraction “will open for the 2025 haunt season as planned” and thanked firefighters for protecting the century-old site, which already incorporates real industrial accident lore into its Halloween storytelling. Advanced ticket sales, casting calls, and the venue’s summer ghost tours are expected to proceed without interruption. Why it matters • Fear Factory SLC is Utah’s best-known haunted house, drawing more than 70,000 visitors each fall; any threat to the venue sparks widespread interest. • Quick containment prevented a potentially larger industrial blaze in a zone filled with aging warehouses and fuel storage tanks. • The incident underscores heightened wildfire risk as triple-digit temperatures bake the Wasatch Front and vegetation dries out earlier each summer. What’s next • SLCFD will release an official cause report within 72 hours. • Union Pacific crews are inspecting track signals and wooden ties for hidden embers. • Fear Factory plans a community “thank-you” blood drive and fire-safety fundraiser next week, details forthcoming on the venue’s website. Residents are urged to avoid parking along 800 South tonight, heed posted detours, and report any new smoke immediately via 911.