'Nightmare Wharf' opens: Buffalo Naval Park announces new tours & exclusive overnight experience

Naval Park’s new Halloween event brings haunted attractions aboard USS Little Rock featuring waterfront entertainment, Buffalo history, rare chance to spend night aboard historic ship

Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park press release & graphic

“Nightmare Wharf” opens this Friday, Oct. 2, at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park. As the Naval Park prepares to welcome its first guests, it is announcing two new shipboard tours and “Nightmare Overnight: The Admiral’s Ultimate VIP Experience,” which includes an exclusive overnight stay in the Admiral’s Quarters aboard USS Little Rock along with VIP access to “Nightmare Wharf.”

“This is the kind of event you can only create at the Buffalo Naval Park,” said Brian Luallen, president and CEO of the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park and creator of “Nightmare Wharf.” “We have a real Navy warship, an extraordinary waterfront setting, and a team that has poured everything into bringing this world to life. Friday is finally the night we open the gates and let Buffalo see it.”

“Nightmare Wharf” features two haunted attractions: “The Infected District,” inspired by the atmosphere of Buffalo’s historic waterfront; and “Project Blackwater,” a fictional Cold War story staged aboard USS Little Rock. Across the grounds, guests will encounter live performers, outdoor scare zones, themed environments, and photo opportunities. “The Boneyard” offers food, drinks, and a place to regroup between attractions.

The Naval Park will also be partnering with Joel Dombrowski at Buffalo History Tours to offer two “Nightmare Tours” that explore the historic waterfront and its stories:

The “Tru Crime Tour” examines the people and events that shaped Buffalo’s former Canal District through a multimedia presentation aboard the Naval Park’s ships. Learn the real history that inspired the themes of “Nightmare Wharf’s” attractions. Guests also get a behind-the-scenes look at spaces and props used in “Nightmare Wharf.” The tour runs on select evenings from 5:30-6:30 p.m.

“The Spirits of the Wharf: Maritime Mystery Tour” presents stories and paranormal findings drawn from some of Buffalo’s most famous haunted history. The immersive shipboard multimedia experience includes recorded audio presented in darkness. The tour runs on select evenings from 7-8:30 p.m.

Each tour is limited to 50 guests and can be booked online. Individual tickets are $30, and combo tickets that include general admission to “Nightmare Wharf” are also available.

For the most immersive way to experience “Nightmare Wharf,” “Nightmare Overnight: The Admiral’s Ultimate VIP Experience” begins with a champagne welcome and includes VIP admission for two, followed by an overnight stay in the Admiral’s Quarters aboard USS Little Rock. The experience continues the following day, when guests can tour the Naval Park and explore more of its vessels and exhibits.

Only one “Nightmare Overnight” package is available per evening. Prices start at $500 on off-peak nights and are $650 on peak nights. Dates and reservations are available on the “Nightmare Overnight” ticket page on the Buffalo Naval Park’s website.

“These additions let people experience the park in more than one way,” Luallen said. “They can come for the scares, explore a piece of Buffalo’s history, or spend the night aboard and discover more of the Naval Park the next day. Every ticket helps us care for the ships, collections and stories entrusted to us.”

“Nightmare Wharf” opens at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, and runs on select nights through Nov. 1 at the Buffalo Naval Park. General admission, “Fast Fright,” and VIP tickets, along with the full schedule and visitor information, are available at www.NightmareWharf.com. The event is designed primarily for teens and adults and is not recommended for children under 13.

“Nightmare Wharf” is owned and operated by the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park as a seasonal fundraiser. Proceeds support the nonprofit’s preservation of historic vessels and collections and its educational and public programs. Visit nightmarewharf.com for more information.

The Buffalo Naval Park continues to be open seven days a week for tours of the ships from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the last ticket sold at 3 p.m.

More about the Buffalo and Erie County Military & Naval Park: A 501c3 nonprofit organization and the nation’s largest inland naval park, the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park is home to four U.S. Naval vessels: USS The Sullivans, USS Little Rock, USS Croaker and PTF-17. Located on Buffalo’s waterfront, this unique family destination is committed to its mission, which is to honor, educate, inspire and preserve. The Buffalo Naval Park also features a museum, U.S. military exhibits, and a manicured veterans park with 15 monuments and memorials dedicated to those who served this country.