13th Floor offers wicked alternative for Valentine’s Day

Phoenix’s 13th Floor is an unconventional way to spend the day

Samantha Smith, Reporter

The world famous 13th Floor is an award winning haunted house located in Phoenix, Arizona. This stunning and graphic haunt, located off of the I-17 and Bell Rd, is known for its psychological horrors and 60,000 square foot location.

The 13th Floor is known as a Halloween event, and few people are aware that they also have a Valentine’s Day event known as ValentineX. The event adds a unique spin such as being lit by candles.

ValentineX is a limited edition experience that will only take place Feb. 13-14. This makes it a great place for couples looking for an adventurous Valentines Day that comes with a bit of an edge. The event also doubles as a night for singles, as there are no obligations to go with a date.

The storyline of ValentineX follows the Bear Butcher, a murderer who seeks out adults who have committed adulterous sins. Kaitlyn Jaffke, the marketing director for the 13th Floor, notes that this year is the 10 year “anniversary” of the Bear Butchers crimes. In the years since the original crime, many copycats have followed in the Butchers footsteps of “eradicating the wickedness in the world”. A video found on the 13th Floor ValentineX page shows the Bear Butcher giving the copycats a call to arms to join him this Valentine’s Day.

Michael Fause, who helped develop the Bear Butcher storyline, says the story is based on the Jigsaw murders from the famous Saw franchise. The murderers believe they have a noble cause, and this Valentines Day they are setting out to find the wicked, immoral, and corrupt and give them what they believe they deserve. Fause says to watch out for the areas lit completely by candles, these will be where the big scare zones are located.

Jessica Bastarrachea, an actress at the 13th Floor, says people should expect to be scared.

“The 13th Floor has amazing sets, great actors, crazy special effects, and an intense experience,” said Bastarrachea.

The actress believes people should choose the 13th Floor because it the best haunted house in Arizona.

“It is the biggest with the most special effects and the best actors. All actors have to go through an audition process, so you have to be good to work there,” said Bastarrachea.

This is the first year that ValentineX will be taking place inside both of the 13th Floor’s famed haunts. The walk-through time for the event can be anywhere from 20-25 minutes depending on the crowds. It is recommended that small children and people easily frightened stay away from the event. Jaffke believes that the attendants should be comfortable sitting through a PG-13 horror film before coming to this event.

The 13th Floor is a general admission event with tickets priced at $24.99. There is also the option to buy a fast pass, which allows you to skip most of the line, available for purchase for $34.99. Tickets can be purchased online or at the box office for the event.

ValentineX is a unique event that you don’t want to miss. It has been called epic, amazing, and awesome by the “survivors” of the Bear Butcher. It’s the event for adventure seeking couples and horror fans alike. Visit the 13th Floor FAQ section for additional questions and concerns, as well as to buy tickets.