Boney Island Los Angeles – Looking Back at the Beloved Halloween Attraction
Updated August 2026 – Boney Island Has Permanently Closed
After more than 20 years of Halloween celebrations in the Los Angeles area, Boney Island has officially closed. Organizers announced the closure after permitting and production challenges prevented the event from moving forward at what would have been its new home in Valencia.
We’re keeping this article online as an archival look back at Boney Island, a wonderfully creative Southern California Halloween tradition that entertained families for more than two decades. Please note that the event information below reflects our past visit along with our photos, and is preserved for historical and nostalgic purposes rather than as a guide to a currently operating attraction.
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What is Boney Island?
This unique presentation was a collaboration between the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles and RIX Productions. It grew from the seeds planted more than 20 years ago by
Rick Polizzi, the producer of The Simpsons.  He created Boney Island as a front yard display for his family, which grew into a massive affair in Griffith Park. Today, the event is available in Exposition Park as an interactive, light-filled experience.
It had previously been located in Griffith Park before moving to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles.
The museum transformed its Nature Gardens into a whimsical, interactive, animated experience for visitors of all ages. Long-time Boney Island fans enjoyed familiar skeleton favorites all over the grounds.
In the gardens, visitors wandered the paths where creepy crawlies, silly skeletons, shadow puppets, and Cretaceous carnivores abound!
What Did Boney Island Display?
You’ll see festively fiendish animals in the Deadwood Forest
Walk amongst talking and singing plants in the Hauntington Gardens
Lurk past the prehistoric creatures lurking in the Prime Evil PassÂ
Listen to music played by the skeleton orchestra
Watch the Haunted Mansion cauldron water show
Be amazed by magic tricks
And take a stroll down the Haunted Hallowe’en Light Trail
More fun things at Boney Island
You can get a bite to eat, a drink to drink, and even buy a souvenir at the Boo-Tique.
Parking is available in the Blue Lot in Exposition Park. Please check Parking and Directions prior to your visit for more information.
Visit the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles
You can extend your day by visiting the museum earlier. The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles is one of the world’s largest and most visited museums, attracting over 1.5 million visitors annually. Located in Exposition Park, this museum boasts a vast collection of natural history exhibits, showcasing everything from dinosaur fossils to live animal habitats.
How to get to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles
To get to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, several transportation options are available. The most convenient way to reach the museum is by car, as ample parking is available on-site for a fee. If using a GPS or navigation system, input the address: 900 Exposition Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90007.
Several bus and metro lines stop near the museum. Metro Bus lines 81 and 102 stop directly in front of the museum, while Metro Rail’s Expo Line has a station just a few blocks away.
If you plan to visit multiple museums in Exposition Park, purchasing a combo ticket for all the museums, including the Natural History Museum, may be beneficial. This will save you time and money, as you can easily hop from one museum to another without purchasing separate tickets.
Lastly, for those who enjoy walking or biking, bike racks are available on-site, and several bike share stations around Exposition Park. The nearby Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum also offers parking for bicycles.
Find More Halloween Events in Southern California
And don’t forget to check out our Halloween Guide for Los Angeles and Beyond. It lists dozens and dozens of Halloween activities in Southern California.
Watch our YouTube video about visiting Boney Island
Closing
Boney Island is an excellent way to experience the museum’s beautiful Nature Gardens after hours. The creatures come out to celebrate the spooky season when the museum is closed.
Come celebrate Halloween at the Museum of Natural History in Los Angeles. Explore ghoulishly glowing exhibits, fascinating creatures of the night and prehistoric past, and lots of thrilling surprises!
If you’re in Southern California – you can pick from lots of things to do this month – and we might see you at the places where we go.
Julie & Art
#boneyisland
Related Reading
Check our Seasonal Events page for more Halloween and Christmas event articles
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