Haunted Castle: the maze that became a fire trap (1984)

Inside the attraction

The Haunted Castle at Great Adventure burned on May 11, 1984. NIST’s later technical review describes seventeen trailers joined with wood framing and plywood, with partitions creating a 450-foot route. Eight young adults died from smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning.

The review attributes ignition to a visitor using a cigarette lighter to see in the darkness, accidentally setting fire to a polyurethane wall pad. Untreated plywood and other interior materials helped the fire spread. This is the technical account of ignition, rather than a claim about a particular person’s criminal liability.

A category created for confusing buildings

NIST identifies a direct consequence: the 1988 edition of NFPA’s Life Safety Code added a section addressing special amusement buildings, where confusing occupants may be part of the intended experience. The report is more cautious about other contemporary code changes, saying their direct connection to this fire is uncertain.