Dovercourt Crypt Haunted House

Dovercourt Crypt is a haunted house in North Vancouver. The Halloween-themed attraction opens on the last few days of October most years.

Last year’s haunted attraction ran from October 19th to 31st. The attraction will likely happen again the same time this year, although details are to be confirmed.

If you like haunted houses, other ones you might want to check out include Fright Nights at the PNE and Brinkworth Dungeon in Langley. There is also Cougar Creek’s House of Horrors and Dreadworks Haunted House in Surrey. Great ones in the Fraser Valley include Reapers Maze of Terror in Chilliwack and Maan Farms Haunted Mazes in Abbotsford.

Another haunted attraction on the North Shore is Canyon Frights at Capilano Suspension Bridge. This last one is very family-friendly. All the others mentioned above, though, are for more serious fright seekers!

Click on one of the above links or see our article about Lower Mainland Haunted Houses to learn more about other scary places to visit in the Lower Mainland in the run-up to Halloween. Continue reading to learn more about Dovercourt Crypt.

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Where is Dovercourt Crypt? | When is Dovercourt Open? | What to Expect | Tips & Advice | Other Information

Lynn Valley’s Dovercourt Crypt at Halloween

The Lynn Valley neighbourhood in North Vancouver is a peaceful and very uncreepy neighbourhood for most of the year. That all changes, however, on the days leading up to Halloween. That’s because an otherwise quiet and normal-looking home at 3637 Maginnis Avenue turns into an amazing haunted attraction.

Dovercourt Crypt is an exceptional haunted house for a number of reasons. First, admission is by donation. The suggested minimum amount is $5 per child and $10 per adult. You don’t have to pre-purchase tickets and you don’t have to pay a lot of money to get in. Proceeds benefit the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund, though, which is another reason why we like this place. If you can’t afford too much, that’s fine. But if you can, you’ll be helping a great cause.

Second, the haunted house in Lynn Valley is exceptional because of the quality of the attraction. It’s at a private home, and the owners do it as a hobby, but the quality of the work is near professional.

Third, two things make the Dovercourt Crypt stand out. One, you go right inside the person’s home (or at least an addition to the house built specifically for Halloween), and two, the place gives out candy on Halloween night.

Dovercourt Crypt at Halloween — 3637 Maginnis Avenue at Halloween

Where is Dovercourt Crypt?

Dovercourt Crypt is 3637 Maginnis Avenue in North Vancouver. It’s at the corner of Maginnis and Dovercourt (which explains the name).

Dovercourt is a small road just off Mountain Highway in the Lynn Valley neighbourhood of North Vancouver.

Coming from the Upper Levels Highway (i.e. #1 Trans-Canada), take the Mountain Highway or Lynn Valley exits. If going north along Mountain Highway, you’ll find Dovercourt Road on your right just a couple of streets past the intersection with Lynn Valley Road (and just one block past Frederick Road).

If driving north along Lynn Valley Road, turn left when you get to the intersection with Mountain Highway (by the Petro Canada gas station), and then turn right one block after Frederick.

Note: Not far from Dovercourt Crypt is the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge and Lynn Headwaters Regional Park (both of which are free and nice to explore during the day).

Dovercourt Crypt Entrance — Entrance to the Dovercourt Crypt Haunted House

When is Dovercourt Open?

Dovercourt Crypt typically opens to the public around mid-October until end of the month.

There’s a soft opening where hours are from 6:30 pm until 9:30 pm. Things might not be completely finished, but the attraction should still be scary. The full haunted experience runs for three nights towards the end of October. Hours are the same as the soft opening.

There’s also “Hauntling Nights” which take place on select weekdays in October. On these days the place offers a special “scare-free” time from 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm without live actors jumping out. The “Hauntling Nights” experience is still scary, just not its usual high level, so suitable for slightly younger children.

On Halloween night, which is October 31st, there’s trick-or-treating at the house starting at 4:30 pm. The haunted house runs one last time for the season from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm. In the past, there also used to be fireworks on Halloween night. That didn’t appear to be the case last year and may or may not be the case again this year.

Dovercourt Pumpkin Skeleton — A Dovercourt Halloween Display

What to Expect

Expect to see a first-rate haunted house when you visit Lynn Valley’s Dovercourt Crypt.

There are some scary scenes, both inside and outside the house. Except for the “Hauntling Nights,” when the place is less spooky, expect as many as eight actors hiding around corners and waiting to freak you out.

The haunted attraction is built on the side deck area of the creators’ home. It feels like you’re going right into the house. Outside there is a creepy entrance gate, and inside there are ghastly creatures, a claustrophobia tunnel and things hanging from the ceiling. One year there was even a skeleton on the toilet.

Because admission benefits a charitable cause, the quality is a near-professional level and the crowds are low, we rate Dovercourt Crypt pretty high on our list of favourite haunted houses! Hope you like it too!

Dovercourt Monster in Bladder Tunnel — A Live Actor in the Claustrophobia Tunnel

Tips & Advice

Below are some tips and suggestions to help you make the most of your Dovercourt Crypt experience.

TIP #1: Maginnis Avenue is only about one block long, as is this tiny section of Dovercourt Road. Parking is pretty limited. Plan to park on a nearby street and walk the rest of the way.

TIP #2: Donate generously. The attraction is worth paying for and the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund is a great cause.

TIP #3: There is usually a strobe light at the Dovercourt Crypt, or at least there has been in recent years. If you are hyper-sensitive to light, this is good to know. Ask about it before you go in.

TIP #4: Take young children and other timid people to the “Hauntling Nights.” That’s when the scare factor gets turned down a bit. Halloween night is also a good time for little kids because of the trick-or-treating. The house itself will still be too scary for most younger children on the 31st, though (and for some older people too).

Other Tips

TIP #1: In years when it takes place, the fireworks on Halloween night are fun and free, but it’s not a huge event – it’s more for the neighbours. The pyrotechnics blast off from the street, and it’s a small road with lots of trees nearby, so don’t expect the Fourth of July. It’s nice, though, for people in the area.

TIP #2: If you really want fireworks, check out the displays in Maple Ridge at the Celebrate the Night event on a weekend in late October, or at Richmond’s Minoru Park with the Halloween Fireworks on October 31st.