Dovercourt Crypt Haunted House

Dovercourt Crypt was a haunted house in North Vancouver. It used to be open on the last few days in October and hosted fireworks on Halloween night.

The haunted attraction didn’t happen in 2020, 2021 or 2022. There’s a good chance that the attraction won’t happen in future years either. Exact details, however, are to be confirmed.

Lynn Valley’s Dovercourt Crypt at Halloween

The Lynn Valley neighbourhood in North Vancouver is usually a peaceful and very uncreepy neighbourhood in North Vancouver. That all usually changes on Halloween night and the weekend before October 31st. That’s because an otherwise quiet and at other times normal-looking home at 3637 Maginnis Avenue turns into an amazing haunted attraction.

In years when it happens, Dovercourt Crypt is an exceptional haunted house for a number of reasons. First, admission is free. You don’t have to pre-purchase tickets and you don’t have to pay money to get in. They accept donations benefitting the BC Professional Firefighters’ Burn Fund though, which is another reason why we like this place. If you can’t afford anything, that’s fine. But if you can, you’ll be helping a great cause.

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

And finally, three other things make the Dovercourt Crypt stand out. One, you go right inside the people’s home (or at least an addition to the house built specifically for Halloween). Two, despite taking weeks and months to set up, the place is open to the public for just four or so days. That’s a lot of work for such a short period of time! And three, the place gives out candy and hosts a free round of fireworks on Halloween night.

Dovercourt Crypt at Halloween — 3637 Maginnis Avenue at Halloween

Where is Dovercourt Crypt?

The address for 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 is usually open to the public on the last weekend or so in October plus Halloween night. In 2019 it ran from 6:30 until 9:30 pm on the Saturday and Sunday of October 26th and 27th. It took the year off in 2020, because of COVID-19. It had hoped to operate again in 2021, but unfortunately it didn’t. The attraction didn’t open in 2022 either. It may or may not return in the future.

In 2019 the attraction was open for a couple extra weekdays, on Monday, October 28th, from 6:00 until 9:00 pm, and on Tuesday, October 29th, also from 6:00 until 9:00 pm. On these extra evenings, “Hauntling Nights”, the place offered a special “scare-free” time when no live actors were jumping out. The “Hauntling Nights” experience was still scary, just not its usual high level, so suitable for slightly younger children.

And finally, Dovercourt Crypt was also open for viewing in 2019 on Thursday, October 31st, (so Halloween night). People could tour the attraction and trick or treat at the house between 6:30 and 9:00 pm, and fireworks blasted off at 9:15.

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.

The Halloween attraction has been running for 6 years and gets around 700 or so people each season. It’ll likely get a few more in 2019 though as word is getting out.

At Dovercourt Crypt expect to see scary scenes, both inside and outside the house. Except for the “Hauntling Night,” when the place is less spooky, expect as many as 8 or so 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.

The lineups at the place aren’t bad because Dovercourt Crypt gets less than 1000 visitors in a typical year over the course of its three or so days. Except for Halloween night, you don’t normally have to wait long to get in.

Because it’s free, donations benefit 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 and Advice

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

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

TIP #2: Donate generously. The attraction is free, but it’s worth paying for and the BC Professional Firefighters’ Burn Fund is a great cause.

TIP #3: There is 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 folk 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 and evening fireworks. The house itself will still be too scary for most younger folk on the 31st though (and for some big folk too).

TIP #5: If you love Halloween attractions, then while you’re on the North Shore check out the Haunt of Edgemont. It’s also in North Vancouver, less than a 15-minute drive away, in Edgemont Village. It’s also at a residential home, of a professional quality, and with admission by donation benefitting the BC Professional Firefighters’ Burn Fund.

TIP #6: 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 #7: If you really want fireworks, check out the displays in Maple Ridge at the Celebrate the Night event on the last Sunday of October, or at Richmond’s Minoru Park with the Halloween Fireworks on October 31st.