Written by Gabrielle Braud for the 2018 Official Visitors Guide to Greater Baton Rouge

Like a lot of people, Dwayne Sanburn was a teenager when he first visited a haunted house. But unlike most teens, Sanburn didn’t just want to take another pass through the attraction as soon as he hit the exit— he wanted to create and operate his own. “I eat, sleep and breathe Halloween.” He spent a decade pursuing a career in nursing—his second love—and perfecting his business plan before opening The 13th Gate in downtown Baton Rouge in 2002.

Sanburn’s unsurpassed dedication to his craft is evidenced by the accolades that continue to pile up. Over the past 15 years, The 13th Gate has been ranked as the No. 1 haunted house in the country three times by industry trade publications, and it has consistently ranked among the top 10 over the past decade. It has been featured on the Travel Channel as well as in some of the largest newspapers in the country. The stories all rightfully highlight the attraction’s keen attention to detail, realistic sets and professional actors. “I had the opportunity to be on the set of a horror movie and it opened my eyes to a new way of building haunted houses like movie sets,” Sanburn says.

In 2017 The 13th Gate introduced new terrors set around a full-size pirate ship and a realistic London wharf.

The 13th Gate also offers year-round attractions through immersive escape rooms. They’ve proved just as popular as the haunted house with visitors and critics alike, who last year ranked The 13th Gate as having the nation’s best escape rooms.

Always looking for new ways to make his attraction even more attractive, Sanburn is currently working to introduce virtual reality. “I’ll never miss an opportunity to scare somebody,” he says. “If the opportunity presents itself, you’re in trouble.”