Typically, I don’t write up events that are months and months away, but in the case of the Buffalo Naval Park’s announcement of a new immersive Halloween event called Nightmare Wharf, I figured that there is no better time than the present. Why? Because of the pressing environmental remediation and structural stabilization concerns with the USS The Sullivans destroyer and USS Croaker submarine. Both short term and long term solutions are in the works, which will end up costing millions of dollars. That means that the push is on to come up with ways to procure immediate capital, for “SOS” work that is currently underway.
Key Cost and Repair Details:
- Total Project Scope: Approximately $20 million to $21 million is needed to address critical repairs and drydocking, according to 2024-2025 Buffalo Naval Park reports.
- Funding Sources: $10 million was announced by Governor Kathy Hochul in August 2024. The total projected funding of $21 million includes funds from county, state, and federal sources, with $2 million provided by the City of Buffalo.
- Current Action: As of March 2026, remediation includes removing old fuel and debris as a first step before transporting the vessels to Donjon Shipbuilders in Erie, PA for dry dock repairs.
Learn more at All Hands On Deck.
As for the event Nightmare Wharf, it will operate for sixteen nights throughout October and into November. The ghoulish affair will take place throughout the Naval Park campus and will feature feature multiple attractions, immersive walkthrough environments, outdoor scare zones, roaming characters, themed photo opportunities, entertainment throughout the grounds, a full bar and guest gathering areas. During this time, the ships will be unavailable for access due to the remediation work at hand.
Nightmare Wharf will operate on weekends and select nights in October, concluding with a premium “Lights Off” finale on Sunday, November 1, featuring an extreme blackout experience.
“Our mission is preservation, and we take that responsibility seriously every day. At the same time, a preservation organization must stay active and resilient, especially as we head into long-term repairs and dry docking in the months ahead. Nightmare Wharf is a new program designed to bring people to the waterfront, generate critical earned income, and help sustain the work of caring for these ships and honoring the men and women who served aboard them,” said Brian Luallen, President and CEO, Buffalo Naval Park.
“This is an idea the Naval Park has looked at for some time, and we have seen the results other museum ships have achieved through high quality Halloween events. With Brian’s expertise running some of the largest Halloween events in the nation, moving forward with Nightmare Wharf was a no brainer for the Naval Park,” said Bob Pecoraro, Board Chair, Buffalo Naval Park.
“The Naval Park is one of Buffalo’s most important historic destinations, and it’s exciting to see creative programming like this bring new life to the waterfront,” said Fillmore District Council Member Mitch Nowakowski. “Nightmare Wharf will bring new energy to the site while giving visitors a unique way to experience Buffalo’s iconic waterfront.”
Additional event details and the themes for the main attractions will be announced in May 2026. Dates, ticket information, and operational updates will be shared at www.nightmarewharf.com. Guests can join the Nightmare Wharf mailing list for early access announcements and first notice when tickets go on sale.