Moncks Corner, South Carolina. Tickets for Cypress Gardens’ renowned “Halloween in the Swamp” event were supposed to go on sale Wednesday, October 1, but a malfunction in the county’s online ticketing system left disappointed consumers with no confirmations and, in some cases, several pending charges. Event organizers have already announced that ticket sales will resume on Monday, October 6.
The technical issue arose immediately after sales opened at 9 a.m. on October 1. Cypress Gardens authorities announced on social media that the “ticketing site is currently down” and that their IT team is “actively working to resolve the issue.” A few hours later, the park announced that all tickets will be reprinted owing to the error, with only the new tickets valid for admittance. Officials also acknowledged that they were evaluating incidents of duplicate charges and will offer refunds as necessary.
“Due to a system glitch, all guests will receive new tickets,” the park stated. “We are also evaluating situations of duplicate charges and will issue refunds as needed. Thank you for your patience and understanding while we try to put things right. Customers who encountered problems were instructed to email Amanda Oliver at [email protected], including the last four numbers of their card in cases of double billing.
Many clients shared their dissatisfaction on social media. A buyer quipped, “I might have 12 tickets…” I may have six. I may not have any,” after viewing two pending charges. One user reported receiving an error message indicating that their payment was not confirmed after the transaction had been processed. My bank has paid, but I have yet to receive my tickets.” Others complained about timing out at checkout or obtaining tickets for the wrong date.
Event officials have not revealed what caused the system malfunction, but say the relaunch on Monday will ensure that all previous difficulties are resolved and that new tickets will replace invalid ones.
Despite the rough start, organizers are forging forward with preparations for “Halloween in the Swamp,” which will be held October 16-18 from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. at Cypress Gardens in Moncks Corner. For $5 public admission, attendees may enjoy food trucks, storytelling, kids’ games, and a marshmallow roast. For those seeking a scarier thrill, the spooky Swamp Experience, which includes a spooky boat ride and a walking trail, will be offered for $30 to those aged 12 and up.
Tickets will be available only online at www.cypressgardens.info when the website reopens on Monday.
