A Fresh Approach to the Haunting Season E-mail
by Brandy Arnold

During a month when Halloween events saturate West Michigan, two attractions are poised to breathe new life into the local thrills and chills scene.

Nights of Fear, newly located on Plainfield Avenue, features three different haunted houses, concessions, photo booth and even a buried alive virtual simulator. The move from its former home at the Muskegon Country Fairgrounds is based on pleas to bring this popular event to a more convenient location, said Frank Stabile, creator of Nights of Fear.

“Before we were 12 miles away from the highway, and now we’re right off the exits,” he said. “We like to say we now offer, ‘maximum terror with a minimum drive.’”

The move has other benefits as well, he added. Moving indoors allowed Stabile and crew to offer indoor waiting and a more cohesive approach to their scare tactics.

“This is our third year doing Nights of Fear, and we’ve been doing our homework,” Stabile said. “We put everything earned right back into the show, and we want people to know the more they support us, the more we intend to grow.”

While Stabile guarantees a scare, he said the family-friendly event is low on gore, as a sheriff deputy he puts great attention on public safety.

Upon entering the more than 32,000 square-feet building through the gaping mouth of a skull, patrons are pulled into the theme park style adventure. Ravens Way Mortuary, House of Shadows and CarnEvil 3D offer Hollywood style sets, state of the art lighting, more than 80 actors and a 20 foot three-dimensional spinning vortex tunnel (glasses included). The actors don professional costuming, and the sets are designed by Stuart Smith, who has worked at thrill-ride destination Universal Studios.

"You get three attractions for one low price, and you don’t have to wait in one long line," Stabile said. "If one looks longer, pick another place or you can even sit for awhile and take a break while grabbing a bite to eat.”

Frenzy, Allegan's new haunting adventure, is comprised of the Blackwoods Saw Mill and No Way Out maze. It boasts a “real” haunted sawmill, local lore included.

“It is the scariest place I’ve ever seen,” said Scott Cramton, creator of Frenzy. “People will scream and wet their pants at this show. This isn’t some warehouse. It’s an authentic saw mill where real disappearances occurred. There are urban legends about this place.” The back-story on how this haunted sawmill earned its reputation can be found at frenzyhauntedhouse.com.

Cramton added that not only does the authenticity of Frenzy set it apart from other haunted houses but also the shear length of the show. A core principle behind the show is not to rush people through, he said. It can take upward of a half-hour to make it through each of the attractions.

However, before they even step foot inside the mill, people are drawn into the show. Mini films about the mill greet guests once they cross the bridge to reach their destination, and the floors shake violently upon entry, as if letting guests know they are certainly not welcome, Cramton said.

“We want to build suspense,” he said. “We want people to think for one brief moment that maybe that person jumping out at me isn’t part of the show.”

All proceeds from Frenzy benefit the Seeds of Grace Free Clinic that provides health care for the poor, homeless and uninsured of Allegan County.


Nights of Fear Details:
Location: 3518 Plainfield Ave NE, Grand Rapids
Dates: October 2-November 1, 2009
Cost: $14 for general admission
Website: nightsoffear.com


Frenzy Details:
Location: 115 Mill District Rd, Allegan
Dates: October 2-31, 2009
Cost: Combo tickets: $16
Website: frenzyhauntedhouse.com



Published: September 29, 2009
 
< Prev   Next >