Oh man...that was scary.

It just was really, scary. Very scary. Like that picture over there, I found it when I googled Haunted Hills Estate and I think THAT picture is SCARY! I don't think it is the real HHE, but it might be. Either way, that picture is creepy good.
We didn't get to HHE during the regular season, but that is totally okay because we were treated to a Lights Out Tour on November 5 during which the actors were allowed to touch us, and all of the lights were off, indeed. We were allowed to bring a small, small, I'm talking small flashlight with us but that was it. While HHE is usually comprised of three haunts, just Legends was open for this special night. Man. I don't think I could have made it through all three. Legends was intense. The actors kept moving us around and around keeping us from one another. I went through about 1/2 of the haunt alone. Well no, I was never really alone, as the actors were constantly tormenting.
Man. That was awesome. Here's the video.

Lights Out..everybody...

So as you know one of my favorite Old Time Radio shows is Lights Out. I think that my favorite type of haunted attraction is Lights Out as well! I had never done one before and this was just incredible at Haunted Hills Estate in Uniontown. Wow. Here's the video. It was amazing.

Dormont Dungeon

Finally I made it to the Dormont Dungeon. I am glad that I went. It was a good scary time and even though it was a Sunday night, their last night, and we were the last ones to go through, the actors treated us to the full show. The Dungeon's purpose (beyond making folks scream) is to raise money for a skate park in Dormont. Great scares, a great cause! We'll be back next year. Here's the video!

I'm so lonesome I could cry...

First of all, I love Lonesome Valley Farm's name. So unsuspecting, yet with a shivery promise of terror. There are two haunts at LVF and like last year, we loved them both and the corn maze, full of creepers. The only thing not creepy about LVF is the non-scary staff. These people are kind, courteous and love what they do. We had the good fortune of talking to the owners and you can tell right away that they pride themselves on making their attraction a class act. The food is excellent! Walking tacos! The young girl at the food counter sold me on Fudge Puppies and wow, they were wonderful.
But back to the scares- plentiful and original. A great use of darkness in the house. I loved the original use of the squeeze tunnel! The hayride is incredible and I wish I could just look at the props on the way and scare myself silly doing so. The giant pumpkins and other assorted, tall, THINGS give me the willies.
Here's the video! Oh and the classic song.

We made it!

It was our second attempt to visit Freddy's Haunts this season and despite the detours, we got there. It was well worth it as we were treated to new scenes, a brilliant guide, friendly staff and plenty of frights. What can be said about Freddy's that I haven't said through the years? It is a great haunt and not to be missed. Here's the video! One note...I love the clever "half the scare is getting there" and I totally get it...but they are FAR to humble, because Freddy's has SERIOUS scares all of its own! Go Freddy!

A haunted church?

Only during the last two weekends in October! Get yourself down to the corner of Thorn and Broad in Sewickley, right across from the Library, for a spooky good time!
This haunt is perfect for families who want something a little scary. Well, to be honest, it is a lot scary! They do have a daylight tour for younger kids, so if you don't want to be scared, try that instead. The SUMC contains a lot of jump scares and a creepy explanation of what makes Wendy's burgers taste so good. The people are fantastic and the proceeds go to UNICEF and the church, which is a blessing to the community and beyond. Don't forget to vote for your favorite room at the end of your scream-filled journey. A kindly, but creepy (a compliment) tour guide leads you through many very creative and well acted macabre scenes. Always a favorite! Here's the video!

That was EERIE!

Tonight we went on up to Butler, PA, in a round about way.  First we tried to go to Nightmare Lane in Brookville.  Thank goodness for Facebook and smart phones, as when we got to the Interstate 80 junction we saw on FB that Nightmare Lane was closed due to bad weather.  We were really sad because we had heard such good things about it, but we couldn't be mad because what can you do about the weather, right?  I mean, what can you do?
We headed back down south to Butler and Eerie Acres Farm.  Eerie Acres welcomed us with a creepy lit drive way.  The whole experience had a lot of well-planned and very effective darkness to it.  The actors were enthusiastic an talented.  We will go back next year for sure.  A guy in line told me that it was totally different from last year so I expect to make this like a Cheeseman's and a 100 Acres.  A can't miss for the season.
Find out more on the video!

Local Haunting

On ScareHouse's website you see according to Tophaunts is rated it #1 in the world.  I think that is neat that we have such a poular house right here in our neighborhood.  I also think that it's great for Etna.  Etna is a pretty amazing town.  The Borough Manager is dedicated to her community, as are the Council Members.  The churches are active and care for the community as a whole.  The Neighborhood Association strives to make things better and better.  ScareHouse has been a friend to the volunteer fire company and to the Neighborhood Association.  And I think that is pretty darn cool. 

What I also found to be extremely cool was the customer service.  I mention specifics in the video so suffice to say here that the folks are young, young, young, especially to my soon-to-be-forty-year-old self, but the way they treat their customers is with seasoned professionalism.  I thought about Wells Township and the disappointing experience we had there as I saw the way that the ScareHouse staff treated customers.  One of the women at Wells was in her mid 60s or so and blamed her bad mood on "the teenagers that come here!" and I thought...well, here at ScareHouse, you have people who were teenagers not so long ago, but yet they are doing your job lady, and doing it with the kind of courtesy and professionalism that you wouldn't even understand. 

The haunt itself is divided into three parts.  The Forsaken, Delirium 3-D and the new Pittsburgh Zombies.  The Forsaken is probably my favorite.  It is an old, haunted circus, but it isn't overloaded with clowns, it has plenty, plenty of other creepiers present to scare you.  The sets were extremely cool.  Delirium is a 3-D deal and a goofy good time and the folks working in there are truly entertaining and make you feel welcome.  Pittsburgh Zombies was a fresh, local twist on zombie terror.  Good, entertaining times at the ScareHouse!

This Town

This town is a lonely town

Not the only town like-a this town
This town is a make-you town
Or a break-you-town and bring-you-down town
Hear Frank here. 
Terror Town.  A break-you-town for sure.  A scare-you-till-you-just-want-to-leave town.  Yeah.  Terror Town Pittsburgh.  Wow. 
We had heard really good things about Terror Town, the newest downtown haunted location in Pittsburgh and so we were anxious to give it a try.  The entire set up was professional from the start.  First of, Pittsburgh weather can get nasty in October and Terror Town has taken that into consideration by providing plenty of indoor waiting space.  The indoor waiting space itself is creepy.  It is kept very dark and there's even an electric chair that you can try out for $5.  While we were there Texas Chainsaw Massacre was playing on a flatscreen as we waited in line.  The woman at the ticket booth and other staff were extremely friendly. 
Nearly every actor we encountered seemed excited to be there.  The young woman who promised to make me into a Mr. Potato Head and the owner of the mortuary were especially delightful, as was the rather creative gymnast in the graveyard at the end, but it is difficult to point out specific great actors, as truly, everyone but one dude seemed to be putting his or her heart into the whole production.  I could see any of these folks on a stage. 
It was amazing how creative genius, Michael Maggot AKA Michael Todd Schneider was able to create an entire underground world in less than a year.  Mr. Maggot talked with us after we went through the haunt and he was kind, friendly, funny and brilliant.  It was truly good fortune that we got to meet him.  I can't thank him enough for taking the time to speak with us.  If you are ANYWHERE near Pittsburgh, make the trip to Terror Town.  As a bonus, the location is supposedly haunted for real!  Here's the video!

A Sad Evening

One of the very cool haunters at Wells.

I have heard about the Wells Township Haunted House for awhile now.  And it is rated one of the best around by a variety of sources.  Their website is fantastic.  The actors outside of the house were incredible.  The place looks like an awful fright!  We talked to folks in line who had gone the night before and were back again with friends and family.  Everyone said that it was going to be amazing.  The restroom was even great!  But then things took a disheartening turn. 
We waited in line for a couple of hours.  I want to make sure that I am clear on this.  I have NO PROBLEM waiting in line!  It was 8 pm on a Saturday evening.  This is one of the biggest haunts around, with an excellent reputation.  I have waited nearly four hours at other haunts.  It is just what you do and it is usually worth it.  Besides, monsters and former presidents came up to us as we waited.  There were concessions, a real working restroom, music, videos, a general party atmosphere.  It was way cool.
The sadness started when I went into the house to use the restroom.  I asked a woman at the VIP ticket counter if there were still VIP tickets available.  The man in the group next to us had been told no about an hour before, but as I was in line, I noticed others were still purchasing them.  The woman was quite rude and mean.  I know I am a sensitiver person, but I just am not used to being treated so poorly at a business.  She told me, after much eye-rolling and grumbling that yes, they were.  She treated me as if I was a complete idiot.  Well maybe I am, but still!  I texted the folks in my group who were still outside in line to see if they were interested.  Three of the gals in our party had purchased regular tickets online.  I hated to bother the VIP girl again and man, she let me know she was QUITE unhappy that I did, but I told her three other girls in group had regular online tickets.  She said they could pay eight dollars more and get the VIP.  Great!  Everything was great!
I texted my group, they got out of line and were at the VIP counter in less than two minutes.  I was still there and no one had purchased any VIP tickets since my question and my group's arrival.  When they got to the window, however, they were told in a very nasty way that there were only two VIP tickets remaining. 
This was very strange to me.  She knew that there were at least four people in our group.  Myself and the three who had the online tickets but yet she told our whole group that they could buy VIP tickets and so they got out of line and came forward.  It wasn't this that bothered me so much as the way that we were treated.  Just plain mean. 
But the saddest thing to me was that the actors we met in line were so cool.  The place looked great.  Everyone who has been lucky enough to get in says it is awesome.  I just wish that the front staff had been kinder, or even disinterested.  Or something other than mean.  We were made to feel very small.  I must be fair and balanced, however and say that the three girls in our group were given refunds.  This was quite nice.  For that reason and for the incredible actors and the feel of the haunt itself, I want to go back some day.  I just hope those women at the ticket counter aren't working that night.  Here's the sad video. 

Bellevue might be French for "beautiful view" but....

on weekends in October, Bellevue isn't exactly beautiful.  It is quite horrifying!  And yes, I mean that in a very good way.  This is the first year for Bellevue, PA's Spooktacular Haunted House.  Truly it is hard to believe that this is their first year.  Everything was done so well.  From the comfortable waiting area with concessions to the friendly sales staff, to the terrors inside.  Either these folks have done this before in other locations or they were just born to scare!  Either way, don't miss it.  As you will see in the video there are scenes and scares in this house that we haven't seen elsewhere.  We were humbled that the folks in charge of the house embedded the video on their site.  It was just such a great haunt and we can't wait to go back next year!

The Fright Formerly Known as Hobbs Manor

Hobbs Manor may have changed its name, but it hasn't changed its goal:  to scare, scare and scare some more.  Now called Screams Fright House, this Indiana Township based haunt is not to be missed this season.  The gracious front staff and the gruesome and dedicated actors combine to make a terrific fright, one that will leave your heart beating at a rapid rate! 
It is hard to believe that the folks behind Screams could take such a beautiful building and transform it into a nightmare.  And I mean that in a good way, of course.  We learned that the gentleman who headed up the Tour-Ed Mine Haunt helped out here and that was no surprise.  We loved the Mine!  Screams actors are relentless.  The photos and effects in the house are nightmare-producing. 
It is my hope to get the word out to as many people as possible about Screams.  These folks work so hard and you are truly in for a great and ghostly time.  Here's the video!  Thank you, Screams!

Fear is Good!

Hit another new haunt last night, Ghoul Mansion in Sharon, PA. For the haunting season Sharon is referred to as "Scarin'" and the ghouls of the Mansion really know how to do that.
Sharon is a bit of a hidden gem. Home to the Reyers, the world's largest shoe store, The Winner, a popular place for formal dresses and Daffin's Candy, Sharon can also lay claim to an excellent haunted attraction in Ghoul Mansion. The Mansion, in its eighteenth year, has all of the passion and excitement of a first-year venture, with none of the mistakes. This is a well-oiled, professional machine, yet the people who work there are interested and invested and just darn glad to be there, scaring the heck out of you.
In my opinion, the staff makes the difference at a haunted attraction. Fill up a place with fancy animatronics and gore, anyone can do that, and often times they create a place in which you'll find yourself yawning as you go through. But hire genuinely relentless, dedicated haunters and let them go at it, and you have a great, scary experience. That's what you have in Scarin' Sharon.
Make no mistake, the place is professional, with great make up, a complicated maze, and more, but the quantity and quality of the ghosts and ghouls put Ghoul Mansion in a class of its own.
There are actually two attractions at one site here. The Mansion (10 bucks) and CarnEvil in 3-D (10 bucks) and you can do both for 15. I suggest doing both, for sure. Separately they are worth the ten bucks, easy. But together for 15? You can't lose. What's more, partial proceeds benefit the Akron Children's Hospital! I was so impressed by that. A great haunt, worth much more than the admission AND they give money to charity? Truly this place is first rate.
One more thing, after the experience we talked to an incredibly cute and knowledgeable young man who is most likely a higher-up at GH. He talked to us about a couple of other local haunts. He had the most complimentary words of praise for 100 Acres Manor and the incredible Factory of Terror and their genius. We found this to be gracious, first-class and right on (we love 100 Acres and FOT, as you know!!!). Great and ghoulish times at Ghoul Mansion and CarnEvil.
Here's the video!

Fun in the Hollow

Huston's Haunted Hollow was great last year and it was great this year.  I truly think the clowns make the haunt, whether you love 'em or hate 'em, the clowns at Huston's are friendly and creepy and just plain cool.  I wasn't too scared, but that's okay.  Sometimes it just depends on one's own mood.  The place is scary and the actors in the house are into it, for sure.  The storyline is great, but we didn't get to hear it all this year.  The non-actor staff just wasn't into the scene at all.  Again, maybe they were just tired.  I am sure it gets to be a long day.  I can't imagine how exhausting it would be to work at one of  these places, especially one as big as Huston's.  Here's the video!

Happy 125 Birthday!

to the Barn!  At 9:00 pm in Rockwood, PA on Saturday night, everyone gathered for the haunted attraction began to sing to the barn.  Free cupcakes and free "witch's brew" for those guests over the age of 21 were offered, along with music and zombie dancers from the Somerset Area Girls Volleyball Team, collecting for cancer research.  What a night!  What a place the Haunted Hayloft is.  The barn part of the haunt is based on the true story of the Nicely Brothers, the last two men to be hung in Somerset County.  The place is actually haunted, according to the owners.  I don't know exactly who runs the Hayloft, but man, I thanked everyone I could for such an incredible haunt and evening.  Food, real restrooms, friendly people, a TOTALLY gorgeous vampire who makes you say "Edward Who!?!?!" and the Devil Woman in the picture above was a gracious and kind and welcoming hostess.  The DJ was hilarious and greeted us right away in a rather unique manner.
There were several memorable and unique aspects to the barn haunt.  I was truly surprised and scared.  The hayride is incredible!  You might not want to go on it if you don't like spiders.  Or very tall extremely creepy dudes!  And then the corn maze, muddy and confusing and great.  Wow.  Haunted Hayloft.  How can this place be better?  I can't even imagine.  Excellent.
Here's the video!

Scary Trees

Everyone always talks about the evil trees in the Wizard of Oz.  Honestly?  I don't remember them at all! I, of course, have ambivalent feelings about Oz.  The way that Mr. Mayer treated Judy is something that I don't know if I will ever get over, however I realize she got her start in Oz.  Still, talent like Judy's would have come out eventually, with or without Oz. 
But right now I am focusing on a different scary forest.  Fear Forest, the aptly named haunt in Lordstown, OH.  Just like last year, Fear Forest was something to experience.  I enjoyed it very much and I would recommend it.  I found the house to be QUITE scary and I screamed a lot!  The only downside was the "meh" attitude of the non-actors.  But who knows how long they had been out there, and they probably had day jobs and were exhausted.
On this haunt a young couple brought their three year old son.  They were super nice folks and before anyone judges them about their decision to bring a three year old to a haunted house, I have to tell you that the kid was MUCH braver than I.  After it was over he said, "I want to go to another one."  He also knows the difference between reality and fantasy, as he explained why he wasn't afraid of a monstrous character by saying, "It's only a mask!"

Mama Tried

Personally I think it is cool that the prison takes Visa.
It's everywhere you want to be.

The first thing I remember knowing,
Was a lonesome whistle blowing,
And a young un's dream of growing up to ride;
On a freight train leaving town,
Not knowing where I'm bound,
No-one could change my mind but Mama tried. 
One and only rebel child,
From a family, meek and mild:
My Mama seemed to know what lay in store.
Despite all my Sunday learning,
Towards the bad, I kept on turning.
'Til Mama couldn't hold me anymore.
And I turned twenty-one in prison 
Doin' life without parole.
No one could steer me right but 
Mama tried, Mama tried.
Mama tried to raise me better, but her pleading I denied
That leaves only me to blame, 
Cause Mama tried.
Watch and hear The Hag here.  
Last night I revisited one of my favorite places.  The West Virginia Penitentiary in Moundsville, WV.  I went with five fabulous friends who had never been there before and it was truly awesome.  The staff is just so great.  The actors are so into it and they were relentless with us.  Especially me for some reason.  I was truly frightened, a lot!  One of the creepiest parts is the maze.  Mazes usually just make me frustrated (except for the so so so cool and different one at the Factory of Terror) but this one really creeps me out.  It is hard to tell if you have wandered too far off, if you are lost behind the scenes or if you are still in the official maze. When you think about all of the crazy stories about the prison, it is not a comfortable feeling!  I highly recommend taking the educational tour in the daytime.  It can't be missed.  And neither can the Dungeon of Horrors as it was excellent all the way around and only fifteen dollars.   
Here's the video!

The World's Longest Haunted House

The Factory of Terror in Canton, OH is the longest haunted house according to the Guinness Book of World Records.  If you ask me, I'd like to give them a lot of other awards as well.  The staff was super nice. The haunt is original and scary.  The actors are completely dedicated.  The effects are awesome.  Wow.  It was just really, truly fantastic and well worth the ride.  There are photo ops along the way and staff gives you a card to scan and view your photo on Facebook.  I can't say enough good things about FOT.  Well worth the drive from Pittsburgh and well worth the price.   Here's the video!

School Can Be Scary Enough!

So imagine a haunted attraction set in a school!  That's scary!  And Akron's Haunted School House was very scary.  Even though the School House and Lab are together, I thought I would write about them individually because they are very different.  I guess that it might be a little weird to say that it was disappointing to find that the staff was not very friendly.  How friendly should a haunted attraction's staff be?  Yet I think when you're paying a lot of money and there are so many options out there, competing for your dollars and some of those dollars are for charities (HSH and Lab are not, that I could tell) I think that friendliness does make a difference.  At least to me, anyway.  Everyone seemed really disinterested and not happy to be there.  Granted it was a slow night, so maybe they were disappointed in the turn out, but still.  The actors on the inside of the school were anything but unenthusiastic, however.  The sets were cleverly designed and the surprises were plentiful.    Here's the video!

A Haunted Lab

Right next door to the Haunted School House is the Haunted Lab.  Again, a really disinterested and unfriendly staff was there to greet us.  I was yelled at for taking the photo on the left even though signs specifically said that photography was not allowed beyond a certain point in line and I was very far away from the line.  Even if I hadn't already been disappointed by the staff, this would have made me sad.  Each haunt is $15 and $28 for both, and, given what is involved in the attractions, that price is very high when you compare it to a place like Cheeseman or The Haunted Hayloft to say nothing of 100 Acres which is $16, all for charity and head and shoulders above the School House and Lab.  If you are already going to the Factory of Terror (and you should-- everything about it is amazing, including friendly staff) then it is good to explore the School House and Lab.  Otherwise, I don't know.  I would go back again but probably wouldn't do the Lab part, but maybe.  Here's the video!