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Haunting Memories

Think of this as a part two to my article about the Halloween Haunt. It’s mostly random memories I had of the haunt. That didn’t really seem to fit the first article I wrote.

When my relatives got to the haunt; this was our plan of action. We went to the mazes that my cousins were in first in case we had to go back because we didn’t see them because they were on break, and we would have to go back. Then usually we would go see The Hanging which was my favorite, and then sometimes we would go to see Elvira’s show or some other show or more mazes that my cousins were not in.

One year we went my aunt said it was fun to get your fortune read, and for me to do it because I hadn’t done it at the Haunt before. While we were waiting in line there was hammy scarecrow. I complemented him and he ate it up! Sometimes when you waited in line for a maze or ride the scare actors would try and scare and bother you. Well for the rides it depended on where in the park the ride was located. I remember one time I waited in line to ride Boomerang, but the actors didn’t bother much only at the end of the line. A lot of the scare actors are big hams. They really like being complimented. If you greet them with kindness and not fear they either get confused or love it! Or even act scared in front of them even if you aren’t up for it. They like that. At the time one of my good friends and I got into a big fight. I think it was about the Haunt. Anyway when I got my fortune told by the fortune teller she told me to concentrate on a problem I was having (I was thinking about my friend) She told me I was going to change jobs. At the time I was thirteen years old and I looked young for my age. I didn’t even have a job! I was disappointed and confused at the bad “fortune” I got. Everybody else in my group seemed to be satisfied with the fortune they got. I didn’t say about how disappointed I was with my fortune. When I got back home I told my parents how bad it was.

My favorite thing to see there was The Hanging. It mostly made fun of everything that had happened so far in the year. It was just so political and topical. I liked that kind of stuff. That was back when I was really into late night tv and Saturday Night Live. I remember one year they hung Linda Tripp.

I remember there was this really funny I wouldn’t exactly call it a maze. It was in Kingdom of the Dinosaurs. I totally forget the name of it or the year I saw it. It was music themed and it was more funny than scary. There was this guy playing accordion there, and he asked for requests. I don’t know why I said for him to play “The Way We Were” or why I was even thinking of that song. I’m not even a Streisand fan. When I requested that song my aunt could not stop laughing. The guy started playing something. I’m not sure what it was, but my aunt said it was a different song.

I remember there was a cartoon themed maze named Toon Territory. I remember some of the characters were a boney Olive Oyl and a Big Bad Wolf pimp. I didn’t understand the Big Bad Wolf pimp. Somebody had to explain it to me. I thought he was a 1940s gangster wolf. One of my cousins was in that maze.  She wore like a morphsuit covered with daises. She was supposed to bend into the walls. I remember her telling me that legally they couldn’t call the cartoon products “Acme”, so they were labeled “Acne”.

The Underground was one of my favorite mazes because it was like a post apocalyptic dance club. I liked to dance in the maze if it wasn’t too crowded. There were all these crazy colors and black lights and fake rats glued to the walls of the maze.

The last year I went was in 2001. It was pretty tame that year. The wounds of terrorism were still fresh on the country.  My cousin was bored and invited me to go. It was just me and her.

There were not a lot of people at the event. The maze lines and stuff were really short and it wasn’t crowed at all. I was very naughty and snuck a drink into the maze. Food and drinks are not allowed in the mazes. It wasn’t crowded inside the maze. I just felt like a spectator watching what was going on in the maze nonchalantly drinking berry punch. A monster came up to me and said something like “Is it good?” in a really creepy voice. I was like “Yeah!”

The Hanging was boring that year. I just remember them making fun of the Mystery Men, Uncle Kracker and Blink-182. They made fun of Blink-182 being naked, which was so old! That was so 1999!I remember asking my cousin who they were making fun of when they were making fun of Uncle Kracker. I didn’t know who that was. 

My last haunt was pretty bittersweet.

I used this site http://www.ultimatehaunt.com/ to remember the names of the mazes. It’s a pretty comprehensive site.

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Fulton4V Posted on Oct 10, 2014 at 05:00 PM

I was at Knotts one time while visiting my aunt, uncle and cousins and they took us there. It was a very nice park and I wish I could have been there for the scary farm festival. Nice article.

pikachulover Posted on Oct 10, 2014 at 02:58 AM

@Hoju

I remember the times I went to Elvira she was set up near the bumper cars. Her merchandise would be for sale after the show. It was mostly makeup.

Too bad about that ride. I heard it had to be closed down because the roof caved in. The park should really do something with it. Even if they have to knock it down. It's in a good location and it has a lot of potential. They could expand the arcade or put a store there or something.

Hoju Koolander Posted on Oct 09, 2014 at 06:46 PM

I totally forgot that Elvira used to do a show at the Halloween Haunt! I remember going to Knott's one year while they were transforming it to Knott's Scary Farm and the workers setting-up the stage near the Mine Car ride said it was because Elvira was coming for the Haunt.

Then you had to go and mention Kingdom of the Dinosaurs (sniff) that was the only reason I went to Knott's back in the day. I loved the animatronic scientist narrator, "YOU"RE GOING BACK IN TIME!"

Vaporman87 Posted on Oct 09, 2014 at 06:13 PM

I'd be interested in seeing them if you get the chance. Post them in the Halloween Nostalgia and More thread, if you ever feel inclined to. :)

Benjanime Posted on Oct 09, 2014 at 06:02 PM

no, but after i got back home i'd posted my experience. it wasn't as good as some of the past 'howl-o-scream' halloween events. some of the attractions had little mazes to go through, but the employees that usually have to do their job to give people a scare didn't really do much in making them jump this time around. my stepdad took some photos of a few things that they had on display around the park

Vaporman87 Posted on Oct 09, 2014 at 05:47 PM

@Ben: Did I ask you how that was? I can't remember now. Your trip to the Busch Gardens Halloween thing.

Benjanime Posted on Oct 09, 2014 at 05:19 PM

the knott's halloween haunt must've been a real treat to go to :) unfortunately there's not a lot of halloween events here in virginia since the busch gardens theme park down in williamsburg has a bevy of halloween things going on during the month of october. great article!

pikachulover Posted on Oct 09, 2014 at 04:56 PM

Cedar Fair took over in the late 90s I think.

The Halloween Haunt was the first of its kind for theme parks.

Vaporman87 Posted on Oct 09, 2014 at 04:32 PM

I didn't realize Knott's was owned by Cedar Fair. They also own the two big Ohio parks (King's Island and Cedar Point). That's cool.

Cedar Fair does do a Halloween/October makeover to each of those parks, but they aren't as elaborate as what happens at Knott's. Still, I'm guessing they put what they have learned from Knott's to work in those parks... which can only make them better.

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