Editor's note: Author Veronique Barbour won 2nd place in Elitch Garden's High School Feature Writing contest for this story. Junior Teresa Scaggiari received 1st place in the contest. Scaggiari's article was published in the Oct. 29, 2010, issue of the Pirateer.
A void, that is what the feeling of complete darkness brings to those who are enclosed in its hollow domain. Who lurks beneath this black curtain of the night? This is the question most ask themselves as fear crawls up their spin and travels to every morsel of their being. A scream is heard; it pierces the air with its never-ending shrills. The scream is coming from the very person who is enclosed in the darkness. A person or rather a being dead or alive is behind the fearful civilian, waiting to frighten them until they can handle the terror no more.
Such a scenario would be excepted to occur in a graveyard or in the latest scary movie, but Elitch Gardens surely does not come to mind. During the day, Elitch Gardens is a hang out spot for adrenaline junkies and thrill seekers alike. However, once the sun leaves the sky and conceals itself, leaving only the darkened night sky; Elitches transforms into a place of complete horror. For those who enjoy decapitated body parts, the sight of dripping blood, decaying flesh, zombies, half-dead humans with chainsaws, and the fear of what lurks beyond the next corner, then Elitches transforms into their play-place.
“This would be our first year at Elitches’ Fright Fest and so far it has been very entertaining, we haven’t really been scared, yet, but we look forward to being so scared that our hair stands up,” The Denise Family, attendants of Elitches’ Fright Fest, said. As a family, they are avid haunted house goers during the Halloween season. They seek enjoyment out of the fear caused by such rancorous displays of that which is morbid and disgusting. Luckily, they went to the right place to experience such horrendous things. Elitches’ has two haunted houses, the first is Bloodlust, and the second is The Suffering. Each person experiences a different frightening situation depending on their fear level in these haunted houses. However, many agree on many common hair raising experiences.
A void, that is what the feeling of complete darkness brings to those who are enclosed in its hollow domain. Who lurks beneath this black curtain of the night? This is the question most ask themselves as fear crawls up their spin and travels to every morsel of their being. A scream is heard; it pierces the air with its never-ending shrills. The scream is coming from the very person who is enclosed in the darkness. A person or rather a being dead or alive is behind the fearful civilian, waiting to frighten them until they can handle the terror no more.
Such a scenario would be excepted to occur in a graveyard or in the latest scary movie, but Elitch Gardens surely does not come to mind. During the day, Elitch Gardens is a hang out spot for adrenaline junkies and thrill seekers alike. However, once the sun leaves the sky and conceals itself, leaving only the darkened night sky; Elitches transforms into a place of complete horror. For those who enjoy decapitated body parts, the sight of dripping blood, decaying flesh, zombies, half-dead humans with chainsaws, and the fear of what lurks beyond the next corner, then Elitches transforms into their play-place.
“This would be our first year at Elitches’ Fright Fest and so far it has been very entertaining, we haven’t really been scared, yet, but we look forward to being so scared that our hair stands up,” The Denise Family, attendants of Elitches’ Fright Fest, said. As a family, they are avid haunted house goers during the Halloween season. They seek enjoyment out of the fear caused by such rancorous displays of that which is morbid and disgusting. Luckily, they went to the right place to experience such horrendous things. Elitches’ has two haunted houses, the first is Bloodlust, and the second is The Suffering. Each person experiences a different frightening situation depending on their fear level in these haunted houses. However, many agree on many common hair raising experiences.
“My favorite part about The Suffering was the guy who drops down from the ceiling. I have excellent night vision, but I didn’t see him at all,” Elitch worker Sean Games said. Such scare tactics give Elitches the upper hand when it comes to surprising its visitors. Creating an element of surprise prevents Elitches’ haunted houses from being the average haunted houses next door.
“The Suffering was amazing. It really scared us, especially when the man came down from the ceiling and swooped down in front of our faces. We didn’t even see him coming. We also really enjoyed Bloodlust. It was based off of a high school Homecoming dance gone wrong. There were dead football players running around chasing us with football blasters. The sound was so loud that our bodies shook with fear. We loved it,” The Denise Family said.
Elitches’ Fright Fest only costs $40 per person to get in, and only $10 per person if they have an Elitch Garden Season pass. Going to Fright Fest allows one to ride all of the regular Elitches’ Rides while enjoying the benefits of Halloween fright. With two eerie haunted houses, rides to satisfy one’s thrill seeking needs, and the atmosphere of the Halloween season; there is sheer enjoyment to be had at Elitches’ Fright Fest.
Dripping blood, torn flesh, and piercing cries can thoroughly scare any innocent bystander at Elitches. No one is safe when they enter into the Halloween oasis, for the living dead take no excuses when scaring those around them. Life lacks all entertainment without a horrifying scare, so come to Elitches Fright Fest to seek the pleasure of a good scare.
BLAAAAHHHHH!!!
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