The Evolution of Ghosts in Haunted Attractions

by: RFR Casket Crew Storm

Greetings Deadites,

Over the past few years, the popular opinion of what a ghost looks like has had some major changes. The days of Casper the Friendly ghost are gone, and no more cutting holes in the bedroom linens or spray painting a zombie costume white to have a ghost terrorize visitors to you haunt. Here are some of the challenging new forms ghosts have taken and how to incorporate them into haunt designs.

Orbs: Maybe it’s Uncle Marty, maybe its dust and a camera flash, regardless there are enough believers out there that haunt owners can put away the lemon Pledge and add more strobe lights anyplace for an instant Orb Ghost room when patrons are present

Voices: Disembodied voices and EVP type effects have always been a staple of haunts, but with this growing ghost phenomenon haunters have to be more creative with the content. Gone are the tried but true deep growling “Get Out” , and more common are the soft garbled sounds that resemble a bad drive through speaker. That might be good for concessions when patrons go through asking “Did you just say you died here or asked me if I want fries?”

Shadow People: These creepy ghostly shadows like to dart behind things in abandoned buildings and lighthouses, but they make the haunt budget happy when you can have a dot room without dealing with painting any dots.

Heat Signatures: Apparently the Predator could have also scored a role in the sixth sense with this new technology for Ghosts to reveal themselves. While the FLIR goggles for patrons might be expensive, the actors will appreciate the new sauna you install for them to relax in before running through the haunt ahead of the patrons touching and sitting in props.

EM Fields: Is there an evil presence in the basement or should you fire your electrician. While both scenarios are scary just hope your patrons know to look for Electromagnetic spikes when you send them into your new Basement of Spirits attraction with the prop EMF detectors.

Blurry Glowing Things: Was that a moth on the camera of the gas station or a restless Pony Express rider? The real fear will take place as you paint a thousand June bugs with phosphorescent paint and let them loose in your haunt.

Moving Stuff: What goes bump in the night? Well in your haunted house it can be everything if you loosen some floor boards and cut 1 leg on each table and chair a little short. The pain will be hiring actors to play the role of haunt pin monkeys for the reset.

Mist: Anyone gets creeped out by the low crawling fog that begins to take unearthly shapes. Only one good way to accomplish this on demand… Remote Control Fog, I’m sure there is some military research already on that one.

So until next time Deadites, Sit Back, Relax, and Rot Away…