The Bates Motel Goes From Scary to Merry

As we have been discussing the transformation from Haunt to Holiday Fun on the show and on the site, we another another one for you.

One of the America Haunts Attractions that was featured on television as well is the The Bates Motel. This event is nationally recognized and has been talked about for many years. John Kennedy, met up with Rotting Flesh Radio shortly after his visit to the Bates Motel and he loved the event. In addition, when the L.A. Haunted Hayride stopped in on RFR, they too discussed how Bates helped them get their hayride feet off the ground.

The Bates Motel continues to scare yearly with the Bates Motel Attraction, Haunted Hayride and more. People run in terror every October and Haunt Season.

Well in addition to providing a high end Haunted Attraction, the Bates Motel has made the transformation for the Christmas Holiday Season with the Arasapha Farm’s Holiday Hayride.

“This heartwarming attraction includes a delightful ride on one of our sound equipped hay wagons, through the rolling hills of Arasapha Farm, which has been transformed into a winter wonderland filled with huge light displays, decorated trees and buildings, bridges and brooks. Come face to face with real, live Reindeer and see a beautifully animated Santa’s workshop.

The hayride last about 20 minutes and is choreographed with all the favorite songs of the season. After the hay ride, relax by our bonfires or warm up with a cup of cocoa. This all new holiday hayride is perfect for all ages. Have your picture taken with Santa, and get an up close look at our famous live nativity scene that features real animals and actors. Choose from hundreds of beautiful, fresh cut Christmas Trees that include Douglas Fir, Concolor, and the ever favorite Fraser Fir. Deliveries available.We also have Wreaths and trimmings.”

The event continues to be a favorite and now you can get into the Holiday mood with your favorite Haunted Hayride. The event runs through December 23rd from 6:00-9:00 P.M. (weather permitting) and while there you can also pick up your fresh Christmas Tree to take home, decorate, and spread the Holiday Cheer.

For more information about the Bates Motel going from Scary to Merry visit: www.HolidayHayride.com and for more on the Bates Motel Haunted Attraction visit: www.TheBatesMotel.com

Preserve an American Tradition: Join ABAA: The Apple Bobbing Association of America

Want to preserve an American Tradition? Remember the good days of Bobbing for Apples? Well the Apple Bobbing Association of America (ABAA) is here to keep the tradition alive.

Right now it is in its humble beginnings of an Facebook Group, but support it and join in. It’s 100% Free to support and you can enjoy all the fun of Apple Bobbing.

Join today at: ABAA: Apple Bobbing Association of America Facebook Group

America Haunts National Costume Contest Voting Has Begun

For the last few weeks we have been promoting the America Haunts National Costume Contest. It is here you could submit your costume, ideas and get national recognition.

Voting has now begun on the top three finalists, so go ahead get your vote in. It only take a few minutes and you can see some sweet costumes and make up jobs in the process.

The contest was full of entries from make-up artists, to masks, to original characters that your family loves.

For more on the contest follow this link to our Original Post: America Haunts National Costume Contest Starts

To cast your vote visit: America Haunts National Costume Contest

LAST DAY to Enter the America Haunts National Costume Contest

Today is the LAST DAY to get your entry in for the America Haunts National Costume Contest.

Get Yours In TODAY

For more on the entire Contest Follow the Link: AMERICA HAUNTS NATIONAL COSTUME CONTEST

The Nest Haunted House Opens at New Location

The Nest Haunted House opened Friday, and co-producer Glenn Rea already is planning next year’s event. Previously located in the East Valley, the haunted house now has a five-year lease agreement with CJS Film Studios in Avondale.

“We’re going to build more here,” Rea said. “There’s a barn and another acre I haven’t touched. There’s another film studio here. I might go into those.”

The Nest features $525,000 worth of special effects and more than 80 actors on a walk-through haunt covering more than 20 acres. It was selected by America’s Best Haunts as one of the best attractions in the country, the only Arizona haunted house to receive this accolade, Rea said. The Nest has appeared on local and national television, including a feature on MTV.

All of last year’s actors are back this year, including Rev. Fishcrackers, who has tattoos all over his body of tiny goldfish that look like Pepperidge Farm’s goldfish crackers. His wife is the scary one with red hair. Many actors found the gig listed on Craigslist.com, while others heard about it by word-of-mouth. Wet ’n Wild water park in Glendale also is advertising auditions on Craigslist.com for its haunted house this season. Those auditions are being held Friday.

Meanwhile, Golfland Sunsplash in Mesa will host its second annual Golfland Fright Nights from Oct. 1 through Nov. 1, featuring the Gauntlet Haunted House, Spooktacular Golf and other attractions. Rea has been building haunted houses for 23 years, setting up shop in 13 states and as far away as the Bahamas.

His penchant for haunted houses began when he was growing up in New Jersey in a home with a noisy furnace in the basement. His father would send him on errands downstairs, where he was always afraid to go there alone at night. That gave him the idea to start scaring his friends, sending them downstairs in the dark. That, in turn, led to haunting his mother’s entire house and garage. He hopes to attract more than 30,000 visitors to the Avondale site, compared with 20,000 at two facilities in the East Valley two years ago: Schnepf Farms and Mesa Riverview’s Theater District. The Nest is returning after a one-year hiatus.

As part of America’s Best Haunts’ $1 million Scare Stimulus Package, The Nest and nine other haunted houses across the country will provide free tickets during opening weekend to the unemployed and their families, active military families, firefighters and police officers. To qualify as unemployed for tickets, individuals must show formal state identification that verifies the receipt of unemployment benefits. Firefighter, police and military families must present their government-issued ID cards.

“In these hard economic times, it is understandable that people are scared,” said Steve Kopelman, managing partner and co-producer of the Nest. “But screaming and laughter actually relieve stress, and that is part of the fun of haunted houses. Today’s eerie economic challenges provide a similar experience: You go in scared, you courageously face what’s put in front of you, and you feel relief when you make it to the other side. If our country’s top thrill attractions can help Americans in need to face their fears and scream out their frustrations, we take pride in providing some relief.”

The free tickets are available only during opening weekend, Sept. 25 and 26.

The Nest will be open on select Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 31. Regular tickets are $25, while VIP FastPasses are $35.

For more information please visit their official site at: www.Frightened.com
Released from the Phoenix Business Journal

Thrillvania Delivers Thrills and Chills this Season

Promising to scare the yell out of folks this Halloween season, Thrillvania Thrill Park kicks off its 14th Halloween season as the most fright-filled haunted attraction in the Metroplex, where no diabolical detail in design or delivery is spared. Scaring more than 20,000 “victims” annually since opening its creaky doors in 1995, Thrillvania is one of the most decorated thrill attractions in the U.S.

With 50 acres encompassing eight attractions, a midway and a haunted store, Thrillvania is a fright factory sure to get your blood flowing. The cornerstone of this fear farm is Verdun Manor, a two-story haunted house originally designed by Disney Imagineers and said to boast more props per square foot than any other haunt in the country. “We’ve designed the facility to maximize the fright factor and give our customer maximum mayhem for their money,” said Steve Kopelman of Thrillvania. “As top professionals in the haunt world, Thrillvania promises to give the sophisticated fright-lover an exciting experience that will leave fans screaming for more.”

For the fourth consecutive year, Thrillvania has been selected byAmerica’s Best Haunts as one of the best haunted attractions in the United States. It has been featured on The Travel Channel as one of America’s Scariest haunted attractions. Consistently voted the Best Haunted Attraction in the Metroplex, Thrillvania has challenged itself to ratchet up the scares scale with attention to every devious detail. And this year, Thrillvania was selected by Haunted Attraction Magazine as a must see haunted attraction.

Thrillvania Thrill Park is located at Interstate 20 East and Wilson Rd., Terrell, TX, 75160. Thrillvania opens nightly at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 25-26 Oct. 2-3, 9-11, 16-18, 23-25, and 30-31.

A midway with palm readers, roaming costumed characters, a haunted store, and a petting zoo and magic shows for future thrill seekers provides a breather between visits to the fright-filled façade. In addition, on-site concessions are available just before the stomach-turning scares take flight.

For more information, please visit www.Thrillvania.com or call
(972) 52-HAUNT.

About Thrillvania:
Owned and operated by Thrillvania, Inc., and located 20 miles east of Dallas in Terrell, TX, Thrillvania is one of the most decorated haunted attractions in the world. With 50 acres encompassing eight attractions, a midway and a haunted store, Thrillvania frightens more than 20,000 “victims” each year. The cornerstone of this fear farm is Verdun Manor, a two-story haunted house originally designed by Disney Imagineers and said to boast more props per square foot than any other haunt in the country.

PRWeb

Fright Kingdom’s NEW 2009 Trailer

Fright Kingdom in NH, is an extreme Haunted Attraction that has been featured all over the nation. IN 2008, Rotting Flesh Radio toured Fright Kingdom and broadcast LIVE from the event as one of our Annual Haunt Tours. From the theatrical sets, to the homage to Disney’s Haunted Mansion. The 3D Psycho Circus was a terrifying experience and ALL-NEW for 2009 they have now moved to a BIGGER location for more scares.

Opening this Friday, September 25, they will kick off more scares than even, being Voted as one of America’s Best Haunts!

Bloodmare Manor: Every family has a few skeletons in their closet, right? But what if these skeletons have not yet been laid to rest? Built in the early 1800′s, Bloodmare Manor is home to the notorious and diabolical Bloodmare’s, a family stained with a dark and sordid history. Until now, they have been the manor’s only living residents. You are invited to come and witness the demented and disturbed Bloodmare Family in this Victorian-themed manor of terror. On your journey, you will encounter the dark and gruesome mysteries of this family of cannibals, and each twist and turn will bring you closer to the face of fear.

Psycho Circus 3-D: Ezra Bloodmare, the descendent of a family infamous for their heinous crimes and cannibalism, grew up with a twisted dream of fame. When he opened up his very own circus, Ezra thought that he would finally see his name in lights. However, his family legacy couldn’t escape him, as whispers of abuse to the employees and mysterious accidents, oftentimes fatal, surfaced. After a performance with lackluster ticket sales and poor reviews, Ezra snapped and murdered his entire fleet of circus workers. But, the show must go on… and each year, on the eve of that scandalous night, the ghostly carnival reappears for a limited engagement.

Hardly Haunted Matinee: Looking for something a little less scary? How about our Hardly Haunted Matinee, which is designed for our younger bunch of spook seekers? Fewer chills, less thrills, but still all the fun! These performances, held exclusively on Sunday, October 19th & 26th, between the hours of 1 and 4pm, give children (accompanied by their adult guardian) an opportunity to trick or treat through our two “lights on” haunted attractions… but don’t worry, most of the monsters are sleeping. Candy and bags will be provided by Fright Kingdom at no extra charge so be sure your little one wears their costume.

Fright Kingsdom is also a proud supporter of RFR and the Costumes For Kids Charity.

For More Information about the event: FrightKingdom.com

NOW ON TO THE NEW 2009 TRAILER!

Reindeer Manor Abusement Park: 13th St. Morgue, Dungeon of Doom, & Reindeer Manor

Reindeer Manor Abusement Park, Located at 410 Houston School Rd. Red Oak, TX features 3 Haunted Attractions in 1 Terrifying Location. 13th Street Morgue, Dungeon Of Doom and Reindeer Manor. The events are now open for scaring!

Their Mission:
Reindeer Manor, in its 36th season, is a non-profit event dedicated to the enrichment of local area youth groups. Reindeer Manor Haunted House not only benefits Boy Scout Troop 1, Venture Crew 3 and Cub Pack 1, but also is actually planned, built, and run by the troop as well. Many of the kids who have worked at the Manor have gone on to do great things from rocket engineers to military commanders to entrepreneurs. Many other non-profits such as the Red Oak Hawkettes, Maypearl High School, Rotary Clubs and Explorer Posts have used Reindeer Manor as a fundraiser as well. In 2005, the addition of a separately owned attraction, 13th Street Morgue and the addition of a 3rd attraction in 2008, Dungeon Of Doom, previously located in Arlington, TX have caused the ever growing show at Reindeer Manor to become more popular, thus creating what is now known as Reindeer Manor Abusement Park. The park has received high ranks such as 13th Street Morgue’s readers choice award, Dungeon Of Doom twice being named Dallas Observer’s “Best Haunted House in the DFW Metroplex” and Reindeer Manor being featured in several newspaper publications, e-zines, magazines and DVD’s including “The Happy Haunting Of America”.

Our Mission is to continue this tradition of excellence as well as to foster new relationships while endeavoring to benefit the local community for years to come.

The Rumors Are All True:
Reindeer Manor’s true story starts as far back as the 1900’s when a wooden house stood on the site of the current house. Swedish immigrants occupied the house while James Sharp was away. In 1915, lightning sparked a fire, which consumed the house killing a family of sharecroppers and several small children. The house was to be rebuilt this time engineered of concrete, brick and steel so the house would not succumb to fire. Before the house could be completed James Sharp died. Reports are sketchy as to what happened. His son inherited the house in 1917. In 1929, the once wealthy family was thrust into abject poverty due to the depression. It is in this time that whispers of a Sharp family curse began circulating. Obsessed with finding a solution, many strange folk were seen entering the great house. No one is sure if they were instructed by a “spirit” or simply came upon a solution on their own, but soon the couple found a way to bring the Sharp Family out of the shadows. The history of the manor ended with Matt Sharp’s wife dead by poisoning in the main dining room and his lifeless body swinging from a noose strung from the rafters of the barn. It is not clear as to who killed whom or if it was a suicide pact, but the curse was lifted from the Sharp family to say the least. There was no heir. The house stood vacant and abandoned until 1974 when it became the Haunted House at Reindeer Manor. Over the years, folks that work and visit Reindeer Manor have experienced many strange occurrences. Will You?

For more on all of the events be sure to visit:
www.13thStreetMorgue.com
www.DungeonOfDoomTexas.com
www.ReindeerManor.com

‘America’s Best Haunts’ Scare Up $1 Million Scream Stimulus Package for the Economically-Weary

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse. Just when you thought you couldn’t be more horrified. Economically-weary Americans have had enough. If nine percent unemployment doesn’t make you want to scream, then this will. America’s Best Haunts of 2009 have taken a stand to scare up a $1 million “Scream Stimulus” package that is certain to scare the “yell” out of you.

The Halloween haunted house season officially opens across America Friday and Saturday, September 25 and 26. During opening weekend, 10 top thrill attractions selected one of America’s Best Haunts 2009 will provide complimentary tickets to the unemployed and their families, and in certain cities active military families, and those overworked citizens such as firemen and policemen who could use a little stimulus of their own: to scream their heads off!

“In these hard economic times, it is understandable that people are scared,” said Steve Kopelman of America’s Best Haunts. “But screaming and laughter actually relieves stress, and that is part of the fun of haunted houses. Today’s eerie economic challenges provide a similar experience. You go in scared, you courageously face what’s put in front of you, and you feel relief when you make it to the other side. If our country’s top thrill attractions can help Americans in need to face their fears and scream out their frustrations, we take pride in providing some relief,” he said.

America’s Best Haunts estimates more than 40,000 citizens across the United States will benefit from the $1 million in complimentary tickets provided for the “Scream Stimulus.” Participating attractions include: Woods of Terror (Greensboro, NC), Thrillvania (Terrell, TX), ScreamWorld (Houston, TX), The Nest (Phoenix, AZ), The TerrorFest (Columbus, OH), Eastern State Penitentiary (Philadelphia, PA), House of Horrors (Buffalo, NY), Nightmare New England (Litchfield, NH), Bennett’s Curse (Baltimore, MD), and Terror on the Fox (Green Bay, WI).

All locations are providing free admission for the unemployed (must be at least 18 years of age), while The Nest (Phoenix, AZ), Thrillvania (Terrell, TX), ScreamWorld (Houston, TX), The TerrorFest (Columbus, OH) and Woods of Terror (Greensboro, NC) offers will include tickets for firemen, policemen, active military and their families. To qualify, the unemployed must show a current payment stub or other formal state identification that verifies their receipt of unemployment benefits. Firemen, police and military families must present their government issued identification cards.

Complimentary ticket distribution varies by location from one to four admissions per family. For detailed information concerning America’s Best Haunts Scream Stimulus Package including participating attraction proof of status requirements and ticket limitations by attraction, please visit www.AmericasBestHaunts.com.

About America’s Best Haunts: Established in 2007, Americas Best Haunts is the only expert resource of its kind, identifying the most superior haunted attractions in the country for today’s discerning fright lovers.

24-7 Press Release

Be sure to Catch Spookyworld & Nightmare New England at one Location

Nightmare New England burst on to the scene strong and has been widely talked about since last year. The event quickly grew into a must-see in the area and now it plans on giving you even more terror, fear, and scares this year as they amp it up once more by combining two well known events. Spookyworld and Nightmare New England have now joined forces for 2009!

With over 100,000 Sq. ft of terror awaits you at New England’s number one destination for Halloween thrills this October. The massive 20-acre Scream Park features SEVEN heart-racing haunted attractions at ONE monstrous location. Dozens of freakish characters stalk the grounds and roam freely in the woods lining the property. The Monster Midway hosts live music, go-karts (voted #1 in NH!), batting cages, two themed mini-golf courses, concessions, restaurant, bar, photo opportunities, gifts and more!

This yea will mark the addition of the historic haunt SpookyWorld offering their guests even more to fear. You can see such attractions this season as Buried Alive, NightFeeders, Raven’s Claw Cemetery, House of Eternal Darkness, The 3-D Freak Show, Demented and Sleep Stalkers!

In addition to these two attractions joining, Nightmare New England was honored as one of America’s Best Haunts!

Release:
Ranked as one of the best fright factories in the U.S., Nightmare New England made the 2009 list of top haunts revealed by America’s Best Haunts, the nation’s eminent authority on thrill attractions. America’s Best Haunts (www.americasbesthaunts.com) evaluated haunted attractions from coast to coast to select 12 of the best of the best to wear its coveted seal. Nightmare New England has delivered the scares since 2008 as the premier Haunted attraction in the region. Nightmare New England is a massive 20-acre Halloween Scream Park located at Funway Park in Litchfield, NH. This year, the legendary SpookyWorld joins Nightmare New England to forge one of the largest and most terrifying Halloween Scream Parks in the country! The scale and variety of this mega-park offers something to thrill even the boldest of Halloween fanatics. Nightmare New England and SpookyWorld will feature seven terrifying haunted attractions at one location. Resident Director of Operations, Mike Krausert, a Haunt Industry veteran and vice-president of the International Association of Haunted Attractions (IAHA), has a special message for guests: “Every haunt is designed for maximum intensity and thrills.” With over a million dollars invested in animatronics, props, costumes and special effects, Krausert warns, “don’t expect to catch a breather here!”

“We are honored to be named one of America’s best and will wear the 2009 seal with pride,” Our customers recognize our efforts, and it is gratifying to know America’s Best Haunts did too.” says Krausert. A panel of thrill park industry experts’ thoroughly evaluated top haunts from across the U.S. before bestowing the honor to this year’s eerie elite. Each attraction was judged on creepy criteria including special effects, marketing, consumer value, design, actor ability, fear factor and safety. “Our team of haunt experts takes their jobs seriously when it comes to naming America’s best,” said Steve Kopelman of America’s Best Haunts. “With 26 million Americans screaming for more fright and more thrills, only the most sophisticated attractions earn the right to wear our seal of approval.”

For more on these events: www.NightmareNewEngland.com and on America’s Best Haunts: www.AmericaBestHaunts.com