It’s just about time for area haunted houses to creak open their dilapidated doors and unleash the horror that’s been bottled up for almost a year.
Each one offers something different but all have the same mission — to scare the hell out of its unwitting victims.
Jim Corey manages the Knights of Columbus Haunted Forest in Cedar Lake. It’s the haunt’s seventh year running.
“It’s grown bigger and bigger every year. We get a lot of good reviews; people seem to enjoy it,” he said. “We try to keep it affordable so instead of just Mom and Dad coming, they can bring the entire family.”
The walk takes about 10 minutes, depending on your speed, he said.
“Every year we try to make it different,” he said. “We try to add new scares every year.”
This year they’ve added a couple of animatronics and a trail of blood that incorporates splattering blood, he said.
“Because you can’t do blood inside because the floor gets slippery,” he added.
Even with some new scares, the Haunted Forest won’t look too much different from in years past, he said.
“We did a fog room which was a big hit a couple years ago and we’re going to bring that back,” he said. “It’s a huge room that’s filled with fog and you can’t see three feet in front of you. (Otherwise) it’s just your normal chain saws and scary people, darkness and creepiness abound.”
They have about 30 actors. He used to act but now he’s in the front of house.
“I’ve always liked scary things, ever since I was a kid. Scary movies, Halloween, haunted houses,” he said. “What I like about doing it is it allows my creative side to come out. We try to do things that you don’t see at other haunts. Like last year, we actually had a couple of coffins buried in the ground and we had people popping out of them.”
They try to entertain the people standing in line.
“We’re having fun so they’re having fun,” he said. “Even if you don’t like Halloween, it’s a good time.”
Young children can enjoy a free forest walk without actors or gory scenes Oct. 20 and 23, he said.
Sandy Boyd helps run the all-volunteer-staffed Criminally Insane Haunted House in Crown Point. She’s the president of the Old Sheriff’s House Foundation and the attraction is its main fundraiser.
New this year will be a midway with food vendors and music, she said.
“It’s going to be bigger, better and we’re going to have a lot of fun this year,” she said.
Stefen Hutchins is the marketing director with Haunted Hills Hospital in Crown Point. This will be the second season in the new digs on Route 30, he said.
“A lot of things are changing with the haunted house. One of the things we ran into last year — growing pains with the new property — Mother Nature was not very kind. There was a lot of rain, which in turn turned into a lot of mud,” he said.
This year, visitors will be able to park at Deep River Waterpark and be driven over to the haunted house, he said.
This is the haunt’s eighth year as a professional attraction. It started as a yard haunt for charity about 14 years ago, he said.
The Haunted Hills Hospital will have two new attractions this year, Hutchins said.
“We’re having the Sick Billy Side Show, which is more of a clown-themed haunt where you see what the clowns do after they’re done being so friendly,” he said. “It is a separate attraction. Haunted Hills Hospital will now be an indoor and outdoor attraction.”
The third new attraction is called Fear Lab. People can decide if they want to try that or not, he said.
“It’s putting you in the dark and making you experience things without being able to see,” he said. “It’s going to heighten your senses so you’re going to be experiencing more with your sense of touch, smell and hearing. We’re playing on that fear of you don’t know what’s in the dark.”
Favorite monsters like Jax the Clown, Jinx, Reaper, Nurse Ratchet and Wojik the cybertronic bear will return, he said.
“They will roam the scare zone area,” he said.
The midway will include concessions, a gift shop, vendors and games.
“We’re adding more and more things to the property that way there’s more to do. Because we really want to make it an entire-night event,” he said.
A Fall Festival Oct. 22 will include trick or treating through the attraction for kids, as well as food vendors and games.
“We don’t want it to just be a kids’ day thing,” he said. “It’s for people looking for something to do on a fall afternoon.”
He hopes people come to Haunted Hills Hospital because it will be different from last year.
“We’re growing and there are all kinds of new things to see,” he said. “Even with the two new attractions and the main hospital, it’s going to be completely different from last year. We’ve now been able to add the interior building. We literally tore the thing down and started over.
“You’re going to see some similar things — you can call them Easter eggs from previous years — but the haunt is completely new. Not only are you getting a brand-new main attraction but you’re going to have these additional attractions on the side. It’s a whole new event.”
Hutchins hopes the haunt feels exciting and larger than life, he said.
“We try to make it so you get that rock show feel. We try to make our sets movie quality. We want you feel like you’re in a horror movie when you’re here.”
Here are some area haunted houses that had their information available on their website or Facebook pages. Before you go, check websites or social media for information, including age restrictions and recommendations. Many haunted houses offer group rates.
CEDAR LAKE
Knights of Columbus Haunted Forest — Blood Trail: Hours are 7-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays Oct. 14-29. Wooded area behind Knights of Columbus Hall, 13039 Wicker Ave. Admission: $12. 219-232-6091; Hauntedforestnwi.com.
A Not-so-Scary Haunted Forest for kids is from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 20 and 1-4 p.m. Oct. 23. It’s free for children.
A fog room returns this year.
CROWN POINT
Haunted Hills Hospital: Hours are 6:30 p.m.-midnight Sept. 23-24 and 30 and Fridays and Saturdays in October; 6:30-10 p.m. Sundays in October plus Oct. 20, 27 and 31. Fall Festival 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 22. Final Fright 6:30-11 p.m. Nov. 5. At 7611 E. Lincoln Highway. Admission: $25-$55. 219-241-9498; Hauntedhillshospital.com.
New additions to the Haunted Hills Hospital this year include the “Sick Billy Sideshow” and the “Fear Lab.”
The Fear Lab is an extra cost and is included in the all-access pass.
While you wait in the virtual queue, enjoy creatures in the scare zone. The Mayhem Midway features food, games and creepy souvenirs. The Square has spooky carnival-style games.
Criminally Insane Haunted House: Hours are 7-11 p.m. Oct. 7-8, 14-15, 21-22 and 28-29. Not-so-Scary haunted house for kids 12 and under is from 1-4 p.m. Oct. 22 and 29. At 226 S. Main St. Admission: $10. 219-281-2213; Thecriminallyinsane.com.
A benefit for the Old Sheriff’s House and Jail, the attraction plans to have a midway this year.
VALPARAISO
MAACabre Haunted Attraction: 6:30-9:30 p.m. Oct. 14-15, 21-22 and possible 28-29. Kids’ show from 1-3 p.m. Oct. 16. At MAAC Foundation First Responder Training Facility, 4203 Montdale Park Drive. Admission: $20-$35; general admission, fast pass. Kids’ show $5. 708-334-0878; BogathyFrightProductions.com.
MAACabre Haunted Attraction is a fundraiser for the MAAC Foundation, an organization that provides support and training to Northern Indiana first responders free of charge.
The attraction will feature a haunted house with several rooms spread out over two levels, scary scenes and line entertainment and a separate virtual reality zombie attack simulator. Food trucks will be on site as well. The VIP Pass gets you admission to the haunt, the virtual reality zombie attack attraction and line bypass.
Annie Alleman is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.