Monster For A Day At Knott's Scary Farm Halloween Haunt

[Director_Guy]

Originally Posted by seenoevil

Very good article! I'l NEVER go to one of those, so it was interesting to see behind the scenes. I'm wondering do the "monsters" ever come across "guests" who try to get in their face and not get scared? What would you do if they didn't run away, but tried to give you a hard time? Does that ever happen?

You have no idea! People, for whatever reason, do that all the time. I think they want to try and look "tough" in front of their friends. It's gotten very bad for me, I was once PEPPER SPRAYED in the eye... and the attack wasn't even provoked! I wasn't even trying to scare this person and I got maced in the face.

Still, it's worth it.

[DannyB]

Originally Posted by seenoevil

Very good article! I'l NEVER go to one of those, so it was interesting to see behind the scenes. I'm wondering do the "monsters" ever come across "guests" who try to get in their face and not get scared? What would you do if they didn't run away, but tried to give you a hard time? Does that ever happen?

When I worked there 16 years ago, it was common for guests to hit the monsters. Sometimes it was a "guest" trying to impress his friends--and often the "guest" then encountered something even more scary: a security guard escorting him out of the park. Other times, the hit was a simple instinct reaction to being genuinely scared. Yes, the Haunt can be scary for the monsters, too.

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by CoasterMatt

Absolutely awesome, Elly

Ditto!

Congrats, Elly! You rock!

[penguinsoda]

How absolutely wonderful! What a great treat to not only get to see behind the scenes, but to be a part of the action as well! So cool of you to share this with us! I'd love to do that someday!!

[brassplayer]

Originally Posted by elly

This year, we were invited to go behind the screams to see what makes Knotts Scary Farm's cold dead heart beat with excitement. It all starts with an idea. Haunt Designer, Brooke Walters (The Doll Factory, Labyrinth and one of this this year’s new mazes, Terror of London.), explained that she and her fellow mazes designers began the process of planning for this year’s Haunt the minute last years event ended.

Brooke Walters, Maze designer

I love how the person who designs these hideous mazes is also outfitted with a cheery Snoopy nametag.

[BluBelle]

Very cool report!!! Thanks so much for sharing!!

[skipper]

such great pictures and such a great post! yr very lucky to have been able to have that experience- that's awesome! thank you for sharing it with us!

[Timekeeper]

Fun and Interesting on what goes behind the scenes(but I will never attend a haunt...) Thanks for the article

Timekeeper.

[OC2Epcot]

Great report and photos. I remember being part of a haunted maze many years ago (not at Knotts) and it was so much fun. Love the reaction photos of the guests.

[ojeilatan]

I worked 3 halloweens in haunted house during high school. In my small town, there is an old state penitentiary which was abandoned for several years, used for a B grade move featuring an early Viggo Mortensen, and is now on the historical register. I started out as background 'spook' -i.e. background noises, water guns, etc. but was in a full on stage role as a nurse by my last year. and i'm NOT an actress in any form. But seriously, anyone can do it, and as you said it lives in my memory as some of the best times of my life. I'd recommend it to anyone - to be apart of living story and know you're burned in someone's memory for at least a few days is amazing.

[disneygirl]

That has to be hard coming up with new things every year.

[DonDuck]

Way cool!

[Cuddles McHenry]

great story and pics! Thanks for that!

[Orcatime]

An amazingly great report. I'm glad you had such a great time. For me it's much more fun to do the scaring than being scared. Does that make me a bad person?

[crAziemutant]

I was working the area right before her. She was in my usual spot so I gave her some space. In total honesty, she's the best guest monster I've seen. She'd make a fine addition to our maze on a regular base. Think about fully crossing over next year? =D I hear #16 might not be returning...