Local Halloween Haunts

Fright Nights and their intimidating mascot recently paid a visit to the Campus Beautiful
Photo courtesy of Bailey Pace

There are so many classic autumn activities: carving pumpkins, raking piles of leaves for the kids to play in, and picking apples from your local orchard for cider. But as the weather is cooling down, fall fun is heating up. Why opt for the ordinary when you can have the screamingly good? For those who are brave of heart, dare to be scared by Fright Night at Glade Springs. Until November, every Friday and Saturday is your day to be scared senseless. 

    Test your limits with the Appalachian Anarchy haunted trail. The trail begins with a hayride to the woods. The fun initiates there as you approach a white church with intricately stained glass windows. You realize a wedding is taking place inside. As you enter, you see a bride bent over her husband’s lifeless body. An axe is buried in his chest. She is covered in blood. 

    During my visit, this lovely bride was none other than Concord University’s very own, Brianna Duckworth. After her terrifying performance, she gave the Concordian a special interview.  Duckworth says, “It’s really a lot of fun. We get there at 5:30 for makeup and we stay until midnight or later depending on how long it takes for everyone who bought a ticket to go through the trail.”

    She goes on to say, “It’s interesting to have your makeup done, because professionals do it. My makeup usually doesn’t take too long though because mainly they just splatter me with fake blood.” After the haunted trail, if you need to blow off some steam, try your hand at the Biohazard Laser Tag which is a part of the 3D Nightmare. If after all of that you need to take part in more family fun, you can play a few rounds of Spooky Golf. 

    For the bravest of the brave, you can try to get out of the Escape Room with your life. The escape room is a locked room of puzzles and hidden clues. Glade Springs is also hosting a No-Scare Trick-or-Treat on October 30th from 4 to 6 PM and will be free for kids two years old and under. There will be hayrides, jump houses, and more. 

    For a more adult Halloween, you can attend the Bunkers Party for adults twenty-one years old and older. You could do one activity at Glade Springs or all of them. But what is Halloween without double the trouble? Instead of stopping after one haunted trail, prove that you are no Hallo-weenie. Visit Miller’s Nightmare Haunted Farm for another terrifying treat. 

    At Miller’s Nightmare Haunted Farm, you can take a ride on The Night Wagon, a haunted hay ride that delivers you to The Infected Crop. Once there, you will find scares at every turn. Dig deep for courage to go on into The Demented Forest. Who knows what fate you will meet there… Miller’s Nightmare is every Friday and Saturday in October. They will also be open on Halloween Night. This trial is not for the easily scared; participants are asked to sign a waiver before entering. 

    Afterwards, calm down with a cup of cocoa and a s’more or twelve. They also offer pizza, butter beer, and more. You can enjoy your food while you gather around the nightly bonfire or while you watch a movie in the Knight Bus Cinema, a live zombie show, or a Halloween light show. For prices, times, and any additional information on Miller’s Nightmare Haunted Farm, visit: http://www.millersnightmare.com/ and for information about Fright Night at Glade Springs, visit: http://www.frightnightswv.com/.