By Joseph Pratt
Christmas decorations are already out at most major retail businesses, which could only mean Halloween is right around the corner. With the ghoulish holiday of costumes, trickery, and candy quickly approaching, many are wondering what mischief there is to get into this season. While it is easy to get distracted by pumpkin spice everything, it is important to remember all of the seasonal attractions that come along with this time of the year.
One of the most talked about haunted attractions, Terror in the Trees, will be opening its monster gates to the horror that lies within its realm this weekend. The show will run until the end of October, providing scares for thousands. The haunt opens at dusk each Friday and Saturday and will accept guests until they sale their last tickets at 11:30 p.m.
The attraction has been growing steadily over the period of four years, each year having more and more scenes, space, and props added. The amount of guests have also been growing each year, last year capping off around 5,000.
There are plenty of new additions to the haunt this year, from new commodities and features outside of the trail for guests to enjoy, to inside scenes. Some new inside scenes will feature a military zombie location, a doll obsessed girl, a wolfman, a mutated spider area, a mad scientist and his laboratory, a claustrophobic squeeze room, and more.
Many of the classic favorites are still present, from the fog room and spinning tunnel to the 3D horror maze.
The group also added a new spectacle to the event, which includes a hydraulic coffin ride to the grave.
“Guests will get inside the coffin and close the lid,” Owner Steve Johnson said. “There is also a night vision camera inside the coffin for friends to watch reactions. There will be voices talking to the guests and other sounds, such as tires squealing as the hearse drives around corners. Then they are taken to be ‘buried.’”
Later in October, Terror in the Trees will have a kids and family day for guests to walk through the trail and see what it looks like without smoke and mirrors. They will also have a trick or treat party for the kids at the same time. For the parents to enjoy, there will be a car show, several of which will be a hearse. The time and date hasn’t been finalized at this time.
“We grow every year. The number of guests we welcome grows by the thousand. It is surprising to see how many people return for every week,” Johnson said. “People love to be scared and we love to scare. We are happy to provide something for the people of the area to do.”
Johnson said he has already purchased new items for next year.
“People think I am nuts, because I keep adding more and buying new things,” Johnson said. “But, if I can find something I think would make a cool prop, I’m gonna get it.”
Terror in the Trees is at 444 Jacobs Cemetery Road in Lucasville, Ohio. General admission is $10. The hydraulic coffin ride is $5. Guests can purchase a ticket for both activities for $13 Parking is available with a short walk to the festivities. Prior to the haunt, guests have the opportunity of purchasing official Terror merchandise and food. Classic horror movies will be shown on the outside of the activities for guests to watch while they wait in line.
Reach Joseph Pratt at 740-353-3101, ext. 1932, or by Twitter @JosephPratt03.
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