Goblins turn theme parks into fright zones

SANDUSKY, Ohio — John Taylor is a ringmaster of sorts, directing an assortment of ghouls and sideshow freaks in the shadows of Cedar Point amusement park’s roller coasters.

It’s opening night at the park’s annual Halloweekends event, and the monsters are milling about in search of jagged teeth and wrinkly ears. Some are getting too restless, interrupting Mr. Taylor as he dabs black paint on the face of Mike Vatan, aka Lord of the Monsters.

“The monsters haven’t learned monster etiquette yet,” Mr. Taylor says.

Soon the Screamsters will stake out their places in the haunted houses and fog-filled paths throughout Cedar Point, waiting to frighten anyone who comes along.

“To see them scream makes it all worth it. There’s no better raw emotion than fear,” says Mr. Vatan, an imposing 6-foot-5 figure with skulls hanging from his belt and horns jutting from the top of his head.

Theme parks nationwide are transforming themselves into dark and spooky Halloween attractions at a time of year that once was a slow period but now is one of the busiest.

“October is as big for us as July and August,” says Susan Tierney, a spokeswoman for Knott’s Berry Farm, which claims to have started the amusement park craze for Halloween fright.

The park near Los Angeles hired an additional 1,000 people for October, including 100 roaming monsters. Some are known as sliders because they run and slide at unsuspecting guests.

Halloween Haunt, which debuted in 1973, is so popular that it sells out on some weekends.

Visitors who want to bypass the hour-long lines at the 11 haunted mazes on the weekends can buy a $499 package that includes an overnight stay for two, front-of-the-line access and a pre-scare dinner.

Universal Orlando in Florida has doubled the size of its Halloween Horror Nights this year, expanding into both of its theme parks. It’s offering a special Gory Getaway package, which includes a hotel stay and tickets.

There are seven haunted houses, and the park grew a cornfield to create a haunted maze — called Field of Screams — where creatures lurk within the cornstalks.

A team of about 30 people spends all year designing the sets and coming up with new themes, spokeswoman Susie Story says.

Knott’s Berry Farm and Universal are open in the day and then close for an hour or so while they are transformed. Both warn that the parks aren’t for children at night.

Halloween events have become so big that the Alexandria-based International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions a year ago began devoting an area at its annual trade show to spooky characters and special effects.

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