FEATURES
Haunted houses: Variety of venues chill, thrill those who brave
Aside from eating copious amounts of candy while dressed in garish costumes, being scared is a staple of the Halloween season. Horror movies are good for this, but there is no better way to get a good dose of fear than by visiting a haunted house.
The fun begins Thursday evenings at about dusk, when haunted houses open their doors across the Valley, and generally are open until late Sunday night.
A must visit for any fan of haunted houses is The Nest, located in Queen Creek. The premise is simple, a man named Joseph Kell murdered 35 people in the 1940’s, and now something has returned. There are scares around every corner, from 20ft tall demons and bloody corpses wielding chainsaws, to mildly electrified winding corridors that are walked through in complete darkness.
There are three attractions at The Nest, and paying the $24 to get into all three is well worth it. A VIP pass can be purchased for an additional $10, and as it is a busy place, having a VIP wristband will dramatically cut time spent in line.
Arizona’s Original Scream Park is a little closer to home, located at the Loop 101 and McDowell Road. Boasting four haunted attractions, a 3-D Fear Factory, vendors, and rides, it is one of the larger scary spots in the Valley. It is difficult, if not impossible to visit all of the Scream Park attractions in one evening, but unused tickets can be used on a return visit. Tickets are also transferable. Beginning on Oct. 23 the park will be open every night until Halloween. An all access pass is $24.
Just north of the Scream Park, on 99th Avenue is the Fear Farm, a little bit cheaper but also a little bit different than any run-of-the-mill haunted house. Admission is $17. For an additional $5, guests can take Paintball Revenge on the haunters. The name speaks for itself. There is also a corn maze to wander through. For the whole package the total cost comes to $27.
Tickets for all of these attractions can be purchased on-line, and usually discount coupons are posted on the website. The Nest features a buy one get one student special on Thursday nights.
Other Haunted House Locations:
Arizona Screampark - Now through Oct. 31. Located SW of the Loop 101 and McDowell. Sunday through Thursday 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Go to www.azscreampark.com for a $2 off coupon. Admission is $16 to $24. Parking is $5. Call (480) 444-2590 for more information.
Fear Farm - Oct. 26 - 31. Located on the NE corner of McDowell and 99th Ave. Thursday and Sunday 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Halloween 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Admission is $15. Visit www.fearfarm.com for more information.
Alien Extreme - Oct. 25 - 31. Located on 4011 S. Power Road, south of Elliot, Mesa. Sunday through Thursday 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 7 p.m. to midnight. Free parking. Visit www.alienextreme.com for more information.
Editor’s Picks:
Best Horror Flicks● “Slither”
● “Arachnophobia”
● “Saw”
● “Saw II”
● “The Grudge 2”
● “Event Horizon”
● “The Birds”
● “The Shining”
● “The Descent”
● “The Excorcist”
Volume 44, Issue 5. Today is
Leatherface graced Arizona wtih his presence at Schnepf’s Farm haunted attraction, The Nest. The Nest is one of five major haunted houses now scaring residents of the Valley. The Nest is open Thursday and Sunday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday, Saturday and Halloween from 6 p.m. to midnight. General admission is $24.
Four-year-old Eleanor Mouer picks out her ideal pumpkin to turn into a jack-o’-lantern at Mother Nature’s Farm in Gilbert. Mother Nature’s Farm contains a variety of pumpkins, gourds, and squashes for the fall season and is open Monday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Photos by Scott Seligman - Mesa Legend