BREWS AND BOO'S!

Name: FrightWorks Haunted Attraction 

Website: www.Frightworks.com

Address: 1904 W Emory Rd Powell, TN 37849

Type: Indoor Haunted House

Price: $23

Date Visited: 9/26/2020 OPENING NIGHT

Reviewed by Kris Bell

    For most haunts, a reviewer coming out on Opening Night would almost insight more fright to the owner than the haunt itself! This however was not the case when it came to Frightworks! Not only did they invite me out opening night, but they absolutely blew me away with a fantastic seamless show! As soon as I arrived in the parking lot the scene was set before I could even exit my vehicle as a masked roaming performer stalked past my car window sending a fun sense of unease down my spine. Upon approaching the ticket booth there are plenty of visible signage around indicating the new safety policies surrounding Covid. Everyone is socially distanced, they have a limited cue line, they have a check in station after purchasing your ticket to ensure you’ve been healthy and not experiencing any symptoms of illness, and then they give you the option to wait in your vehicle while listening to spooky music they’ve provided until you receive a text message that it’s your turn to go in!

  Even standing at the bottom of the stairs the patrons are kept entertained with the story of the Frightworks labs and the experiments they’ve been conducting inside, making sure to cast an ominous foreshadow on your future endeavors once inside the haunt! Masks are required while inside the “Lab” for safety regulations or as the lab tech said, “We’re not really sure what those green gases floating around in there are.”, The Actors inside are also all masked and have found very creative ways to incorporate their masks in with their costumes and not lose their “scare factor”! It was genuinely nice to see Frightworks going the extra mile to make sure everyone could have fun and stay safe at the same time!

   Once inside, you step into the “Lab”, where a sense of dread instantly lies around every corner. After crossing through “The Portal, you’re transported to a whole new world! The scenery and prop work inside were stunning, you could really tell how much work they’ve put into designing each scene and making every detail personal to the character and room, very well done! They had a great mix of live actors, animatronics, props, lighting, and even some great illusions that are sure to send shivers up your spine! With some Larger than Life in your face props that will haunt your nightmares!

    The Entire experience was so much fun and so well done! I had plenty of jump scares and could not have run faster out of the end of it! I had so much fun being scared by the great folks at Frightworks that I could see myself attending multiple times during the season! Which for those who enjoy repeat haunting, they offer a season pass option also! I would absolutely recommend Frightworks to EVERYONE! This is a great haunt you can bring the whole family to! Sure, you may traumatize a few of the smaller ones, but that’s what this season is all about! For the price you also get your monies worth with it taking anywhere from 15 to 20 minutes to complete the haunt…. Depending on how fast you run! Frightworks Haunted House was my first stop this year and I’m so happy I got to start with such a great haunt!  

 I’d like to “SPOOK” with the Manager!   

W/ Rob Goblyn 

How long have you been running your own haunt? 

Once I was too old to Trick or Treat (I pushed it to 16 by the way) I would host Halloween parties for my friends. The decorations became more and more elaborate each year until my friends started saying I should host a haunted house. I started brainstorming with some likeminded folks, found a couple of charities to partner with, and FrightWorks presented its first haunted house in October of 1999. It was called Terror on the Turnpike in Oak Ridge Tennessee and there was no turning back.

How many actors do you work with on average? 

We typically have a cast of about 35-50, depending on the season. Our support crew (non-actors) consists of about 15 people.

What do you want people to know about your haunt? 

That FrightWorks is a passion project. I and those that have joined me do this because we love Halloween and the sense of mystery and adventure that it brings. I want to give people that same mixture of fear and exhilaration I felt when I visited my first haunted house as a child and still enjoy to this day.

What Challenges have you faced with opening after everything that 2020 has thrown at you? 

We were worried that we would not be able to open this season, which could have meant shutting down for good. But we worked hard to find ways to make visiting FrightWorks as safe as possible. The biggest concern was the crowded queue line. We can have hundreds of people in line at once on busy nights. The solution was to use a waiting system much like restaurants use. You check in when you arrive with the host/hostess. They take your name and number and text you when it is your turn to report to the entrance. In the meantime, you can relax in your car or one of our socially distanced waiting areas. We are even broadcasting FrightWorks Radio to entertain you while you wait in your car. We are also offering timed tickets on our website. Essentially you are making a reservation. You can pick the date and time you want to attend when you purchase your ticket. Just arrive at the designated time and your wait should be relatively short.

What are some of your favorite haunts other than your own? 

Well, I have to mention Disney’s Haunted Mansion in Orlando since it was my very first haunted house experience. 13th Gate in Baton Rouge has absolutely gorgeous sets. I really like the show that Nashville Nightmare puts on. Netherworld in Atlanta is a great example of a well-run high capacity haunt. I would like to give a shout out to all the haunts here in the Knoxville Area. Dead Man’s Farm, Frightmare Manor, Screamville, The Scream Chamber, Avondale Haunted Barn, 13th Hour, they are all great. Each haunt has its own theme and style and no two are alike. Everyone has their favorite of course but don’t limit yourself. They all have something unique to offer.

Do you have some favorite moments from your years of work in the haunt business? 

Overall, I cherish the camaraderie and friendships I have formed. I also take great pride in offering a home to those that may consider themselves misfits. It’s so satisfying to watch new crew members come out of their shells when they realize they are with a group of people just as strange as they are.

What are some of your favorite scares you've had happen? 

I love the bottomless pit. I don’t care how tough you are and unafraid of monsters. When you think you are going to fall into a pit, you scream.

What are some of your influences that help you in creating such an amazing show? 

We get inspiration from everywhere, movies, books, our own experiences. If something scares me, impresses me, give me that sense of wonder, it inspires me want to do the same for our guests. We will take something we like and put our own twist and interpretation on it. We are always working to keep the show fresh and exciting.

2020 The Kreature Korner

A.M.S HAUNTED ATTRACTIONS REVIEW

Site: www.facebook.com/AMSHaunts

Location: 3661 E Lamar Alexander Parkway Maryville, TN 37804

Type: Two Haunts! Indoor/Outdoor

Price:  FREE (Canned Food donation appreciated)

Two heads are better than one, right?? Well that’s for sure the case over at A.M.S haunted attractions!! Yes ATTRACTIONS is plural for a reason! Not only is this amazingly fun haunt FREE, but there are two different attractions you can enjoy! All they ask is you bring along a non-Perishable food item as a donation. Matt Slider and Austin green at one time owned their own separate haunt, but as stated in the first sentence they decided to put their haunted heads together to produce one incredibly fun and spooky show the whole family can enjoy screaming through!!! With the recent addition of veteran haunt actor Austin Bradfield displaying his signature Crow character in full effect they’ve concocted quite a creepy set of shows!!!

Upon arriving and parking you’re greeted with the outside of the inside haunt, where a spooky light display dances against the wall as the screams from terrified and satisfied customers bleed through the walls! Another fun thing about this haunt’s outside atmosphere was the variety of small vendors and food trucks parked outside, as well as, a tarot card reader and DJ station pumpin out all kinds of spooky tunes! I managed to score myself a pretty awesome led pirate mask from their merch booth and then it was off to the first of the two haunts!

I went through their indoor haunt first which led me to a maze of cleverly crafted creepy sets and rooms, some of which took a little quick thinking to escape from, which for me, just added to the fun! The set design was very well done, and all the actors stayed in character so well that at times you wondered if maybe an actual crazy person had crept their way into the haunt and decided to join the show! You can tell these are people who genuinely love what they do and the terror they can bring to our hearts! Without relying heavily on animatronics, A.M.S for sure let’s their actors RUN WILD! Packed full of almost 30 different actors between the two, there seems to be plenty of bone chilling scares around every corner! Not to mention their roaming ghouls from outside finding their ways into your path as well! After finally escaping the indoor haunt and being jump scared at the end, I may have accidently broken a towel bar in the bathroom scene, (sorry about that fellas),  Matt came and grabbed me because in his words “They didn’t want to give my heart a chance to slow down”, only looking out for my best interest of course!! Which then led me to the entrance of their outdoor haunt.

The outdoor haunt was much bigger than it had initially led on from the outside and really took some elaborate turns and plenty of fun jump scares! You’re greeted with a entertaining masked character who explains some of the rules, about not touching and so forth, but delivered it in an incredibly colorful and exciting way! Really setting the tone for what was to come! The night was perfect for the outdoor spot as well, which can be tricky seeing as how an outdoor haunt is completely at the mercy of the weather! They had me bookin it out the exit of that one for sure! 

I appreciate the wonderful people at A.M.S for having me out and allowing me to review their haunt! I would absolutely recommend everyone get out and check them out this season! It’s something you can bring you’re whole family to, no matter how many people you have. and they even offer nights early in the evening where it’s a lights on no scare tour for the little ones to walk through! At night though the lights go down and the gloves come off! This is one … I mean TWO haunts that are a must try out for anyone and everyone! 

I’d like to SPOOK with the manager!

W/ Austin Green of A.M.S

How long have you been running your own haunt?

“I have owned my own haunt for 3 years and have been haunting since I was 12. Matt has been haunting for 10 years including in Mysterious Mansion in Gatlinburg, Scream Zone at the San Diego County Fair Grounds and has owned a haunt for 3 as well. This is the First year for AMS (Appalachian Mountain Scares) Haunted Attractions though. Matt previously ran Highland Haunts and I ran ACE Haunted Attractions (both home haunts). We actually met by attending each other’s haunts.”

How many actors do you work with on average? 

“We typically have 15-25 actors each night and they are all volunteers”

What do you want people to know about your haunt?

"Me being a police officer and Matt being a veteran, service is our calling, and we work that right into our Haunt. Our goal is to make our haunt something everyone can attend regardless of age or financial status, and to give back to the community in other ways too (i.e. donating canned goods)."

What Challenges have you faced with opening after everything that 2020 has thrown at you? 

"2020 has brought about some challenges that are more moral/ethical than physical. Our major challenge was figuring out how much time, effort and money we wanted to put into the haunt this year with the risk of either it being allowed to open, or not having a good turnout. We decided we would go full steam ahead and just see what happened, so we built the haunt the best way we know how , and based on opening weekend it was well worth the risk. People want to escape the stress of 2020 and haunted houses allow them to do that even if it’s only for a brief moment they get to relax and have fun."

What are some of your favorite haunts other than your own?

"Some of my favorite haunts are Frightworks, Mysterious Mansion, and although I have never been through the haunt Screamville. Screamville makes the list because Doug has been such a great resource and has even sent some of his guys to help me with off season haunts in the past. One of Doug’s main guys Jon Jeffries is who I consider to be my mentor in regards to haunting and if not for him I would still be stringing up black plastic sheets with fishing line in the back yard."

What are some of your favorite scares you've had happen 

"My favorite of all time scares is from my second year home haunt. There were two high school guys, that were your typical jocks, who were playing real tough before going in the haunt but by the end we were chasing them through the neighborhood and had them locked in there car begging there mom to get in and leave. My second favorite is when this girls dad had me hide in the back of his vehicle and wait for his daughter to get in then I popped up behind her and she peed all over his backseat."

Be sure to creep those eyes peeled for their special Christmas event as well!

2020 The Kreature Korner

Name: Outbreak on Main Haunted House

Site: https://www.facebook.com/frightmareforest08

Location: 250 South Main Street Oneida, TN 37841

Type: Indoor

Price: $10

If you’ve ever visited The Black Cat in Oneida, Tn you’ve probably sensed something sinister just beyond the walls in back… This is no coincidence! Just behind those very walls lies one HELL of a haunted attraction! Outbreak on Main!! Shop owners by day and ghouls by night Moe and Ella Mullis really know how to scare the crap outta people for a great price! With this years theme taking a different turn from the usual Outbreak pandemic set, and revealing The FREAKSHOW! I was fortunate enough to work with these fine people a few nights this season as well taking on the role of their side show barker, and boy o boy did I have a blast scaring the people of Oneida!

When you first arrive, you’ll travel down a short street in an old town to a shop front that would make Captain Spaulding himself smile! Especially being equipped with its very own “murder ride” right in the back! You’re greeted at the door and everyone is then either added to the que line or given the option to wait outside so you can socially distance until a spot in the que line becomes available. Even the que line isn’t safe from a few traveling spirits and on some nights yours Ghouly! 

Once you enter the haunt, you’re met with the shows fortune teller who tells you of your fate and the terrors that are to come! After that you’re sent through a maze of halls before being transported from scene to scene each more terrifying than the last! The Detail that has been put into each room is truly amazing as well as the overall size of the haunt itself! The scare factor is fantastic with there being such an expansive space for them to run in and characters they’ve littered all through each room! I watched several people run from the shop all the way to the cars, children crying, and few people even peed their pants! 

This is a must do for any haunt lover looking for a bit more of a scare this season! Yes it’s scary! Yes you can bring your kids, but they’re probably going to cry! Who knows, you might too! 

I’d like to “SPOOK” to the Manager!

W/ Moe Mullis of Outbreak on Main

How long have you been running your own haunt?

-About 15 year. Our first haunt was Frightmare Forest which started about 2005.

How many actors do you work with on average?

. -20-25. Depends on the haunt night. Good haunt actors are hard to find.

What do you want people to know about your haunt?

. -We rely on acting. We don’t have a huge budget for big animatronics and special effects. So we push good detail and good acting. We also try to set a low affordable ticket price so people can come back over and over.

What Challenges have you faced with opening after everything that 2020 has thrown at you?

. -LOL. 2020 has been a nightmare for us. And not in a good way. Many know and some don’t but Outbreak On Main is built in a two story building and is only one half of our small business plan. The Black Cat antiques and collectibles is the front and primary business. In January strong storms took the entire top of the building off exposing some of the haunt. So when that happened naturally we shut both businesses down for repairs. The haunt opens for various others dates throughout the year such as every Friday the 13th weekends and more. So we had to miss those dates. Once repairs were made in May and a new re grand opening happened we then had to shut back down for COVID two weeks later after the re open date. COVID has been challenging for the haunt in going above and beyond our imaginations for social distancing, sanitation, incorporating masks in costume designs and more.

What are some of your favorite haunts other than your own? 

. -The best haunt Ella and I have ever been to is Field of Screams in Lancaster PA. 3 haunts. Two houses and a haunted hay ride. We also like Nashville Nightmare for the large layout and detail work.

Do you have some favorite moments from your years of work in the haunt business?

-We love our small community and giving back. Over the years we are proud to say that we have donated back to Autism Awareness, local schools and sports programs, suicide prevention programs, scholarships and the current historical program for our historic downtown area which the haunt is located in.

What are some of your favorite scares you've had happen? 

-Every year we have pee to clean up along with other bodily fluids and some solids.... We have had grown adults run off and leave their children. But the best is when a mother brought her two teenage almost adult children and got so scared that one claimed to have an asthma attack so the mother demanded a refund. After an argument with our security guy she then left and proceeded to call the police and claim our security which was only armed with a flashlight pulled a gun on her. The officer came and took a statement and then mentioned that his daughter came through that same night and had the best time of her life! Scared em so bad they called the cops!!

What are some of your influences that help you in creating such an amazing show?

- Our first haunt happened because we wanted to do something on Halloween for the neighborhood kids. It started out as a yard haunt and then moved into the woods and is now a full blown business adventure in one of the oldest buildings in Oneida. Ella and I feed off of each other when throwing ideas out. Some are dumb, some are completely too grand of scale, but we always make something work. We also try to visit other haunts when we can and not to just have a great time and enjoy some fun, but also to learn a few things. Every haunt has those tricks and secrets that you don’t want to spill or share on how it’s done, but we take notes on what we see.

2020 The Kreature Korner

Name: Screamville Haunted Attraction

Site: www.facebook.com/screamvillecursedacres

Location: 6825 Tindell lane Knoxville, TN 37918

Type: Corn Maze / Outdoor /Indoor

Price: $20 for Entry/ $5 for Midway Games

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you were trying to go to a regular haunted house and took a wrong turn and wound up in an actual nightmarish hellscape?? Well wonder no more! Screamville has you covered!! This has for sure been one of the largest haunts I’ve been to this season and the overall production value of the show is fantastic! Being an outdoor haunt isn’t easy either, you’re constantly at the mercy of mother nature, but Doug Cox has found a way to immerse you in an outdoor haunt that has the feel of indoor haunt! With so many different scenes and moments of uncertainty around every corner, coming in at a whopping quarter of a mile long, and a 27 minute run time, it’s not hard to see why Screamville was voted one of the Top Attractions in America last year! 

The Scene is very quickly set just travelling down the road to the attraction itself! You’re greeted by a lit wooden sign on the side of a dark road that reads “Screamville”, once you’ve turned down the dead end road and the asphalt turns to gravel you’ll find yourself parking in the middle of Screamville’s Haunted Acres! A field of anxious patreons make their way under the dimly lit Screamville Arch and venture to the outside of the barn that overlooks the Corn field. Instead of waiting in a long line you can choose to socially distance in your car until the staff texts you that your time has come! While waiting in your car though you can tune into Screamville’s very own Radio broadcast!! Featuring stories about the fiends you’ll find inside the haunt, spooky poems, and celebrity sound clips to really get you in the right mindset!

Just outside the barn is the Midway of Malice! Screamville’s twitsted take on some Larger than Life spooky carnival games such as, The Guillotine Strength test, The Head Shot, and a fully functional human sized meat grinder to take the place of the beloved family favorite known as the dunk tank! All built and added by the amazing people over at Brainchild Creative LLC! After trying my hand at being the strong man and getting an up close and personal look at the Meat Grinder it was time to swallow my fear and stand in front of the decrepit church front that servers as the entrance to Screamville’s haunt.

Going through the attraction was almost like walking through a movie set, A HORROR MOVIE SET OF COURSE! The production value of not only the props, but the costumes the actors wore were absolutely incredible! The props Doug uses are so insanely lifelike you’ll find yourself doing some double, maybe even triple takes at certain things as you move from room to room! Each scene has it’s own life and characters that live there, you never know what each turn is going to reveal! From large scale puppets and props to some very dedicated actors, Screamville has pulled off an incredible show this year!

I’d like to “SPOOK” to the Manager!

w/ Doug Cox of Screamville

How long have you been running your own haunt? 

This is my 5th season operating Screamville 

How many actors do you work with on average? 

Typically we have 35 to 45 actors on average.

What Challenges have you faced with opening after everything that 2020 has thrown at you? 

Just like every other haunt in the area, we have pretty much had to change the way we do everything, from the parking lot, the ticket sales and even inside the attraction with scares. It's been a challenge, but we have amazing actors and staff that adapted quick and helped turn the entire experience it into a scary and safe environment!

What are some of your favorite haunts other than your own? 

Netherworld in Atlanta, Haunted Hoochie OH, Nashville Nightmare are 3 of my favorites

What are some of your favorite scares you've had happen? 

I have a few moments that stand out, but one of my favorite is a couple years ago we had a teenage couple come through as the last group of the night on the final night of the season. The girl was having full blown panic attacks in each scene, (laying on the ground crying, hyperventilating) As the group went through each scene our monsters from the previous scene following them through. When they final arrived to the exit the couple had 45 + monsters surrounding them with horn blasters, chainsaws etc.. the girl said she peed herself 17 times and her bf had to go to the car to her some more pants to change into. It was a great way to finish off a season. 

What are some of your influences that help you in creating such an amazing show? 

It really started as a kid, my parents was always huge Halloween people, they always dressed up and scared that would come to trick or treat. My mom was usually the witch that would answer the door and hand out the candy and my dad a werewolf that would pop out and chase people. We would also decorate the house and yard every Oct. I was fortunate enough to have had a free haunted house on my street as kid and teen. October and Halloween was always huge in my family and the neighborhood I grew up in so alot of my influences are rooted pretty deep. I also pull inspiration from Music, photography, movies, video games, folklore and books. A wide variety of things.

-Kris's side note

On a side note I was also afforded a very special experience, My grandmother decided to come to her very first haunt ever. She came through Screamville with me and I got the chance to see her have an amazing time while getting scared half to death!! Thank you Doug and everyone involved with Screamville for making that such a special night! 

 2020 The Kreature Korner

Name: The 13th Hour Haunted Trail

Site: http://the13thhourhauntedtrail.com/

Location: 7201 East Emory Road Corryton, TN 37721

Type: Corn maze/Woods/Indoor

Price: $13 

What better to be the fore front of haunt than a long creepy gravel driveway with a hearse parked midway next to a dimly lit marquee that reads, “13th Hour Haunted Trail”! As soon as you turn the corner by the hearse the road seemingly disappears and you’re in a long stretched foggy field for parking. In the distance the ticket booth can be seen along with a great spooky movie being projected on the wall outside, a big spooky tree, and a giant fire shooting clock that has struck THE 13TH HOUR! Just beyond the clock hidden in the tree line is a small witchy shack, you can’t see anything beyond the trees, the rest of the haunt is hidden other than the shack entrance, so what lies beyond is left to the imagination! 

After entering the witch’s hut you are basically transported to what almost feels like another realm, possibly something from a Stephen king novel the way the corn seems to almost swallow you upon entry of the maze. What starts as what seems to be just a spooky corn maze quickly takes shape into a totally different beast! You go from corn maze to woods, to accidently dropping acid with clowns, to be run off by wild hillbillies, and so so so much more!!!!

With a great mix of Actors, animatronics, props, and some large scale rooms meant to disorient you in the best ways this is one haunted trail that did things right!!! The overall time spend in the haunt is probably around 20- 25 minutes (depending on how fast you run) and the length and detail of the trail’s scares and scenes are well worth the modest $13 price for entry! I would 100% recommend everyone check out the 13thhour this year!

I’d like to “SPOOK” to the Manager!

w/ The 13thHour

How long have you been running your own haunt?

Terry has been in the haunt business for twenty years. Craig about eight and myself, Carmen, about ten. Terry worked at Gibbs Haunted Forest and Trail of Doom before we opened The 13th Hour. Craig and I worked at the Trail of Doom.
 

How many actors do you work with on average? 

We would always love to have more! However, 15-16.
 

What do you want people to know about your haunt? 

Even though we are a smaller haunt, we pack a lot into it!!! True horror lovers can respect the time and effort that it takes to build and maintain haunts in this day and age.
 

What Challenges have you faced with opening after everything that 2020 has thrown at you?

One of the largest challenges was to actually open!!! We have to plant the corn at a specific time of year....way before the season. Not being able to include claustrophobia, use fear flaps and keeping actors safe while maintaining distance were our biggest challenges. Visitors have been really understanding about wearing masks and social distancing! Running through to wipe down surfaces has been rough but doable.

 What are some of your favorite haunts other than your own? 

We haven't traveled very far in several years, for obvious reasons! Frightworks and Dead Man's Farm have been a staple for each of us for years. They have also been extremely helpful! (Don't put this part in but I'm having a brain fart on the Atlanta haunt) is another favorite!
 

Do you have some favorite moments from your years of work in the haunt business?  

Seeing the actors explain their scares and watching them happen!!! There's something about screams in the night!!!
 

What are some of your favorite scares you've had happen? 

We actually had a lady pass out last year!! The actor couldn't believe it!! We used a leaf blower one year when one of the chainsaws decided to quit. The scare and confusion were hilarious!
 

What are some of your influences that help you in creating such an amazing show?  

We each have our own places of inspiration and come together with ideas to make the show. We take input from actors, customers and reviewers at times to create. We, all three of us, are big fans of the macabre and enjoy hearing screams in the night.

2020 The Kreature Korner

Name: Avondale Haunted Barn 

Site: http://thedarkbarn.com/

Location: 1662 Highway 11W S Rutledge, TN 37861

Type: Indoor

Price: $13

If you’re out there looking for a typical cheesy barn haunt then you need to keep looking because Avondale Haunted Barn is a lot of things, but cheesy and typical are not any of those things! Avondale is like a hidden gem in the haunt world located in Rutledge! The location is a ghoulishly green lit barn that leads to the field where you’ll park. After purchasing your ticket you’ll be added to their socially distanced que line, you won’t find fast passes out here! Everyone pays the same price and everyone gets treated equally no matter what your financial situation! Being a family owned haunt that the owner, his 17 year old son and their family members has built from the ground up you can really tell the detail that has gone into this place! I saw so many original scares and props here and not a lot of repeat or reused scares and characters from other haunts. From the lighting all the way down to how each room smells Tim and Tammy Spoon have crafted something out of your wildest nightmares!

Something really cool I thought is how they start your experience off, you’re shuffled into a small room and then shown a video that tells of the history of the bloody and haunted grounds you currently stand on which was perfect for setting the scene and building plenty of anticipation! Even the very first room you walk into the dusty old smell of barn wood creeps into your senses as faintly lit tube radio plays soft music through it’s broken air waves, you’re immediately put on edge just waiting for the first ghoul to appear! Another interesting thing I liked about their scene transitions was their use of heavy reflective material over the door ways which really gives you the feeling of impending doom as you have no idea what lies just beyond that curtain. 

When I say Avondale has had some of the most original scares I’ve seen this year, I mean it! You can’t tell what’s a prop, an animatronic, or an actor half the time it’s done so well! I’m not too proud to say their electrocuted man “Prop” put me on my butt it jump scared me so well! I also found out later it was hand built like many of the props, by Tim and his son! Every inch of the barn was used to maximize space, I had no idea how expansive it was until I started getting into the heart of it! I was amazed at the level of detail that had gone into every room and was told later that Tim spends HOURS and DAYS testing the lighting and seeing exactly what looks the best and at what time of the day it looks the best! Painting a wonderful story and using real life historical events to add the legitimacy of the haunt’s backstory I was in no way disappointed in not only the story they unfolded, but the amazing show they put on! 

I would recommend every single person visiting this haunt this year! I know I personally will be returning for a second run through I enjoyed it so much!!! Get out to Avondale Haunted barn if you’re brave enough! In fact tell em the Grand Duke of Spook sent ya! I hear they’re just DYING to meet you!!!!

I’d like to ”SPOOK” with the Manager!

w/ Tim Spoon of Avondale Haunted Barn

How long have you been running your own haunt?

2020 is our 7th year in operation.

How many actors do you work with on average?

About 25-30 actors per night.

What do you want people to know about your haunt?

Our haunt is a labor of love, and we believe that everyone who visits will be pleasantly surprised at what we offer.

What Challenges have you faced with opening after everything that 2020 has thrown at you?

Haunters are a very resilient group of people, and even though Covid-19 caught everyone off guard and forced us to make several changes, we believe our 2020 show is the best ever!  

What are some of your favorite haunts other than your own?

There are so many great haunts just in the east TN area and each of them have inspired us in different ways.  We love them all and have really enjoyed getting to know the different owners and becoming part of the local haunt community.  Back in February of this year we traveled to the Chicago area and did a behind the scenes tour of Hell's Gate Haunted House.  We really got a lot of ideas there and several of our changes for this season were inspired by that trip. 

Do you have some favorite moments from your years of work in the haunt business?

Honestly, there are too many to narrow down to just a few.  We take great pride in hearing the laughter, screams, and many compliments from our guests

each year who were so shocked that something like AHB exist and those comments are what motivate us to keep growing and improving our unique style of haunting year after year.

What are some of your favorite scares you've had happen? 

It's always funny to hear the stories of adult men screaming like girls, women (and men) peeing their pants, and seeing people who literally can't make it inside the front door.  My actors could give you quite a list of "all-time favorite scares" and it would be extensive.

One particularly memorable moment from this season involved one of our actors, who is in a seated position, having a lady jump backwards from another scare and fall into his lap... immediately after declaring that she had just wet her pants.

What are some of your influences that help you in creating such an amazing show?

Definitely visiting other haunts, but also the Transworld Haunt Show is a major influence because that's when haunt owners get to see all the new and exciting props for the new year.  I always leave there inspired to begin the new build season each spring and implement what we learn from the many seminars available to haunters.

2020 The Kreature Korner