Are you ready to scream in the dark?
The fright business is big in Lancaster County, with Scream in the Dark, Jason's Woods and Field of Sc
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For more than 20 years, Jason's Woods has horrified visitors.
Visit Laserdome, beginning Friday, and be prepared for a spine-tingling, hair-raising experience.
The venue that's made a name for itself with laser tag, concerts and an arcade is branching out to offer Lancaster's newest Halloween attraction, Scream in the Dark.
"Everyone loves Halloween, and this just seemed like a fun, entertaining thing to do," says Jess Ross, Laserdome vice president of sales and marketing. (Although the attraction's name may conjure up images of another Scream in the Dark in Lancaster County, that was sponsored by Youth for Christ years ago, the name is merely a coincidence, Ross says.)
Laserdome staff originally wanted to create the exhibit inside the laser-tag arena but soon realized their ideas were bigger than the space.
Instead they bought two 45-foot trailers, which they have set up in the parking lot.
"You'll enter one end of the first trailer, go through that, come out and experience something spooky between the trailers, and then go through the second trailer," Ross says.
Details of the exhibit were still being finalized at press time, so Ross couldn't elaborate on exactly what you'll experience at Scream in the Dark, but she promises a scary time for all.
"We're going to mess with all of your senses," she says. "There will be air blowing on you, you'll touch gooey stuff, you'll smell things, there will be lots of eerie sounds."
She says visitors should be prepared for a creepfest that includes lots of props mixed in with live actors, who will jump out and frighten even the manliest guest.
"We have a basement full of props that we're using for this," Ross says. "We were able to get about $10,000 worth of props for a substantial discount, and we have tons of skeletons, monsters, things like that. It's going to look incredible."
And no two visits will be alike.
"There will be plenty of tricks along the way," Ross says.
Admission to Scream in the Dark benefits Diakon Adoption and Foster Care, with 50 percent of the ticket price aiding the organization.
"We're all about kids here at Laserdome, so we picked something that's kid-oriented," Ross says.
On Oct. 27, the organization will host a special night at Laserdome, geared toward raising awareness of area adoption services.
Although this is the first year Laserdome has hosted a Halloween attraction, Ross says the staff hopes to make it an annual event. She emphasizes that Laserdome is not in competition with Lancaster Halloween institutions, like Field of Screams or Jason's Woods.
"We don't want to compete with those places," she says. "Scream in the Dark is something you can do in addition to all the Halloween things around here."
FYI
WHAT: Scream in the Dark
WHERE: Laserdome, 2050 Auction Road, Manheim
WHEN: 7 p.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays; 7 to 10 p.m. Sundays, Oct. 3 through Nov. 2
COST: $10, which includes admission to a Halloween-themed laser show. Proceeds benefit Diakon Adoption and Foster Care.
Creep yourself out
Visit these area Halloween attractions, and it's guaranteed you won't sleep well for weeks:
Field of Screams
191 College Ave., Mountville
www.fieldofscreams.comThe star attraction at Field of Screams is a three-story Den of Darkness, populated by blood-thirsty creatures dying to make you their next meal. Visitors can also enter the Frightmare Asylum, a four-story building that deranged patients call home. A haunted hayride takes you through a 25-acre cornfield, where the living dead watch your every move. And for those who like their Halloween more happy than creepy, there's a nonscary hayride and a variety of activities, like pumpkin painting and performances by live bands.
Field of Screams opens at 6 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, through Nov. 2.
Admission starts at $12, with a variety of packages available.
Jason's Woods
99 Stehman Road, Lancaster
www.jasonswoods.comFor more than 20 years, Jason's Woods has haunted Lancastrians with its horrifying hayride, plus a Barn of Terror and a bunch of new attractions. The 3D Pirate's Revenge invites you to hunt for a treasure chest, while keeping an eye out for zombie pirates; the Mystery Maze takes you through long, winding paths; a Macabre Museum features a collection of freaky sights; and Pitch Black plunges you into total darkness. New this year, Lost in Jason's Woods drops you off in the woods, alone, to find your way back to civilization.
Hours are 7 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 7 to 9 p.m. Sundays, through Nov. 2. It's also open 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, Oct. 15 to 30.
Admission ranges from $3 to $15 per attraction, with a variety of packages available.
Haunted Mill
Route 116, Spring Grove
www.thehauntedmill.comLocated about 45 minutes from Lancaster, this Halloween event features six attractions. Visitors can explore a 266-year-old haunted mill, billed as being "in-your-face scary," and try to escape The Dark Zone, described as a "heart-beating tour where the Wild Things Are." Maw's Crazy Maze will have you desperately trying to escape, while the Terror Trail features creatures that lurk in the nearby creek and a Creepy Corn Walk takes you through haunted fields. If you're really a scaredy cat, check out a nonscary family hayride.
The Haunted Mill is open 6 to 10 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays; and 6 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, through Nov. 2. It's also open 6 to 10 p.m. Monday, Oct. 25 through Thursday, Oct. 30.
Tickets are $10 for any one attraction; package rates are available.
CONTACT TEEN: cmolitoris@LNPnews.com
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