It’s that time of the year again. For one night, ghosts and spirits walk the earth. The shrill cackle of witches and the low wailing of ghouls fill the air. Piercing screams periodically punctuate the dead silence of the night… Ok, this might remind you of the latest horror movie, but you get the gist.
Halloween has traditionally been a holiday for children. Kids get to dress up in costumes of their favorite characters and demand candy from adults, promising diabolical retribution if their treat aren’t dished out quickly enough. For those of us that consider ourselves too old to engage in this exhibit of evil childishness, Halloween quickly becomes a series of frightening movies, partying, and/or dressing up in “scary” outfits– just because we can.
Even without the candy, Halloween still ushers in a whole new haunted world of entertainment. Haunted houses, haunted hayrides, haunted walks, haunted mazes, haunted hospitals, you name it! Before you scoff that haunted houses and the like are either 1. completely unrealistic, 2. a waste of your time or 3. designed for the kiddies, please take a moment to consider where we live. North Carolina is largely rural, and thus makes it perfect for these haunted attractions to thrive! Nothing sets the creepy mood like an abandoned farm in the middle of nowhere. Much scarier than a dilapidated house in downtown Durham, don’t you agree?
Haunted houses are the most popular options available. They are typically located in large buildings such as old car dealerships, factories, and hospitals. Visitors might experience frightening animation, effects, sets, scary music, and costumed actors during their visits. In recent years, these houses have risen in both sophistication and esteem in the public eye. Haunted forests are also popular. Visitors walk on a designated trail through woods that can range anywhere from half a mile to two miles in length, with actors and affects haunting you all the way! Other than these two formats, haunted hayrides (perfect to go on with a cute boy!), dark mazes (I actually find these the scariest), and all-around haunted theme parks are great options.
So, want to get spooked? North Carolina has an abundance of haunted attractions, with the furthest location two hours away from Duke’s campus. Here’s a short list of the more well-known attractions:
1. Woods of Terror: Located in Greensboro, complete with its own historical lore, the Woods of Terror stands as one of the bigger haunted theme parks around. You can pick and choose the attractions that are to your liking within the woods. Halloween-themed rock-n-roll concerts, as well as horror movies, are also available during your visit.
2. Kersey Valley Spooky Woods: Also located in Greensboro, Spooky Woods prides itself as being the biggest haunted attraction in North Carolina. A special attraction is the Military Zombie Shoot-Out—you shouldn’t miss it! Keeping up with the recent frenzy for zombie-shooting games, this attraction lets you live out that Call of Duty game in flesh as you travel through military barracks and ammo tents, shooting zombies with your laser tag gun.
3. Mountain of Terror: Just an hour and half away from the Duke Campus, Mountain of Terror is also a haunted house attraction park. Their main attraction is the Maze of Mayhem, over 6,000 square feet of walkways designed to terrify you at every turn. Compared to the previous two on the list, the Mountain of Terror is tailored for the outdoors. (The website features a large notice that declares, “No high-heels, flip-flops, or bare feet allowed.” Get ready to get rugged!)
Photo Source:
http://www.freewebs.com/roho911/spookywoods.htm