Haunted Attractions www.parkworld-online.com


As haunt designers look for


the next best scare, they are quick to adapt new products and new technologies even if they were not intended for haunting. Alginate used for dental impressions are used to cast human body parts for props. Cromadepth 3D glasses hide actors from unsuspecting patrons. LED lighting provides just enough illumination for what the designer wants to be seen without destroying the suspension of disbelief with a large light fixture. Even computer-generated effects are being used with flat-screen televisions for changing portraits or views out a window. Video projections of live rats or roaches on a wall can creep out even the bravest amongst us, and robotic creatures using computer controlled motions are setting the stage for an incredible future. The popularity of haunted attractions shows no sign of fading, with more and more large-scale Halloween events continuing to open across the United States and around the world each year. As new technologies are developed, they are quickly adapted or even hacked into a tool for the haunted attraction designer. The industry is safer than it has ever been with more and more attractions being forced to comply with strict restrictions on what can and cannot occur in such occupancies. At the same time subjects once thought to be “taboo” are being explored by haunters looking for the next great scare. Are you ready for Halloween at your attraction?


Leonard Pickel is owner of DOA Haunt Design and Consulting. A 30 year veteran of haunting, he has


over 100 haunted attractions to his credit and is also the editor of Haunted Attraction magazine. Leonard can be reached at leonardpickel@gmail.com or check out his website at www.leonardpickel.com


32


Terenzi Horror Nights


Since 2007, Europa-Park in Germany has been scaring its guests each autumn with a month-long fright fest, but it was an American that was responsible for “importing” Halloween into this famous Black Forest theme park. Here Mark Terenzi, creator and co-producer of Terenezi Horror Nights, shares his story


Growing up in Massachusetts, I was always very excited when Halloween came around. The weather changed and the trees would turn from green to blood red and orange. Trick or treating, bobbing for apples, pumpkin carving, haunted houses and the Salem Witch Trials were all part of the “fun.” I would spend weeks getting an outfit ready for Halloween so we could go door to door asking for candy and being someone else for one night. I guess that’s what lead me to acting and performing years later. When I was about 16 I heard they were hiring


characters for a haunted hayride called Spooky World in Worcester, Massachusetts. I had no idea what I was going to audition for but I didn't care – the name "Spooky World" and the words "live attraction" made my imagination run wild. I worked there for several years, as a make-up artist, a lead actor and even helping build in the summer. I was addicted: the amazing sets, the costumes, the make-up, the screams, the music. I even got to work with some of the horror greats like Robert Englund (Freddy Kruger), Kane Hoder (Jason Voorhees) and Elvira, who I was completely in love with at the time! It was great because of the friendships built backstage; we were a cast of 500 and we were a family. I then moved to Orlando and got a job at a


place called Skull Kingdom. It was open pretty much everyday of the year. Could there be anything greater? When one of my friends took me to Universal for Halloween Horror Nights I was totally blown away; it changed the entire park into a haunted attraction, it was amazing. Year later I found myself in Germany, enjoying a


successful singing career. but I missed Halloween, which was not so big here. I was toying with the idea to start my own haunted attraction, but just


didn't know where. In the summer of 2007 I came to Rust to visit Michael Mack at Europa-Park, and we became good friends. I drew a house called "Hells Inn" on a napkin. He loved the idea and, even though it was a risk to do an event like this in a family amusement park, he told me that if I was passionate about it we would do it. Terenzi Horror Nights was born. We just five months to go, we were challenged


with teaching people what an event like this was, knowing most of them has never experienced anything like it before. Most people still knew me as a pop singer! I thought the greatest opportunity was to go


after the thrill seekers who already come to the park for the rollercoastesr, and we knew that we would need about five years to develop a strong fan base. Word of mouth has been the greatest strength we have. If you make a great attraction, people will come, and next time they will bring 30 friends. Michael and I love to standing in the streets of the park and watching people get scared out of their minds and laugh with their friends. Every year I create new characters, storylines,


soundtracks, shows and mazes. The less you know the more terrifying it becomes! I also hired Bill McCoy as my head make-up artist. I had worked with him at Skull Kingdom and to this day have rarely seen make-up of this calibre. This year we will make Terenzi Horror Nights even greater by adding new ideas and trying to fix some of our capacity problems. The Vampire's Club, for example, allows people to party with my vampires ‘til dawn. We were thrilled to win "Best international


Attraction" at the Screamie Awards recently in London, pitted against giants in the industry like Universal Studios, Disney and Busch Gardens, so I guess we must be doing something right. Visit us this October ...if you dare!


Terenzi Horror Nights returns to Europa-Park from October 1 to November 7. www.terenzihorrornights.com


RIGHT: Marc Terenzi in character JUNE 2010


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36