by Julie Weaver
When the days grow short and the nights’ long shadows creep the spirits of the dead will slowly awaken from their sleep…” My true love wrote that in a card he made especially for me last Halloween. It may seem less than romantic to you, but for me it must’ve worked, because it’s only a year later and we’re getting married (as close to Halloween as we could swing it). The only drawback being that my parents wouldn’t spring for the black wedding dress I’ve wanted since I was 11, and they didn’t like the ceremony-in-the-graveyard idea very much either. Sigh… Oh well, at least we’re having it in a Gothic old castle. You can’t ask for everything…
And that brings me to our choices of Haunted Houses: This year offers several new faces, out-of-town places, as well as the old stand-bys. Yet unfortunately, our Lord British (aka Richard Garriott) has deigned not to put on his semi-yearly haunted abode — you know, the best-haunted-house-in-the-whole-world- that-everyone-camps-out-in-front-of-for-days-to-get-in… but alas, he’s at least given his crew and props to Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve so that they can try to recreate some of the magick that his usual venue affords. Best of luck to ’em, because if they pull it off, we’ll be the beneficiaries — go check it out. Hey, do you think they’d appreciate a bride in a black wedding dress?
BEN HUR SHRINE TEMPLEwill host a Pumpkin Patch and Haunted House this season, with all proceeds benefiting this worthy non-profit organization. Fun for the whole family, the house and ‘patch feature hayrides, jack o’ lanterns, games, storytelling, scarecrows, clowns, and more. Pumpkin Patch: Oct 17-31, 9am-8pm; House: Oct 25-26 & 31, 7pm-midnight; Oct 27-30, 7-10pm. Admission to the house is $5 per person, all of which is tax-deductible. 4300 Westbank Dr., 327-3810.
BOO AT THE ZOO is sponsored by the Austin Zoo. Kids and parents alike can visit the zoo at night, get a goody bag (young ones only, ya greedy adults!), and take a Haunted Train Ride. They’re the only ones I know that can boast a stable of real beasts! Oct 18-20 & 24-31, from dusk ’til 9pm. Admission is $4 adults; $3.50 children (2-12) and grandparents. 10807 Rawhide Tr., 288-1490.
CACTUS JACK’S TRAIL OF FRIGHT HAYRIDE is ever-mysterious — I get very little details about this place. But I’d guess it must be good considering it’s still around after all these years. Check and see for yourself. Admission is $6 ($5 per person for groups of five or more). 13233 Hwy 71 W., eight miles from the “Y” at Oak Hill. 263-2388.
DUNGEON OF DOOM If you want to escape the madness on Sixth Street and get out of town — and you’re up for a four-hour-or-so road trip — the Dungeon is your best bet. Sponsored by the Arlington Museum of Art, participants will descend through the bowels of “the beast” and enter the Dungeon of Doom, where scurrilous creatures inhabit perilous passageways, where senses are seized by light deprivation, and smells of who-knows-what lurk in the dark. Bwahahahahaha!! Oh, sorry — I got a little outta hand there. Anyway, it’s all for a good cause; proceeds benefit the museum and you can also bring a canned good for the Arlington Night Shelter. October 18-19, 25-26 & 30-31, 7pm ’til the last scream. Admission is $6 per person, or $5 with a donation of canned food. 201 West Main St. in Arlington. 817/275-4600.
GRUSEUM, the annual event sponsored by the Austin Children’s Museum, is the perfect Halloween funhouse for the young ones. Not too scary, it’s packed full of fun and zany treats for kids ages 3-8. Participants can color Feet Street, make-and-take a magic wand, and discover other great surprises. Children are encouraged to wear their favorite costume and have their photo taken with Mr. Scarecrow in the Pumpkin Patch. Also featured are jugglers, acrobats, singers, square-dancers, cloggers, storytellers, and more. Oct 25, 26, 31 and November 1-2. Hours are Thu-Fri, 5-8pm, and Sat, 10am-5pm. Admission is $2.50 members, $3.50 non-members. All proceeds support ACM exhibits and programs. 1501 W. Fifth, 472-2499.
HAUNTED HAYRIDES is our out-of-town stand-by, located in the Alamo city. Beginning at dusk, the hayrides wind over two miles and feature over 30 haunts to scare you. It takes over 40 minutes just to get through the whole thing (i.e., You get your money’s worth!). Oct 17-20, 24-27 & 29-31, dusk ’til 11:30pm. Reservations are strongly recommended, and admission is $9.95 adults ($2 per person discount for groups of 30 or more); $5.95 children ages 5-12; and free for kids under 4 (snacks are included in the ticket price). Rolling Oaks Mall, North Parking Lot, 1604 Nacogdoches in San Antonio. 210/651-5666.
HAUNTED HOUSEBOATS is a newcomer to the Halloween scene, presented by Carlos ‘N Charlie’s on Lake Travis and Leander High School’s Drama Department. Passengers are invited to cruise aboard one of C n’ C’s 66-foot luxury yachts to Devil’s Cove, where a ghoulish production awaits! This is the Drama Department’s major fundraiser of the year, and their many-costumed actors will keep you on edge while they put their own spin on classic Halloween tales. Oct 17-20, 24-27 & 29-31, 7:30-11:30pm (houseboats run every 15 minutes). Admission is $12 adults (with discounts for groups of 30 or more); $10 students; and $6 children under 12. 5981 Hiline Rd., 266-1683.
HAUNTED TRAILS AT THE BASIN While Lord British takes a sabbatical this year from the haunting of his Britannia Manor, spectral spook-house volunteers will haunt the trails of Wild Basin Wilderness, a 227-acre urban preserve located in the deep woods on the fringes of Lord British’s realm. Lord British has entrusted Wild Basin with some spooky effects seen in his 1994 Britannia Manor haunted house; and 90% of participating volunteers for Haunted Trails are Britannia Manor veterans, with a macabre enthusiasm to ensure that Wild Basin’s 45-minute trail of terror is a success. Wed, Oct 30, 7-10pm & Thu, Oct 31, 8-10pm. Admission is $15 per person by advance reservation only, and times will be pre-assigned (space is limited). 805 N. Capital of Texas Hwy, 327-7622.
NIGHTMARE FACTORY, the largest haunted house in Central Texas, is open for its ninth season this year, featuring over 6,000 square feet of dark mazes, sinister scenes, and custom special effects. New to the house this year is an alien autopsy — gooey, very gooey we expect. The Nightmare also boasts a special Factory Costume and Gift Shop on the World Wide Web, featuring almost a dozen departments containing everything from the official Batman Costume, to fangs, to accessories, to full-size props. Oct 18-20, Fri-Sat, 7:30pm-midnight, Sun, 7:30-10:30pm; Oct 25-Nov 2, Fri-Thu, 7:30pm-midnight. Admission is $7 per person; $4 per person on family nights (Sundays); $2 discount coupons available at DoubleDave’s Pizzaworks and Half Price Books. To get a peek at the house and to check out their costume and prop shop on the web, point your browser to http://www.nighmarefactory.com 2101 W. Ben White, 445-FEAR..
PIONEER FARM‘s Halloween activities are an Austin tradition for many area families. Fun for both young and old alike, the farm offers activities like hayrides, scarecrow building, a pumpkin patch, toys and games, refreshments, and a Haunted Barn. The barn and hayride features the Mad Scientist of Dr. Botz, storytelling, fortune-telling, and more. Oct 25, 26 & 31, dark to 9:30pm (a Sunday afternoon family Halloween party will be held Oct 27, 1-5pm). Admission is $4 adults, $2 children. Proceeds benefit the farm, and with this year’s cuts from the city council, they really need our help. Support central Texas’ heritage while scaring yourself silly! 11418 Sprinkle Cut-Off Rd. 837-1315.
SCREAMS, created by the same guys and gals that bring you the Scarborough Faire every year, claims to be the world’s largest Terror Park — it covers over 50 acres, oh my! You’ll have to cover a lot more area to get there, though; it’s located off N. I-35, near Waxahachie (that’s near Dallas for those of you who are saying “Waxa-what?”). There’s maze of terror, two frightening haunted hayrides, a haunted house, and a terrifying haunted castle to explore. In addition, there are live stage shows each night, games, food and drink, and hundreds of ghastly performers meandering through the town. There will also be a children’s area with a pumpkin patch, face painting, a maze, and much more. The only bummer is that they don’t want you to wear a costume (I guess they don’t want to get you confused with their performers, eh?). Open through Oct 31 (closed Mondays), beginning each night at 7pm. 1.6 miles west of FM66 off N. I-35. 888/3SCREAMS.
This article appears in October 18 • 1996 and October 18 • 1996 (Cover).