Scare Zones

Imagine walking through a cloud of fog, as strobe lights flash in the background. Just as you think you're emerging from the fog, a blood covered face appear in front of you and makes an unearthly sound. You recoil in fear and jump in the opposite direction. Welcome to a Halloween Horror Nights scare zone. As if the rest of the park isn't enough to completely have me startled and amazed. These zones are the final touch that made me so attached to this event.

Dark Christmas Concept Art

Dark Christmas Concept Art

The very first time that I ever stepped foot into a scare zone, I recognized how unique this was. No where else that I had been offered this experience. You can wonder around fog covered land, and repeatedly have fear thrown through your body. It's executed in such a way that I forgot about everything else around me, the other guests, my life worries, and just focused on the atmosphere around me. It's all consuming. 

At Halloween Horror Nights 2014 there was 5 scare zones. On the upper lot, 3 of these were located. The first of which was Dark Christmas. At first I was a bit reluctant. I thought, "how are they going to make Christmas scary?" Well I was wrong to be hesitant. This scare zone was executed in the best way possible. All of the popular christmas themes were represented, but each had a dark twist on it. 

Mask-a-Raid Concept Art

Mask-a-Raid Concept Art

The next maze on the upper lot was Mask-a-Raid. This was an original concept created by John Murdy and His partner Chris Williams. To sum up who these characters were portraying, they were members of a cannibal cult during pre-revolutionary France. Mixed in with other members at a masquerade ball, these characters released havoc amongst the party. Their presence resulted in an eery atmosphere that can be described as stepping inside of a nightmare.

The last scare zone on the upper level of the park is The Purge: Anarchy. Based off of the popular movie, this scare zone features dangerous civilians who are set on creating havoc for one night out of the year. In a time where all crime is legal, what is to stop them? This is the main scare zone, which means FLAME CANNONS! This is a signature for H.H.N. and really creates a sense of chaos.

The Purge: Anarchy Scare Zone

Skullz Concept Art

Now onto the lower lot where the Skullz scare zones takes over. These scare-actors run around the lower lot on stilts. These propel them into the air at more than 8 feet tall. They have animal skulls on their head and legend has it that they have an insatiable need for human flesh. With these characters lurking above, it's hard to not feel stalked.

The Walking Dead Scare Zone

On the far back end of the park is the very last scare zone. It is AMC'S The Walking Dead. Just like in the show, herds of walkers can be expected. As you venture onto the backlot you can only predict what awaits you. As you enter the scare zone, building rise up around you, and it creates a trapped

The Walking Dead Scare Zone

feeling. You ease into the fog, and the walkers become visible, a herd is approaching, and the only way to get out, is to keep going forwards. It was truly mind blowing to be able to get that close to what it would feel like to actually be in the zombie apocalypse, without actually being in any danger.

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