The Alien Encounters Haunted House on Redwood Road doesn't have an official slogan, but Jim Glaittli - one of the proprietors - is quick to offer a possibility: "We pride ourselves on getting macho guys to jump," he says. And one of the effects Glaittli and Clayton Holbrook have concocted for this year's house is especially good for that.
Yes, it's haunted house time again, when even your knees know " 'tis the season to be jelly." And consensus has it that Utah is the haunted house capital of the United States."The competition is strong," says Donell Pons of the March of Dimes. "Out here each volunteer takes a room and there's some healthy competition to top each other. The funny thing is all these haunted houses still don't meet the need in the market."
Utahns love amusement parks - even "black" Lagoons.
Out at Alien Encounters, Glaittli and Holbrook have been hard at work on their spook alley since June. Keeping up with the Boneses in no easy task.
"Every year we get a little bit bigger, and I think better," says Holbrook. "For one thing, we're able to get rid of all our classic failures."
Due to rising tensions in town, many haunts are going out of their way to make sure all the fright and fear is make-believe. At Alien Encounters, new security measures are in operation, including a metal detector and special barriers. Other houses have taken special security and safety precautions.
Troy Barber of the Institute of Terror has seen the ante go up. "Because of the Utah State Fair shooting last year, the mood was pretty much the same as this year," he says. "We haven't had an incident in our four years here. We have 10 security people in headsets on site, and we hire off duty policemen to patrol the place. It costs us quite a bit of money, but I'm convinced it's the best way to go."
Needless to say, this year's crop of terror is a full severed leg up on what used to pass for grotesque. As Pons points out, because of the state-of-the-art special effects coming out of Hollywood, people know what a real thrill is supposed to be these days. Whatever the influences, the days when frayed rope would pass for cobwebs and peeled grapes for skinned eyeballs is as out-moded as Flash Gordon. Today mechanical animals dart and whine, ceilings fall and the makeup gets more realistic with each season.
And true haunted house aficionados never think there's a bad one. They just think some are a cut above.
Here's a rundown of the current list of fright-night locations. Let us know of others by phoning 237-2150.
1 ALIEN ENCOUNTERS
Hoo! Clayton Holbrook and Jim Glaittli proprietors
Where: 5959 S. Redwood Road
When: Sept. 30, Oct. 1, Oct. 6-31, Monday through Thursday 7:30 p.m to 9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday open till 11 p.m. Closed Sundays. Admission is $6, or $5 if you bring a can of non-perishable food.
1 THE ENCHANTED WOODS
Hoo! Benefits the Treehouse Children's Museum
Where: 2255 B Street in the Ogden City Mall
When: Open Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 7-31, and also Halloween night. Tickets are $4 for children and $1 for adults (includes a bag of treats and prizes).
1 HAUNTED CASTLE
Hoo! A benefit for the patients at the Utah State Hospital
Where: State Hospital, 1300 E. Center in Provo
When: Oct. 21-31, closed Sundays. From 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays, 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $5 at the door (with group tickets available at hospital); call 344-4216.
1 HAUNTED HOLLYWOOD
Hoo! Rich Correll, proprietor
Where: Utah State Fairpark on North Temple and 1000 West
When: Oct. 1-31. Tuesday through Thursday 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Sunday from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Closed Mondays. Tickets are $7 for adults, $4 for children.
1 HAUNTED WOODS
Hoo! Sponsored by Salt Lake City Parks and Recreation
Where: Wheeler Historic Farm, 6351 S. 900 East
When: Sept. 29 through Oct. 31. Monday through Thursday 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Closed Sunday. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for children 3-11. ($1 off admission with any 14-ounce "La Famous" thin and crispy tortilla bag - discount does not apply Friday and Saturday.)
1 INSTITUTE OF TERROR
Hoo! Troy Barber and Mike Henrie, proprietors
Where: 300 W. 1300 South
When: Sept. 30 through Oct. 31. Monday through Saturday at 7 p.m. Tickets are $6 for adults, $4 for children ($1 discount with a can of non-perishable food for Utah Food Bank).
1 MARCH OF DIMES HAUNTED HOUSE
Hoo! A fundraiser for March of Dimes
Where: 5632 S. 900 East
When: Sept. 30 through Oct. 31. Monday through Thursday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Closed Sunday. Tickets are $6 for adults, $4 for children 10 and under.
1 NIGHTMARE AT THE GRAND III
Hoo! Salt Lake Community College
Where: The SLCC campus at 1575 S. State
When: Oct. 7-31. Monday through Thursday 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Closed Sundays. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for children 10 and under. (Discount coupons available).
1 ROCKY POINT HAUNTED HOUSES
Hoo! Benefit for the American Diabetes Association
Where: Two locations: 9860 S. 700 East in Sandy and 2276 Washington Blvd. in Ogden
When: Both houses open Friday, Sept. 30, and run through Oct. 31. Tuesdays through Thursdays from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday from 7:30 p.m. to midnight. Admission is $5.75. Ages 6-9 are $3.75 (discounts available at several locations).
1 SCARECROW FESTIVAL
Hoo! A Halloween display of scarecrows, pumpkins, contests, games, etc., to benefit the Utah Boys Ranch
Where: Gardner Historic Village, 1095 W. 7800 South
When: Oct. 6-8. Thursday from noon to 10 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets are $2; the donation also qualifies you to win a $1,000 shopping spree.