SALT LAKE CITY — The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way haunted houses are operating this year.
The CDC has identified “going to an open-air, one-way, walk-through haunted forest where appropriate mask use is enforced, and people can remain more than 6 feet apart” as a “moderate risk” activity, and “going to an indoor haunted house where people may be crowded together and screaming” as a “higher risk” activity.
Haunted attractions are taking precautions to avoid spreading COVID-19 this Halloween season.
Fear Factory
Co-founder and COO Rob Dunfield said Fear Factory in Salt Lake City had hoped throughout the pandemic to be able to open and watched state and city guidelines.
“Once we realized that we could comply with all of them, then we felt confident that we would be open this year,” Dunfield said. “So far the response has been very positive, and people that want to get out want to and the people that don’t probably won’t.”
The haunted house, open through Nov. 13, plans to follow the same protocols this fall that it implemented at its Halfway to Halloween event in May, when Salt Lake City was in the orange or moderate level of restriction in Utah’s health guidance system for the coronavirus. It has since moved to the yellow or low level of restriction.
“What we learned is that it’s possible for us to open and maintain those social distancing guidelines,” Dunfield said. “It worked really well. We learned where we need to do more, and then we realized the demand.”
Dunfield said the protocols include space markings for social distancing, hand sanitizer available throughout the property, gloves offered, staff cleaning regularly throughout the night, a mask requirement and a timed ticketing system that will limit the number of people there at one time.
“All of our staff will be wearing masks and all of the PPE stuff to keep protected,” Dunfield said.
Fear Factory has also had to redesign the haunt to place actors further away from guests and non-person scares up close, according to Dunfield.
“We’ve had to alter the haunted house quite a bit,” Dunfield said. “We’ve made it so that you can walk through unobstructed without having anything touch you.”
Dunfield anticipates Fear Factory will keep some of the adjustments made this year in the future, such as remote trainings with employees and additional cleanliness practices.
“I think it’s helped us to make things a little better and safer and more welcoming I guess for the public to come and have a good time and be safe,” Dunfield said.
Nightmare on 13th
One reason Nightmare on 13th in Salt Lake City opened this year was to celebrate its 30th season of operation, “a pretty legendary accomplishment in the haunted attraction industry,” according to general manager Jake Mabey.
“We know people are tired of being cooped up with nothing to do,” Mabey said in an email. “We wanted to provide people with something to do in a safe way so that they could escape the real nightmares of the world for an hour or so, and come have a fun time in fake nightmares while forgetting about what’s going on outside.”
Mabey said Nightmare on 13th “felt very confident in being able to open during the pandemic while still keeping things safe for everyone.” The haunt has implemented a linear path through the attraction, “Scare Sounds” speakers actors use instead of physically screaming, social distancing, a timed ticketing system, sanitizing, screening staff for symptoms and requiring masks.
“We have come up with ways to disguise or hide the masks so you can hardly tell the actors are wearing them,” Mabey said. “They still look scary, but they are all in fact wearing face coverings, even under some of the full face masks that look like they aren’t (they have masks underneath them).”
Nightmare on 13th opened on June 13th for a “trial run,” and “everything went well,” according to Mabey.
“Everyone was safe and customers loved it,” Mabey said. “We even sold out the night! The demand is definitely there for something safe and fun to do and that is exactly what we are offering.”
Mabey said Nightmare on 13th, also open through Nov. 13, has had “great reviews” starting its fall season as well.
“We have tons of new changes and additions to the attraction this season,” Mabey said. “We also want people to know that just because we have taken all of these safety precautions, doesn’t mean we are any less scary. We are still terrifying!”
The pandemic has decreased the number of people Nightmare on 13th can process in a year, but Mabey thinks the attraction will “still be able to survive just fine.”
“If anything, the pandemic may affect us positively moving forward,” Mabey said. “It has helped us learn a lot more of our capabilities at controlling timing and flow through our attraction, cleanliness, and come up with creative new ways to still scare people without getting in their faces.”
Beyond Utah
The Chicago Tribune reported Brett Hays, president of the Haunted Attractions Association, estimates roughly half of haunted houses nationwide won’t open this year amid COVID-19. Many are small businesses that operate year to year, and Hays predicted up to a third will go out of business in 2020.
“Think about it, we get one chance a year to make our money,” Hays told the Chicago Tribune.
The Associated Press reported haunted houses in Louisiana must get permission to operate this year from Gov. John Bel Edwards’ administration.
“Edwards’ restrictions on businesses and activities keep indoor amusement sites like haunted houses closed,” AP wrote. “But the Democratic governor’s coronavirus proclamation allows them to submit a proposal seeking special permission to reopen.”
Production company Kowagarasetai, roughly translated as Scare Squad, launched a drive-thru haunted house in Japan in response to the pandemic, according to AP.
“We have started this drive-in because we cannot get close to customers,” cast member Daichi Ono told AP. “But the distance (between customers and cast) has actually gotten shorter since there is only a window between them.”
AP reported actors dressed as zombies attack vehicles and smear them with fake blood during the 13-minute performance in Tokyo. There is no contact between performers and customers, virtually eliminating the risk of transmitting the virus, according to AP.
“Once the horror is over, instead of eating brains, these helpful zombies actually clean the blood off the cars they attacked just minutes earlier,” AP wrote.
Hays told AP he isn’t a huge fan of the drive-thru experience approach, “noting the potential danger of the startle reflex in drivers with their feet on gas pedals.” AP reported many expect a 50% reduction in attendance in the haunted attraction industry, which “usually generates about $1.14 billion in annual ticket sales, primarily during Halloween season.”
“Nobody’s going to have a great year,” Hays told AP. “There’s no doubt about it.”
Contributing: Chicago Tribune and Associated Press