Outdoor Haunts... What to do and what not to do?

[Keith "Zomketh" Newsome]

Hello my fellow creatures,
I have a friend who is wanting to start an out door wooded haunt.. basically it is just a path and woods right now... question is, what are some good things to use?? Basic open ended question to any aspect of an out door haunt... any ideas....???

[Gruesome Gus]

Many things go into planning an out door haunt.The first step i always take is to put yourself in the shoes of your guests and actors.What are the paths like?Is it muddy?Build shelter for your actors (or else). Will the fire marshal allow you to have burn barrels so the actors can get warm?That is what comes to mind right away.Wicked Jester Entertainment has operated several out door haunts and walk throughs so you can contact me if you have any questions.

[Keith "Zomketh" Newsome]

Thanks Gus... I appreicate the info.. will pass it along..

[lance oxyer]

KEEP IT DARK IN ENCOUNTER AREAS, THE MOON IS BRIGHTER THAN YOU THINK,,WE USED CANVAS FOR OVERHEAD,PAINTED BLACK AND FOR WALL HERE AND THERE, USE MUCH AS POSSIBLE NATURAL WOOD THINGS LIKE TO HIDE A ACTOR,TEACH ACTORS TO DRIVE FOWARD SO YOU DONT HAVE A BOTTLE NECK, AND RUIN CUSTOMERS TIME AND EXPERIENCE,,SMALL GROUPS BEST SPACED APART , MAZE ARE FUN FOR CUSTOMER,ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ASK ME ,,E-MAIL ME

[lance oxyer]

DONT LET PEOPLE WALK THEIR PIT BULL THRU WITH THEM HAHA REAL TEETH REAL HAIRY AND BAD A"" ""
'''

[Kimberly]

I'm new to the forum, and am from southwest Ohio, too.

For an outdoor haunt, I've been thinking of an idea where it's an indian burial ground, with those elevated wooden structures and the dead people laying on them. From mummy-type to skeletons (various stages of decomp) and at least one real actor reaching out from one. Have scares come from different elevations. This puts people off so they don't know what's coming next or from where. Fake arrows on a line coming toward the group diagonally across the path (above their heads) and going into a tree or something (would have to be released and reset for each group, either by person or motorized).

Shrunken heads and pygmies.

Car/Plane/UFO wreckage with mangled victims. Some crawling toward the group.
Example: woman in the car injured from plowing into tree, tries to get out and hobbles toward group for help, then warewolf or something grabs her and starts feeding, then sees the group and starts coming after them.
Example: plane crash 2-3 zombies come afer group. It's always scarier with more zombies. A normal person can defend against one attacker, but a herd of attackers is frightening.
Example: UFO doesn't need to crash, they're just picking up specimens. Or could crash with injured people/aliens in cryo-tubes and they wake up and come after group.

Secret military base/meteor crash/other biohazard area promting all kinds of medical experiments/ crazy escapees/ zombies/ mutants to pop out.

Satanic cult performing secret rituals they don't want seen. Come after group to leave no witnesses or use as sacrifices. Set could be a half-ring of standing stones with an alter stone in the middle.

Safety is a big issue. Have the trail clearly marked and clear of debris. If there are low areas prone to standing water or deep mud, gravel these ares. No drop-offs close to the trail. Create realistic blinds from camo netting or something for actors to hide (unlike the haunt I'm at this year using a garbage bag). Make sure the paths the actors follow toward the groups are clear of debris, lighting and sound wires, etc. so they don't trip.

I'd love to be a part of creating a new haunt. I'm handy with a hammer and saw, painting, corpsifying, etc...