The forest of terror
College students scream the loudest. Little girls come in second.
That’s what Matt Weber said, an employee at the new Haunted Forest at Sherwood Hills. Weber deals with a lot of screaming, because, he said, the Haunted Forest is “pretty creepy.”
“It’s fun getting a lot of different reactions,” said Sherry Miller, another employee. “A lot of people pee their pants.”
Miller and Weber both work for Dark Meadows Manor, a professional scaring troupe which will run the Haunted Forest at Sherwood Hills for the first time.
“If you have been here before, expect it to be a lot better this year,” said Avis Richards, general manager of Sherwood Hills resort. “These people are more professional and very good at what they do.”
Already, people have noticed the difference, and the response has been very positive, Miller said. The forest has gotten good reviews, and even a few BYU students drive up to see what Cache Valley’s Haunted Forest had to offer, she added.
“It’s nice to see people come from so far away just to go through our forest,” said Jamie Forbush, technical manager. “And it’s even better when they come out pretty dang frazzled. It means they had a good show.”
Forbush has a vision to turn the forest into a $1 million production, he said. Already, they’ve put in animatronic props, incredible audio systems and other high-dollar props, he said, and hope to compete with more famous houses such as Nightmare on 13th, in Salt Lake City. He said results have been positive. He said one review described the Haunted Forest as “Very original. Unlike anywhere else.”
Forbush’s vision is only barely beginning to unfold, he said. Although he’s pleased with this year’s results, he plans to make the forest bigger and better, every year. Sara Hansen, head of marketing for the Haunted Forest, said she is excited about plans for the future.
“We have a lot of land to deal with, so we plan to just keep expanding,” Hansen said. “We will have a large grid of buildings set up in the woods. We’ll employ cool technologies, like a hydroscreen, and really make this place look cool.”
The Haunted Forest has all the same technology as Disneyland, she said, albeit for somewhat different motives.
The Haunted Forest incorporates both outdoor and indoor elements. Customers walk along a dimly lit path on the side of the mountain, but their path occasionally takes them through buildings and tents. As long as the downpour isn’t too torrential, Forbush said, the Haunted Forest stays open in the rain as well. Rain only adds to the scary effect, he added.
Sherwood Hills Resort is located in Sardine Canyon, on the southbound side of Highway 89. A winding, lit road winds up the mountain until it reaches a shack, the ticket booth for the attraction. Red lights hang eerily from the trees, and on most nights, horror movies are projected onto a screen as customers wait in line, Miller said.
Apart from terrifying people, Hansen said, the Haunted Forest crew, which consists of several USU students, participates in charitable acts as well. If customers bring canned food for the food drive they receive a $3 discount Mondays, or a $2 any other day of the week. Halloween coincides with the time of greatest need for food in Utah, according to Hansen, and the people at the Haunted Forest are happy to help.
The forest crew makes sure customers get their can’s worth, Hansen said.
“I hate it when the monsters follow you and breathe down your neck,” said Amber Murdoch, a USU freshman majoring in chemistry. “It’s scary.”
“I manage the resort, and I have only been through the forest once,” Richards said. “That was enough. There were headless people following us. There was an insane little girl. It was hair raising and creepy.”
The phantoms are varied, but all of them are frightening, Forbush said. Customers are threatened with clubs, chainsaws and firearms, he said.
Forbush said people go to prove they can do it and to establish feelings of essential normality, but most of all people just go to have fun. He said it is so much fun that people from out of state come to participate. It has given Utah a name as the No. 1 destination for Halloween entertainment, he said
“Don’t take my word for it. Wait until we get inside and you can see for yourself. I don’t want to give everything away,” Forbush said. “But you will be scared, I can promise you that much.”
– evan.millsap@aggimail.usu.edu