Haunted Hills
The Sherwood Hills Haunted Forest is “six acres of sheer hell,” Geoff McGee, co-owner of Nightmare Production Company, said.
Walking toward the forest of tall, dimly lit trees creates the eerie feeling surrounding the forest, which is now open for those looking for a late-night scare.
“It’s cool to come somewhere where it’s geared towards wetting your pants,” McGee said. “We are the best haunted attraction north of Ogden.”
The Haunted Forest is contracted to the company through the Sherwood Hills Resort. This is their second year doing the forest. They did it two years ago and decided to come back again this year.
Among the “awesome setting” in Sardine Canyon, the 30-member cast is constantly looking to make visitors uncomfortable, Clint McKell, co-owner of the company, said.
The actors are supposed to get in a visitor’s comfort zone.
“When someone is breathing down your neck, it makes you uncomfortable,” he said.
All of the costumes are meant to bring out the visitor’s “innermost fear of nature,” McKell said.
Spiders falling from the sky and trolls coming from under the rickety bridges cause just some of the constant screams heard throughout the forest.
“It was fine, except for the chainsaws,” Katy Welker, 23, said. “The spider was my favorite part.”
The setting in Sardine Canyon creates a creepy atmosphere that could put anyone on edge.
McKell said he would “pay someone good money if they’d stay out here all night.”
“Tell you what, when you’re the last person out there, it’s scary,” McGee said. “My favorite thing is to hear people scream. We’ve had a lot of people pee their pants.”
Monique Oelofsen, an undeclared freshman, said, “I was pretty scared, but [the trail] needs more turns so you can’t see what’s ahead.”
McKell said they have the upper hand on the other haunted attractions in the state because of the ambience and setting.
Visitors to the haunted forest should come prepared for anything.
McKell suggests visitors bring comfortable shoes and warm clothing. The trail is strenuous and is not recommended for young kids or elderly people with health problems.
“It’s rated PG-13 for thematic material and maybe a little gore,” McGee said.
After getting out of the forest, Bobby Parson, a junior in mechanical engineering said he needed a few water breaks. “Also, they should change it to a downhill climb and throw in a cup of hot chocolate.”
Parson said, “All in all, it was pretty good. I liked the guy at the beginning and the chainsaws.”
Bringing a date to the haunted forest is highly recommended.
“This can be the best date ever,” said McKell, who took his wife to a haunted forest for their first date. “Once someone comes chasing you with a chainsaw, it will break the ice really fast.
“If you think you like a girl, bring her out here.”
But beware of what might happen.
“Our goal is to make ’em fall,” McGee said. “The payoff is when we make a guy fall on the ground.”
McGee and McKell said they plan on doing this for years to come. They want to put more money into it and change things around.
“Things have already changed from the first few weeks we were open,” McKell said.
The forest is located on US Highway 89-91 in Sardine Canyon. To get there, turn right at Sherwood Hills Resort and follow the signs leading to the Haunted Forest. The cost is $8.50 for adults and $5.50 for children 12 and under.
There are group rates available. Everyone gets $1 off in groups over 25, and for groups over 50 everyone gets $2 off.
Discount coupons are also available and will be running every day in the newspaper until Halloween. They accept cash, checks or credit cards.
It is open Thursdays from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m., Friday-Saturday from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. and on Halloween from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m.. For more information, call 435-245-5054.
-hollyadams@cc.usu.edu
Characters jump out from the darkness at this year´s Haunted Forest located at Sherwood Hills Resort in Sardine Canyon. Tickets are $8.50. Group discounts apply. (James Schultz)