Haunted Hollow provides a screaming good time
It’s that time of year again to feel some fear.
Every Friday and Saturday night in October, the American West Heritage Center puts out their pumpkins and opens the doors from 7:30 to 10:30 for their Haunted Hollow.
An eerie stroll through a wooded area in the middle of the night, the Haunted Hollows is filled with all sorts of scary imagery.
“It’s incredibly artistic,” said Jessica Mathews, a junior in nutrition science. “We have some incredible people who come every year, and a lot of them create their own costumes, they’ll create their own scenes, they’ll go crazy with it — and it’s always really successful. I never seen it unsuccessful.”
Soon after entering, the hollow’s volunteers manage to create a good sense of dread and constant screams can be heard coming from within.
The hollow is divided by sections, each connected by a very dark path, where anything could be hiding anywhere. The amount of thought the scarers put into is actually very impressive.
It can be very easy to be taken by surprise at any moment from behind, by the side or even in front of you — thanks to the limited moonlight coming through the branches and the dimly lit fires along the trail. The creepy atmosphere and chilling images are sure to follow you all the way home.
“Last year I was the boogeyman, and I would dress all in black and wear a white mask,” said Cody Apidel, a mechanical engineering junior. “And I would let the people find me and that would scare them more than me jumping out at them, and that was awesome. The year before that I was a cowboy, and I would wear spurs on my feet, and follow them from two scenes back, so they could hear me walking right behind them. Sometimes that would unnerve them.”
Most — if not all — of the scenes inside the hollow have some sort of historic or mythical inspiration, Mike Goodmenson said.
Analise Christensen, a USU humanities graduate, is charge of the hollow, which she said is intended to be historic.
“We start with a lot of different stories from different eras, and then plan what would be feasible,” she said.
With giant spiders and zombies that will chase you, the hollow always manages to keep the surprises coming. Despite having only three staff members and 30 volunteers, the people of the heritage center are able to put it all together.
As Christensen said, the hollow is “awesome,” and one of the center’s biggest fundraisers, costing $8 or $9 with a student ID.
It’s a fun and exciting group activity for friends and family of all ages, so don’t miss it.
— mthomasmcbride@gmail.com