I remember going into a haunted house attraction when I was about 7 or so and being petrified of one particular performer - I couldn't pass him, convinced he was going to kill me for real. My friend's dad had to pretty much carry me through the rest of the corridor, and if memory serves I was fine after that. I don't know what it was about that dude that had me so frightened (in fact I am pretty sure it wasn't even my first time going through this particular ride) but I do know that I've never really been frightened of any such attraction since. Did I conquer my fears that day, or has nothing ever measured up? I mean, sure, I've been caught off guard at Knott's or one of the Universal Horror Nights mazes by some random performer, but more often than not I'm just sort of lazily shuffling through, laughing at everyone else being scared. Bummer.
But if anything can actually tap that nerve again, I think it might be the Great Horror Campout in Los Angeles. It's held in the Los Angeles State Historic Park, and for a pretty reasonable fee ($149) you get one of four slots in a tent, dinner, breakfast and parking, spread across 12 hrs - 8pm to 8am. But the real draw is the Hell Hunt Experience, which is a scavenger hunt that is seemingly set inside the world of a monster movie. As the story goes, a train carrying crates of biological weapons derailed in the area back in the 1800s, and the beasts contained within those crates remain loose on the very same property where you'll be camping and scavenger hunting. If you "survive" and find the items listed in your dossier, you win a golden ticket to the (same company's) Haunted Hayride in October, which is nice since most folks that survive a horror movie get nothing but killed in the first few minutes of the sequel.
The website also features a Jason type character (with a burlap sack, Friday 2 style), so hopefully there will be some slasher style action as well. It certainly seems more complicated than just some bio-engineered creatures: the website warns you about "total darkness, water spray and splash, uneven surfaces, steps up and down*, strobe lighting, latex, narrow tunnels, crouch spaces which require you to bend down while walking, sudden loud noises, live scareactors, fog and scent effects which are all intended to startle and frighten you". And you have to be 18 or older, which suggests it'll be a lot harsher than the usual Halloween-time haunt.
It seems they have a TON of tents (over 500 by my count - they provide the tents, you have to bring your own sleeping bag though), so hopefully they have ways of keeping folks relatively separate in order to maximize the scare potential - nothing scary about being with hundreds of people. Apparently you can even "buy out" slots in the tent if you can afford it - pay the cost of four tickets and go solo, or double up with your spouse for the perfect "couple in the woods" campfire story scenario. And I really dig that the scavenger hunt is just part of the package - there are a lot of typical camping style activities too, such as marshmallow roasting and horror movies around a fire. So it's not like the hunt is the only thing to do - much like in a good Friday sequel where everyone gets to have a good time before Jason starts ruining it for everyone, it's just part of the overall experience. You can also choose different "levels of engagement," if you think it sounds fun but won't be able to handle the really scary stuff. I assume the hunt will be closer to the end of the night when it starts to get lighter and folks have gotten a bit of sleep, but maybe that comes first and the other stuff is more optional for those who are exhausted? Not sure how it all works, but I know I can't wait to find out. If watching 2500 horror movies in a row hasn't prepared me to survive a slasher movie, then nothing has!
There are two nights to choose from, Friday, June 7th and Saturday, June 8th; not sure if there's a deadline by which you have to reserve, but as of right now there are plenty of slots available on both nights. I'll probably aim for Saturday so I don't have to worry about work emergencies killing my fun - who's with me? Official site link HERE for all the info.
*I like that they specify steps that go up and down, as if that would be a dealbreaker for someone. "I only go up!"
It’s The Great Horror Campout, Jason Voorhees
Join BC and live out your own slasher in the woods story this June.
About the Author: Brian, aka BC, has been watching horror movies since the age of 6, and twenty years later decided to put it to good use, both as a writer for Bloody-Disgusting as well as launching his own site, Horror Movie A Day, which Roger Ebert once read and misunderstood the points that were being made.
