Seasonal Highlights
ALL POSTS
Haunted Farm of Terror Throws A Monster Party
Haunted Farm of Terror was the last stop for opening night 2015 — the one-two punch of haunted house and hayride was exactly the combo we needed to end our nocturnal adventure. The night air was cool and the sky was clear; a smattering of thrill seekers roamed the expansive grounds. John and I wasted little time in acquiring our…
Horrorlust Radio Episode #014
In this installment of Horrorlust Radio, I present thoughts and reactions following the second outing of the haunt season. Enjoy interviews and snippets from Krazy Hilda’s Trail of Terrors and Terrorfied Forest and Manor. In addition, get familiar with the dark history of the Haunted Farm of Terror as told by the mysterious Larry. Finally, find out which haunted attractions…
Old School in Full Effect at Fear Factory
The Fear Factory in Mt. Clemens has been in operation for the better part of two decades, but despite such longevity it was a haunted attraction that had eluded us until very recently. It was my aim for the 2015 haunt season to place an emphasis on new and never-before-toured attractions so John and I decided to include The Fear…
Alternative Vibe Rocks The Deadland
The very first haunted attraction of the season is forever a mix of excitement, nervousness and yes — a dash of surrealism. It’s a gamble too; after so much anticipation it’s a major disappointment if the first haunt fails to make an impression. Lucky for us this was not the case at The Deadland. We arrived to find a relatively…
Moonlight Delight at Krazy Hilda’s, Terrorfied Forest & Manor
The veteran cast of fellow haunters were all busy with work or prior engagements last night, so I went to the bullpen and invited my friend Mark to experience a night of haunting. It always does my heart good to convert mere mortals into haunters and I think that may be the process currently taking place with my Mark. He…
Call of the Witch
The schedule shifts and slides, ebbs and flows but so it goes in the month of September. I did have a pleasant conversation with the head witch out at Krazy Hilda’s and it would seem that the old girl is craving some souls for the keeping. We had memorable visits to Krazy Hilda’s in 2011 and 2012 when the witch…
Horrorlust Radio Episode #013
In this installment of Horrorlust Radio, I present thoughts and reactions following the first haunt outing of the season. Enjoy interviews and snippets from The Deadland, The Fear Factory and Haunted Farm of Terror. Also included is an entry of Pop Horror, a segment where we take a look at the haunted happenings in television and film. I’m actively seeking…
A Note on Ratings
A haunted attraction is a unique, dynamic form of entertainment. Some attractions place an emphasis on elaborately detailed scenes while others value the wow factor offered by expensive animatronics above all else. There are haunted houses that employ a minimalist approach and those that pride themselves on an in-your-face cast. The multitude of elements from which a haunted attraction can…
Saturday Night Triple Threat Triggers 2015 Haunt Season
The Deadland, Fear Factory and Haunted Farm of Terror all opened their doors for the 2015 haunt season this weekend and each provided a memorable experience in their own right. The fun began only moments after John and I hit the road when a deep, booming voice erupted from the GPS with our first set of directions — to my…
Pins & Needles
I’m putting the finishing touches on plans for the night, we’ll either be heading west to tour The Boneyard and Jackson’s Underworld or shooting north in hopes of visiting The Deadland, Fear Factory and Haunted Farm of Terror. Our one and only trip to The Boneyard in Stockbridge came during the 2011 season which proved to be an enjoyable night.…
2014 Haunt Season Rewind
We gather here at the genesis of another season of screams; night has descended and the doors to many haunted attractions hungrily await the arrival of eager guests. Accompanied by a rush of excitement and a tinge of dizzied disbelief, the first night of haunting of any season is a special outing. For myself and my faithful cohorts the season…
2015 Haunt Schedule: Never is Enough
The haunt schedule can be a restless beast — there are time restraints, geographic considerations, unexpected vehicle maintenance and of course the threat of inclement weather. The 2014 schedule was made all the more problematic when some friends and I decided to produce a home haunt for a Halloween party. The CikNis was held on Saturday, October 25, 2014 but…
Horrorlust Radio Episode #012
In episode #012 of Horrorlust Radio, I’m once again joined by Chop Shop creator, Steve Colwell. In this installment of Horrorlust Radio, Steve and I delved into the use of the carnival as a time-honored horror trope and then during Nightmare Fuel, my co-host recounted an eerie experience with a UFO during his youth. Also included in this episode are…
The Horrorlust Brood
The recent cool down in temperatures has come just as the hallowed hearth is lit for the 2015 haunt season. As such, I thought it appropriate to acknowledge all of those who decided to become a sponsor of Horrorlust Radio. I’m very excited for all of the possibilities that the program can bring to the Michigan haunt scene and the…
Odds & Ends
Part of the fun each year with the Fear Finder is cracking open that beautiful front cover and exploring the contents inside to discover new haunted houses as well as which mainstays have disappeared; here’s a brief look at the notable additions and subtractions. SWINGING IN THE WIND Burton’s Haunted Forest – Seemed to be building a reputation for itself;…
2015 Fear Finder Cover Art Released
One of the many welcome signs of the fall season is the release of the Fear Finder cover art. Illustrated by artist Steve Shipp, the artwork has run the gamut of horror troupes during his tenure with the Fear Finder — from a woodland encounter with Bigfoot (2007) to a deranged carnival (2011) to the most recent incarnation which features…
Horrorlust Radio Episode #011
In episode #011 of Horrorlust Radio, I’m joined by Chop Shop creator, Steve Colwell. In this installment of Horrorlust Radio, Steve and I held an in-depth discussion about Tod Browning’s Freaks. We also recounted details from our trip to the Motor City Haunt Club’s Haunted Garage Sale, observed the passing of horror icon Wes Craven and laid to rest an…
Horrorlust Radio Episode #010
In episode #010 of Horrorlust Radio, I’m joined by my brother, Jason Adkins. In this installment of Horrorlust Radio, Jason and I discussed The Evil Within, a survival horror video game like none other. We also shared our thoughts on the 2014 cinematic release The Houses October Built. This episode also featured installments of Serious Celluloid and Dead Files, just two of…
Haunting By Numbers: 2014 Haunt Season
2014 offered a haunt season not soon to be forgotten. Let us now ponder some pertinent numbers. 24: Number of attractions at 14 unique locations that we visited — this total topped the previous record of 23 first set in 2011 and then matched in 2013. 7: Spooky nights spent touring fright filled stomping grounds. 5: Never before toured haunted…
2014 Horrorlust Haunt Awards
Rotten Pumpkin – The Rotten Pumpkin award is given to the haunt considered to be the most disappointing of the season. Disappointment may be the result of an over hyped marketing campaign or the failure of the haunt to live up to expectations set forth in previous seasons. Whatever the case may be let there be no doubt that the…
