SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES: Carnival of Fear, located at Crossroads Mall, is Colorado's first Halloween theme park. The event thrills visitors with games, shows and a haunted house. (Campus Press photo by Jessica Reuter)

Carnival of Fear thrills with more than haunts

Halloween theme park also offers games and sideshows

By Elizabeth Beard and Katherine Wojtecki
Campus Press Staff Writers

From spooky storytellers to pumpkin carving and trick-or-treating, there's a little something for everyone this season, and people of all ages are taking advantage. Why not? There are few days during the year when people are encouraged to dress up in outlandish costumes and scare the daylights out of each other, and Halloween is one of them. So, if you want to get in the Halloween mood, and get a preview of costumes by the best of the best, this year's collection of haunted houses is a good place to start.

Haunted history

Carnival of Fear, located at Crossroads Mall, is this season's newest haunted house. Billed as Colorado's first Halloween theme park, it includes a carnival, sideshows and concessions in addition to the walk through the haunted house itself.

Designed to resemble a turn-of-the-century carnival turned evil, Carnival of Fear has a spiritual realm as well as a story to go along with it.

The creators tried to follow the story behind 19th century carnivals, said Viva Kellogg, one of the event organizers.

"Monshroud is a spirit, who is said to be alive today, and he runs this carnival," Kellogg said. "He oversees the activities while the spirit of Striker, Monshroud's arch-rival, tries to steal the carnival from him.

"It is a story that has gotten passed down through many generations, and we thought the history of the carnival was important and enhanced the atmosphere. That is why we included it in addition to the actual house."

Ghoulish games

Upon arrival, guests enter into the Midway, a pavilion including games such as "Wheel-o-Misfortune," "Knock Your Block Off" and "Finger Fling."

"You just take this skull and try to throw it at one of the rubber heads to knock it down," said Robbie Lennord, who was playing "Knock Your Block Off." "I tried to play Finger Fling, but it's too hard. You try to throw bracelets on these bloody hands, but they never stay on. It's still fun though." 

Hotter than any salsa

Also in the pavilion are two other attractions: Kid Cyberfire & Robert Wolf - Sword Swallower.

Eric Heater, who plays Kid Cyberfire, is a professional pyromaniac. He has traveled throughout the world lighting body parts on fire and breathing 20 to 30-foot flames. His entertaining inferno can be seen as his flames rise between the pavilions during his performances each night in the Midway.

 

Robert Wolf, one of only 10 professional sword swallowers in the world, amazes visitors by putting a 23-inch, razor sharp sword into his mouth, down his esophagus and into his stomach.

"I taught myself the art of sword swallowing, which is pretty hard to learn and also dangerous," Wolf said. "There is no official history for the art of sword swallowing, which is why it is difficult. It is one of the only secret arts. And yes, I have cut myself."

 

Foreshadow of the future

Other attractions include a magician, a "Spirit of Lights" shop Ð which is guaranteed to chase evil spirits away Ð and a fortune teller who will read your tarot cards.

"I have been reading tarot cards for more than 20 years," said Morgan, the fortune teller. "I taught myself how to read the cards, which is a pretty hard art to learn, but now I can do the three card readings easily.

"One teenager came here last week and couldn't believe how close what I was saying sounded like her life."

When the guests are done in the Midway, they can enter the side shows, or the indoor portion of the event. Covering 19,000 square feet of Crossroads Mall, 20 rooms containing different characters or acts are available for visitors to explore.

Inside, much of the thrill and scare comes from people in strange costumes jumping out at visitors. While entertaining and scary at first, this act becomes predictable by the end.

The aspect that carries the show is the special effects.

Special effects artists Kurt Hopkins and Bill Lemieux have created characters such as Mr. Electro, who magically creates four-foot lightning bolts, and Professor Phlegm who drinks a magic elixir and actually begins to glow.

In addition, gruesome body parts and holograms enhance all of the scenes.

"The special effects were really great," said CU student Susan Walker. "Heads, teeth and eyes really looked like they were missing. The part where they pulled a girl's head off looked so real. I would love to know how they did that."

However, it was not only professionals who were responsible for this event.

"We have over 100 volunteer actors," said Scott Kellogg, the production director of the theme park, who also ran Denver's Scream Street. "They are all people who enjoy doing this kind of thing, getting dressed up and scaring people. In addition we also hired some experienced people who are getting paid, but it is mostly on a volunteer basis."

Event organizers do not encourage children under the age of 12 to attend this event, because of some of the violence included. But, they think people of all other ages will enjoy it.

"I am 35 and a mother of three," said Mary Conelly, who brought her teenage sons. "My sons dragged me here, but I ended up having a really great time. Haunted houses are for everyone."

---