Haunted Forest

[Rob]

I just got off the phone with the owner of The Haunted Forest in Franktown, CO, and I finished adding their haunt's info to the Extended Area section on HauntedDenver.com.

If any of you are looking for a road-trip haunt this October, this one (from what he says) sounds really cool. If I understand correctly, Franktown is somewhere in the vicinity of Castle Rock, Elizabeth, etc. and this haunt is set in a very real, very large forest that is apparently quite scary in the dark, with or without monsters and props. This is their second season, and I'm told they had a very successful debut last year, all based on word of mouth and without spending a penny on advertising.

He was explaining to me how to get there, and it involved back-country gravel roads, parking in the meadow, and "winding around to the forest." I'm already scared, if for no other reason than it sounds like one of those places that if I were to become lost, no one would ever be able to find me.

I doubt we'll review it since it's outside of our normal radius, but I am at least going to have to see it for myself to see if it's as cool as I'm hoping it is.

[robokatt12]

Careful, Rob- It could be a trap.
Say, that'd be a cool idea for a horror film. Some psycho sets up a fake haunt in order to lure a group of unsuspecting thrillseekers to their doom! The methods of mayhem could all revolve around all of those haunt cliches that we know and love.
The killer is probably a disgruntled former haunt owner who got really low ratings.
Heeheeheh!

[SChaser783]

Sounds cool, I was always hoping for an outdoor haunt in the mountains or some other heavily wooded area of the front range. Hopefully I can check this out too.

[redskittle007]

I really want to check this one out!

[Big Perm]

I guess that's another on the list I'll need to check off now.

For those in the Know, Franktown is south on HWY 83 south of Parker and Castle Rock but if you're planning on doing a Mind Seizure tour and thinking this is on the way it's actually probably 45 minutes north of Academy Blvd so hitting both would make a long night.

[moodeous]

Woah I&#39;m totally in, sounds unreal! http://www.octoberlounge.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif We should bring a video camera and see if we can reenact some Blair Witch Project!

[Big Perm]

I was just WAITING for someone to say that! http://www.octoberlounge.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[Rob]

And with that, let me introduce you all to Kristy (aka screenname moodeous), one of our new haunted house critics for the 2006 season. http://www.octoberlounge.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

And yes, sounds VERY Blair Witch to me.

[jasonbach]

A haunt in the woods?! Count me in as well. although if I disappear in the middle of it, I am most likely just going to be messing with you guys. and now, with my dumb luck, I really will disappear in the middle of it and never be heard from again. great....

[Rob]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (::jAson:: @ Sep 20 2006, 10:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=686)</div>
A haunt in the woods?! Count me in as well. although if I disappear in the middle of it, I am most likely just going to be messing with you guys. and now, with my dumb luck, I really will disappear in the middle of it and never be heard from again. great....[/b]
Everyone, meet Jason, another one of our new critics. http://www.octoberlounge.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[moodeous]

http://www.octoberlounge.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif ***Clapping and Cheering for Critic Team!***

[redskittle007]

Hey new critics! I am happy that ya&#39;ll made it. My name is Susan AKA redskittle...either will work. I love Haunted Denver, and if Rob likes ya then you must be at least a little cool http://www.octoberlounge.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif I ususally just read posts, but occasionally like now, I will contribute...I am probably one of the biggest HD fans here...just ask Rob :-P Anyways. GLAD TO MEET YOU AND WELCOME!!! I am excited to get to know ya&#39;ll a lil bit better!

[moodeous]

Thanks Suan! I&#39;m thrilled to be here. Many thanks to Rob and the team for brining me on. http://www.octoberlounge.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[robokatt12]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (moodeous @ Sep 21 2006, 10:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=698)</div>
Thanks Suan! I&#39;m thrilled to be here. Many thanks to Rob and the team for brining me on. http://www.octoberlounge.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/b]

Congratulations, Kathy. Did they forget to tell you about the hazing process for new critics, though? It involves marshmallows and spankings-or so I&#39;ve been told. Have fun!

[WelchWitch]

Congrads Mood and Jason! Look forward to meeting you both when you come to Scream Park. Rob....who are the other 2 critics that you selected? Are they afraid to talk to us? We are harmless for the most part. Just tell them to forgive all the drama that angel can create....lol http://www.octoberlounge.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif http://www.octoberlounge.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

[moodeous]

Witch, not everyone has the luxury of spending their entire workday surfing the internet as I do! But I&#39;ll make sure there is extra Marshmallow hazing for those other guys. But it should be known I WILL NOT PLAY CHUBBY BUNNY, seriously some woman choked and died at a Chubby Bunny Marshmallow contest earlier this week!

Chubby Bunny Death! (http://http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2006/09/15/marshmallow-death.html)

[redskittle007]

WOW! Are you serious! I didnt know Chubby Bunny could be deadly...kind of scary actually...anyways. Your welcome Kristy....I enjoy meeting new people, especially the people who will be telling me which haunts are the best http://www.octoberlounge.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

[Big Perm]

Okay this thread got off topic and I&#39;m going to try to reign it back in:

I know I just said I wouldn&#39;t go out of my way to cause trouble and I don&#39;t think that I am but...

I just caught wind that this one is going to have a $20 cover. As an industry man told me, if you are paying more for a haunted attraction than you would for a movie ticket, drink and popcorn you are most likely paying too much.

As for me (living in North Denver) taking the time to drive the 45 miles and then pay $20 is a little tough to swallow. Not to mention that for me, working through a difficult schedule to get friends to go with anyway, we&#39;re limiting ourselves to just one attraction. I&#39;m not meaning to detract people from going just saying that this is a little too consuming for me and I&#39;ll most likely end up leaving HD to give the end all review for it, no matter how great the idea sounds.

By the way, I was wrong about the location, if anyone is interested Franktown is only 11 miles SOUTH of E470 on Highway 83 (Parker Road). This would be a GREAT spot to hit if you live in the Douglas County vicinity or south Arapahoe County.

[Luv2BScared]

I am really excited to get out and see this haunt!! This sounds like just my cauldren of brew if you will!! The creepier the setting the happier I will be! I am always looking for a good haunt that lets your imagination run wild...that&#39;s the best scare you can get is your own fears creeping in on you!!!

[SChaser783]

I wonder how many marshmallows she had in her mouth.... I think my friend got like 14 or something.

[Rob]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Big Perm @ Sep 21 2006, 04:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=712)</div>
I just caught wind that this one is going to have a $20 cover. As an industry man told me, if you are paying more for a haunted attraction than you would for a movie ticket, drink and popcorn you are most likely paying too much.[/b]

Okay, key piece of that is "industry man." People in the haunted house industry are funny, because they will tell you they&#39;re the only ones who know anything about this industry, that it&#39;s completely different from any other industry, and some of them won&#39;t even effect good business practices -- but they&#39;re ALL experts, by their own proclamation. So if I had received that platitude, I would take it with a grain of salt.

That said, I do cringe a bit at a $20 price tag. But they&#39;re not the only one.

Just for fun, here is a listing of extended Denver area haunts, sorted by price (and then in alpha order). Keep in mind that these are regular price, single-haunt admission prices, without taking into consideration any discounts that are offered, or any additional perks that come with the price of admission. This is strictly how much would it cost to get you through the gate of this particular attraction.

$49.99 Brutal Planet ($44.99 admission, plus $5.00 admission to haunt)
$44.99 Screams ($44.99 admission to park)
$20.00 Haunted Forest
$20.00 Terror in the Corn
$17.00 Battle of the Haunted Houses
$16.00 Haunted Field of Screams
$15.95 13th Door
$15.95 25th Hour
$15.95 Alien Terror
$15.95 CarnEvil
$15.95 Curse of Slaughterhouse Gulch
$15.00 13th Street Manor
$15.00 Primitive Fear
$15.00 Realm of Terror
$15.00 Scream Park
$14.00 Field of Corpses
$14.00 Murray Massacre
$13.50 Frightmare
$13.00 The Alien Zone
$13.00 The Asylum
$13.00 Mind Seizure
$13.00 The Sick and Twisted Zone
$12.00 Haunted Mansion
$12.00 Spider Mansion

[SChaser783]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rob @ Sep 22 2006, 10:42 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=739)</div>
Okay, key piece of that is "industry man." People in the haunted house industry are funny, because they will tell you they&#39;re the only ones who know anything about this industry, that it&#39;s completely different from any other industry, and some of them won&#39;t even effect good business practices -- but they&#39;re ALL experts, by their own proclamation. So if I had received that platitude, I would take it with a grain of salt.[/b]

Agree, take it with a grain of salt. But they are the ones out there with their heads on the chopping blocks, ultimately it is their risk, and if they&#39;ve been in business several years, they must be doing something right.

[titan]

I agree with the $20.00 price tag and not sure if I would go if that was the only thing you are going to get. Some of the higher price haunts or the top 4 price haunts do privide extra stuff for that admission price.

i know that Terror in the Corn has all the corn mazes and other stuff besides the haunt. What do the others have beside the haunt?

Also keep in mind all the discounts that are available for different haunts like Rob mentioned. I know that most have coupons that save at least $2.00 and for Terror in the Corn my sons baseball team has tickets for $14.00.

Is there a list of Discounts to better see what the cost would be per haunt with a discount?

[SChaser783]

Haunteddenver and scared.com both have discount sections, though neither have been updated as of yet.

[Rob]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tye @ Sep 22 2006, 10:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=740)</div>
Agree, take it with a grain of salt. But they are the ones out there with their heads on the chopping blocks, ultimately it is their risk, and if they&#39;ve been in business several years, they must be doing something right.[/b]
Of course, and I didn&#39;t mean to say that the rule-of-thumb that Perm offered was incorrect, or that whoever said that was a know-it-all.

What I first sensed (probably incorrectly, but it&#39;s what started that tangent for me) from that advice was just the mentality I find in many of the I&#39;ve-Been-Haunting-For-Decades experts, which is that they become so convinced that they know everything that they subsequently decide they&#39;ll just "stick with what works" and not branch out into any new territory.

And I definitely didn&#39;t mean that the more expensive haunts have anything that the less expensive haunts have. Some of my favorite haunts come out in the lower spectrum of the price list.

Honestly, if I were running a haunt, I would probably try to price it high enough to be credible, but still on the lower end of the spectrum so that the largest number of people possible could see it. Obviously if the cheapest haunts are $12, if you make yours $5, people will wonder what&#39;s wrong with it. But if I could price it at, say, $13, and have more people come than if I had priced it at $20, then who can say -- I might have still turned a larger profit with fewer people paying $20 each, but I would rather have more people actually coming to my attraction.

That said, I&#39;m not automatically opposed to expensive haunts, either. If executed properly, a good 15-minute haunt that scares the hell out of me for $20 might be a better value, to me, than a 45-minute haunt that bored me for $10.

[Big Perm]

I think you interpretted it correctly Rob and you are right, too many people get caught up in their "my way is right" mentality because of their experience but it seems to me that they are often correct when it comes to the fundamentals and that simply stems from that experience. I think $13-15 is a good benchmark for a cost of a haunt and once you get into the $17+ frame you should be getting a better quality show and that has repeatedly proven to not be the case.

Just look at the top haunts from last year (by HD ratings):
Frightmare - $13.50
Scream Park - $15.00
Field of Corpses - $14.00

And the poorer ones (by HD ratings):
Brutal Planet - $49.99
Alien Encounter - $17.00* (*not sure on price of this one)

[Eric the Grey]

Back on topic... http://www.octoberlounge.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

This particular Haunt sounds like the one I&#39;m going to hit this year. I generally can only afford one or two each year, and this one sounds just different enough to make the trip.

I&#39;ll have to see if I can get a group of friends to carpool down to see it.



http://www.octoberlounge.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif Eric the Grey

[redskittle007]

LOL dont you love how this community likes to get off topic. We are all so scatter brained it hilarious... http://www.octoberlounge.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif