Rose Quarter Blog

So, from previous posts, we can deduce that I work here at the Rose Quarter.  It’s myself and my co-worker that work closely together; we make videos, post blogs, create contests and promotions, as well as keep you guys updated on what’s going on at the Rose Quarter.  We do other things too, of course, but this is a huge portion of our job.

Yesterday, I was working with some TV crews who were getting footage of FrightTown for their Friday evening newscasts.  In the afternoon, I watched them tape some footage of the FrightTown crew get their makeup done, stood by while they interviewed Baron Von Goolo, and followed as they entered the haunted houses with some of the lights on.  I got to meet the “monsters” as people simply in makeup before FrightTown opened last night, including a conversation with what I can describe best as a “pig-man/mechanic,” who I couldn’t even look at when he had his mask on.  This stuff I could handle with ease, although I really am quite chicken when it comes to haunted house and things of this sort.

I’d been down to FrightTown before during the day, while they were building the houses and constructing the costumes.  The amount of work that has gone into this is amazing, not to mention the quality of construction and performances easily rivals any other haunted house or attraction that I’ve personally visited.  I’m from Florida, so Halloween Horror Nights (at Universal in Orlando) was a yearly tradition for my friends and I.  FrightTown was equally as impressive (if not more, in my own opinion) than anything I ever saw at Universal.

I teased my co-worker playfully, telling him that he needed to get some footage of the haunted  houses for us to use in a Rose Quarter video.  He said, “Absolutely not.”  Neither of us had the courage to go into these haunted houses in the dark, let alone get the experience of us screaming like children on film.  I was busy working with another TV station, so I did what I could to convince him that he needed to do this.  He said, again, “Absolutely not.”  We laughed over this for a bit and then went our separate ways over the span of a city block that FrightTown covers.  The station I was working with got their cuts with Baron Von Goolo that they needed, and then proceeded to move into the haunted house for some footage.  All I can think is, oh man, now I have to go in with them (karma for teasing my co-worker).  The sweet on-air personality that they had sent to do the reporting was also clearly thinking the same thing, I think her concrete grasp around my wrist was what gave it away.

I have never been so scared in my entire life.  I think the worst part was screaming and then realizing that the “monsters” I had just spoken to a few hours earlier were the ones that scared me.  The main thing I hear from people when I talk to them about FrightTown is their fear that it will be “cheesy” and not scary.  This is so far from true.  These people who work at FrightTown have so much passion for what they’re doing that it would be impossible for them to give  a less than stellar performance.

Anyone who is interested in haunted houses and terrifying experiences should definitely check this out.  For more information about dates and times, visit FrightTown.com.  For updates, contests, and tweets follow @FrightTown or @RoseQuarter or add the Rose Quarter as a friend on Facebook.