The Curse Of “The Haunt”
Want to play with the monsters?
Almost thirty years ago, some friends and I, as well as the man who would become my husband, worked the Knott’s Scary Farm Halloween Haunt. “The Haunt,” as we called it, is an annual fright fest, attended by thousands of Southern Californians looking for a creepy night out. We all got to work as monsters in one of the “haunted” mazes. I wrote about it here.
After we got hired, we attended a couple of training sessions to learn how to be proper monsters. These sessions included the usual administrative stuff like instructions for showing up on time and for playing well with others.
They also relayed to us that The Haunt was cursed in two very minor ways:
- It always rained (poured) at least one night during the course of the event.
- Someone always got hurt.
The training representative suggested that we purchase ponchos or some other covering in order to protect our costumes and makeup. Although we would have trailers to take breaks in, getting to and from them could get ugly.
Then he suggested several stances and maneuvers to protect our bodies, particularly, the twig and berry parts, from terrified guests. Scared people tend not to pay attention to what their knees are doing and can kick without thinking.
He went on to explain that it was mostly the “street monsters” that had to worry. Those were the guys out in the open randomly scaring people as they walked by. They wore body armor as protection and were seasoned athletes and actors. Most of them had done the job for many years and knew what to expect.
Maze monsters, like us, had it easier. Since security was all around inside the maze, the likelihood of being significantly assaulted was minimal. My friends and I didn’t perceive any huge threat and looked forward to our assignment as evil clowns in the Haunted Circus attraction.
After our first week, we got pretty comfortable in our roles. We figured out the best hiding places to wait for unsuspecting guests inside the maze, and a few great places to eat while on break inside the park.
During the second week, as foretold to us, it rained HARD. One night, we figured it was raining too hard to get food during breaks, so we ate before our shift and brought the leftovers into the trailer with us. That night, we treated ourselves to a funnel cake with boysenberry and whipped cream topping. As far as amusement park food goes, it was to-die-for.
The weather didn’t deter the guests and our maze was overflowing with bodies. Scared people jumped at each other to get away from the terror, and security had its hands full.
About twenty minutes into our shift, I heard a scream that sounded like someone in excruciating pain. I looked over and saw my future husband bent over while a guest leaned over him apologizing profusely. Purple, mushy, liquid covered the wall and ground in front of him. Ah, I surmised, the funnel cake.
Again, as foretold to us, he had scared the guest so badly that the guest kneed him right in the family jewels, causing profuse vomiting and dizziness. Security and I helped the poor guy out of the maze to a place where he could sit and recover.
On the way out of the maze, I overhead another guest exclaim, “Dude, did you see that monster spew? It looked so real! The special effects in this place are righteously awesome!”
Ever since our stints as monsters, I’ve paid attention to the weather during The Haunt. There hasn’t been one year since we participated in which it didn’t rain at least one night of the event.
I can’t tell you about injuries though. At least there hasn’t been anything in the local papers of any importance. But, based on our experience, I’m sure there are a few folks walking around with bumps and bruises.
Working The Haunt was one of the best experiences of my life and I would highly recommend it for anyone wanting to do something out of the ordinary. It paid too.
But, if you try it, I would highly recommend not eating before your shift and to pay close attention to your private parts. You wouldn’t want to be the one to experience the annual curse.