By Foster Guns, Staff Writer

Halloween has a special place in many people’s hearts. From trick-or-treating to being chased by someone dressed like a zombie, there’s always a way to get into the Halloween spirit.

Unless you’re worried about catching a deadly virus, of course. But this year, Halloween scares at Wicked Woods and Busch Gardens are back in full swing.

Wicked Woods, formally known as Wanchese Woods, has been a staple of Halloween on the Outer Banks since 2013. Despite COVID-19 restrictions, the staff at Wicked Woods still managed to give sophomore Brooke Tomlin a good scare at last year’s visit.

“Before we even got into the trail, there was an actor in a swamp monster costume. He chased me and I face-planted,” Tomlin said. 

The beginning of the trail is always the scariest part of the attraction. It’s pitch-black because your eyes haven’t adjusted to the darkness yet. Then, out of nowhere, someone bangs on a drum and a bunch of characters jump-scare you. The “fun” continues from there, with creepy clowns lurking at the next stop, contortionists with flashing strobe lights crawling at you, a desperate hospital patient laying on a gurney begging to be helped…

While some might think working for a haunted house may be an odd job, it can be very rewarding, especially for actors like Logan Elkins. 

“I’ve worked here my whole life,” Elkins said. “My favorite part of working here at Wicked Woods is scaring people. It’s so much fun.” 

Just like many other businesses on the Outer Banks, Wicked Woods is understaffed, said co-owner Amy Elkins. 

“We have just had to have the actors step up their game, because there aren’t going to be two to three people per set like normal,” she said. 

For thrill-seekers who don’t mind a longer drive, Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg is an extremely popular haunted attraction that many people flock to every October. Howl-O-Scream has five terrifying haunted houses along with actors walking around the streets, so you never know when you’re going to be scared out of your mind.

Sophomore Evan Calhoun attended Howl-o-Scream earlier this fall and enjoyed roller coasters during the day before the park started delivering scares after dark.

“We got there and tried to get in as many rides as we could before 6, when Howl-O-Scream begins,” Calhoun said. “We’d gotten the food, and once the haunted houses opened, we went through all of them. My favorite haunted house was the diner because the sets were so unique and I thought it was really well done.”

Senior Porter Braddy also liked old diner haunted house the best. In the kitchen, Braddy said people were getting cut up as food, while in the dining room, there were trash bags full of body parts sticking out from the ceiling.

“I don’t get scared a whole lot, but there was a random plant that you wouldn’t think would be in the diner – I didn’t see the guy in the ghillie suit right next to it and he jumped out,” Braddy said. “That was the only one. The rest of them weren’t that scary.”

Still, Braddy was happy to have spent the day on roller coasters and then enjoying the spooky stuff at night, especially after last year.

“I really like Halloween and last year there wasn’t a whole lot to do for Halloween,” Braddy said. “I like scary stuff. It was really fun.”

Sophomore Foster Guns can be reached at 24gunsfo54@daretolearn.org.