Monday, October 6, 2008

The Dragon's Eye Kids Go on a Field Trip!

We start the evening out by stopping at Kum N Go to get gas and to get slushes for the kids. Everyone got new "BOO CREW" shirts -- this year's color is "Green!" (...and a BIG THANK YOU to Jerome for getting our shirts ready in time for our field trip!! I know he had to put a rush on them and he didn't let us down!! THANKS JEROME!!!! :o)
Russ pumps gas while the kids fight over what truck they'll be riding in on the way over to Waterloo .... and no EVERYONE cannot ride in Dani's truck .... somebody needs to ride in the black truck with Russ and I. SO .... once we got that figured out ..... we were off. ....but then since everybody bought HUGE slushes it wasn't long before we had to all stop and pee. We stopped at a Kwik Trip in Waterloo that was kind of spooky itself --- but we all went to the bathroom and we all made it out of there alive and were off to our first REAL haunted house!
Our evening started out by heading over to Evansdale to visit Harris Haven (Horrid Hollow Productions). Pictured from left is Kelly, Jamie and her daughter (from Horrid Hollow), Nick (in back), Taylor, Taryn, Rachel, Bob the Clown (from Horrid Hollow), Kasi, Dani, Nick, Sam, Zach, and Steve. Not pictured is Russ who is taking the picture! :o) This year Gary has added a second story to his haunt and has increased the time taken to walk through. Even though they've added stairs to the haunt, they were very easy to maneuver up and down. I have trouble going up and down steps but had no issue in his haunt. The only drawback on this one was there was a short area where you must get down and crawl and I really can't do that with my bad leg so I missed a great part of the haunt -- the forest. They've added that this year and I heard from the rest of the kids that the monster in there was the best they've seen. This is a favorite haunt of ours that we visit each year and is definitely recommended by all our actors! Click on http://www.horridhollow.com/ for more information and directions.
After we got done screaming at Horrid Hollow, we all traveled over to Osage Road to "The Heart of Darkness". (*Pictured above is - front row: Taryn, Taylor, Rachel, and Nick -- back row: Kelly, Kasi, Zach, Sam, Nick, Dani, and Steve) The kids were really impressed with this one. Kevin and Dolly have gone all out this year and have included a live band out side in their line up area ....booths selling t-shirts .... concession stand .... outdoor television ..... this seems more than just a haunted house. There is a lot of entertainment going on at this location. LOTS of people coming in and LOTS of people staying to listen to the band LOTS of activity everywhere. Everyone agreed -- these guys know how to scare AND entertain people. I liked that there was a lot going on. Click on http://www.entertheheartofdarkness.com/ for more information. We HIGHLY recommend everyone attend this haunt this year!!
.....and then the gang went over to Front Yard Fright in Waverly. Click on http://www.fourthyearoffear.com/ to read more about Zach's home haunt. He's worked really hard converting his garage and yard into a pretty scary area! The kids were all really impressed considering Zach is still in high school and does this all himself!!
(Pictured in back row is Zach F, Nick (behind), Taylor, Sam, Taryn, Rachel, Nick, Zach W - owner of Front Yard Fright - standing next to Kelly, front row is Steve, Kasi, and Dani) -- and then the whole gang headed over to McDonalds in Waverly for a late night snack. Kasi bought all the Apple Pies they had .... Sam and Taylor bought out all the Pumpkin Pies .... everyone had a great time. We headed home after a very looooon night of screaming.

The Big Monster is Hung!

The big monster is up in the entryway! This guy takes us FOREVER to hang up cuz he's got to go so high in the rafters and both Steve and I are really bad up on ladders. --- but we got him up there and he looks GREAT!!

Justin and Amanda Come to Help

Justin and Amanda drove up all the way from Ames on Friday afternoon to help work on the haunted barn. They worked for several hours putting together Chainsaw Alley at the end of the haunt. Many of you may remember Justin as "Mr. Insano!!"

Creepy Crawlies In The Spider Room ....

The spider hallway is getting spookier and spookier. The cobwebs and the ceiling is on -- this one is done and it is CREEEEEEPY!!