SCHWENKSVILLE, PA – It’s October and with that comes cool weather, colorful leaves, pumpkin spice lattes, Halloween, and of course haunted houses. Every year, hundreds of brave souls make the trek to one of many spooky residences, be it Eastern State Penitentiary, Pennhurst Asylum, or the common haunted hayride. These attractions bring out all kinds of visitors from the casual group-goer to the seasoned pro. The business of fear has become a true industry with talented actors upping the ante each year to keep terror connoisseurs shaking in their boots. With new additions to the traditional guts and gore, such as CGI animation and robotic monsters, the standard for a successful haunt has been raised substantially.

This past weekend, I traveled to Spring Mountain, traditionally a ski and board slope, which had been transformed into the aptly named Scream Mountain, featuring a haunted walk down the mountain and hayride. After checking in at the lodge, visitors were greeted with a 45-minute wait to board the ski-lift, enough time to hear the blood-curdling shrieks from within the woods and enough time for the faint of heart to bail out, instead choosing to sip hot chocolate by the significantly less spooky campfire. Before I knew it, I was staring down at these decidedly smarter people as my legs dangled, just waiting for the first ghoul to emerge from the trees. The ride had been eerily quiet, that is until we had nearly reached the top of the hill and my friend beside me let out a scream that something had touched her. Turning to look I was met with a gruesome grin about two inches from my face and let out a scream of my own as we reached the top, my feet moving faster than the rest of my body as I nearly fell flat on my face in front of a giggling line of spectators. Scream Mountain had already surpassed my high expectations for a good scare, and the night had barely begun.

After ten minutes in another line, which was just enough time for my heart rate to return to normal, I was pushed to the front of my group through a forest of terror-inflicting “exhibits.” Telling myself that none of it was real, that in a short time I would be back on my couch and safe, was certainly not a tactic that would prove effective on the Mountain. The scares were mainly created by the element of surprise and the fact that we were a captive audience. Experienced actors covered in special effects make-up were at every turn, jumping out with a growl and blocking your pathway as you attempt to sprint down the fear-filled mountain.

The wooded maze finally coming to an end, I breathed a sigh of relief, waiting in yet another line for the haunted hayride. By this point, I was convinced the lines were strategic, allowing visitors to recover in preparation for the next scare. Now, I’ve been on haunted hayrides before and they are generally a bit more relaxed than a typical haunted house, but once again, Scream Mountain proved my expectations false. Going through another round of gruesome set-ups involving a myriad of chainsaws, blood, and gun shots, I admit I spent the majority of the ride cowering in the corner as actors jumped on to the moving vehicle, taking seats next to passengers. One in particular came nose to nose with me. As I inched backward, he inched closer, asking me what I was so scared of, I being unable to utter a response.

At the end of the night, I found myself still shaking, surrounded by friends doing the same, but for some reason we all went on about how much fun it was and that we would definitely do it again. People seem to have a fixation on fear, enjoying the thrill and adrenaline of the experience and providing profits for haunted houses, haunted hayrides and even horror movies. People like to be scared and Scream Mountain put on an incredible performance ensuring that its thrill-seeking customers would depart with satisfaction. Contrary to the ghost-like look on my face exiting the mountain, I would recommend the “Scream Mountain Experience” to all those looking for a good scare this Halloween season.