Haunted Hotel returns to scare you up close and in person

Speaker 1: (00:00)

The haunted hotel has spent 30 years scaring people in San Diego. But last year, the real world was scarier than any haunt and the attraction had to close for the pandemic, but it has reopened to scare you up close. And in-person KPBS arts reporter. Beth Armando speaks with owner Greg [inaudible] about what to expect.

Speaker 2: (00:25)

So Greg, tell me where we are standing right now. We are in the,

Speaker 3: (00:29)

The one of three attractions at the haunted hotels disturbance. This happens to be the haunted hotel portion. It is three different mazes and we are in the largest wine

Speaker 4: (00:44)

And good luck making it out alive.

Speaker 2: (00:47)

How did the haunted hotel cope during the year where events in person couldn't take place?

Speaker 3: (00:52)

So we, uh, we were closed both the haunted hotel and the trail. We did open the screen zone. We had a drive through, you drove through in your own car and it was successful.

Speaker 2: (01:05)

And what can people expect coming here to the haunted hotel disturbance

Speaker 3: (01:09)

We've done is we took the haunted hotel from downtown, which it was there for 27 years. What we have done is brought the whole event here, except we've expanded it. And we have added characters outside on the weekends. We're going to have a pizza trolley. We're also on weekends. We will be having serving alcohol for the first time at any of our events. Yeah. It's going to be an it's a party atmosphere. And then we have three haunts in and as well, you know, so that's what we're, we're going for.

Speaker 2: (01:42)

And what can people expect in terms of kind of the level or types of scarcity?

Speaker 3: (01:48)

We do try to scare you as best. And as, as deeply as we can, we were going for a little scar. We try and scar you just a little bit, but you're never going to get touched or hurt sometimes. Yes, an actor or a scary actor will get so close that they may bump into you, but it's not nobody's ever going to hurt you. You'll be absolutely safe. We do our best to scary.

Speaker 2: (02:13)

And what kind of COVID restrictions are there, if any, do people have to wear a mask to come in with?

Speaker 3: (02:18)

We are kind of taking our lead from every other large company. We are encouraging everyone to wear my. If you're not vaccinated, we, we require that you wear a mask. Our, that goes with our employees as well. We just really encourage people to wear their mouse

Speaker 2: (02:36)

As someone who's been a hunter for years. What is the attraction for you to doing this

Speaker 3: (02:42)

When we're open and the doors are open and you start hearing those first screams, you go, yeah, it's working. And of course it is, you know, but, uh, you still need that kind of reassurance if it is, you know, and just, uh, people, when they come out, either they are laughing or they're crying or, you know, just super excited. And then, you know, you can hear them just talking. None of my Bubba, do you remember this? You know, and that is when you know you've done your job and done it. Well,

Speaker 2: (03:17)

Yeah, I do a home on, and I have to say that the sound of little children running from your house screaming is like the happiest sound

Speaker 3: (03:24)

[inaudible] and you know what? They will remember that they it's a good, it's a good memory. I remember my first haunted house I ever went to, like it was yesterday and I was so scared, but I got out and got back in line. I wanted to do it again and again and again and again. So yeah, that's the part that we just enjoy.

Speaker 2: (03:44)

And what do you think it is that draws people to haunted houses? Why do you think people do like,

Speaker 3: (03:50)

She gets scared? It's an adrenaline rush. First of all, you know, we were talking earlier about people who, the anticipation of it is sometimes just overwhelming. We were used to taking tickets and this grown man just came up, handed me his ticket. He had been in line and then walk straight to his car. He said, I can't take it. I just, you know, and he hadn't even experienced the hunt. It's a lot of it is just right here. You know, what your, what your fears are. And we try and kind of capitalize on that a bit.

Speaker 2: (04:24)

Now we're standing in the parking lot near target in mission valley. So you had to construct everything that is here. So what kind of work went into this? I mean, it's, it looks like it's mainly like flats and stuff that you use to build the maze. So what went into this?

Speaker 3: (04:41)

You know, it doesn't just happen. A lot of people think you start building things and, uh, the week before you opened, no, we actually build, well, we built everything two years ago, three years ago. And then over this last year, we kept building, we built like different new facades and we built new rooms and things like that. We would add things that we didn't have that we wanted to put in originally. So we are working 12 months a year. It's not just the month of October at all.

Speaker 2: (05:13)

And do you have a favorite part of the haunt or you said you have three mazes. Do you have a favorite maze?

Speaker 3: (05:19)

I love certain aspects about each one of them. We have our, our freak Fest, which is a 3d, you put the glasses on and you walk through that always. I'd love just because it's so just disconcerting and it's beautiful too. I mean, these guys are amazing artists and then the haunted hotel is just kind of such a classic for me. And then we have this kill Billy chaos area, which is just, I love the sound inside of it. I know that sounds weird, but it reminds me of my childhood when I was in Louisiana. Yeah. Every one of them has a different thing

Speaker 2: (05:57)

That I enjoy. Thank you very much for talking about the haunted hotel. Thank you, Beth.

Speaker 1: (06:03)

That was Beth Armando speaking with Greg [inaudible]. The haunted hotels disturbance is open through October 31st in the mission valley parking lot. And the haunted trail operates in bell boa park.