Title: The Beast / The Edge of Hell
Description: There is no way people can complain of having nothing to do in Kansas City during the fall. There is plenty to do in the haunted house capital of the world, starting with two of the nation's top fright fests: The Beast and The Edge of Hell. Nestled in downtown's historic West Bottoms District, these haunted houses offer plenty to tantalize the senses and play on your wildest fears.
Scaring the shoes off people since 1991, The Beast is deemed the largest haunted house in America. It pioneered the "open format" structure in haunted houses, which means that in several parts of the house there is no guided direction and you have to find your own way through. The Beast is themed around medieval times and those mystical aspects. The highlight of The Beast is the sprawling 10,000-square-foot werewolf forest. Complete with fog and lurking monsters, getting lost in the forest could turn your trip inside this haunt from an average 45 minutes to an hour and a half.
Patrons who are brave enough to enter The Beast will also encounter a swamp filled with hidden dangers, Jack the Ripper's London complete with torture chambers, and a dark four-story slide at the end of the house that's a straight drop to the bottom.
Just one block from The Beast is The Edge of Hell, often called "the granddaddy of all haunted houses" and "one of the best haunted houses in America." The Edge of Hell is Kansas City's oldest haunt, having been in operation since 1975. Full Moon Productions owns both The Beast and The Edge of Hell.
Amber Arnett-Bequeaith, vice president and co-owner of the 32-year-old family-owned business, explained the idea behind The Edge of Hell.
"It's based on the idea that in everyday life you make choices. Will your choices send you to heaven or to hell?" Arnett-Bequeaith said.
The Edge is a dark, claustrophobic space filled with witches, snakes, vampires and other creatures that walk the line between good and evil. The courageous who duck, crawl, run and feel their way through the about 45-minute experience will suddenly find themselves in heaven. Then the five-story, dark spiraling slide plunges you back in hell with the devil itself.Neither The Beast nor The Edge of Hell are suitable for pregnant women, those with health conditions, or people with serious phobias. Wear good fitting shoes, because chances are that you might run right out of them. Also, it would be best to leave your cell phone in the car and securely store your car keys, because you may lose them both due to the very physical environment that you'll be immersed in.
The Beast and Edge of Hell employees have been waiting all year for a chance to terrorize you, so why not head down to the West Bottoms for a frighteningly good time?
"Nowhere else can you go and enjoy something with absolutely no alcohol involved," Arnett-Bequeaith said. "This is the only place where you see 15-year-olds still holding their parents' hands."
The Beast is open weekends "until the fog lifts in the werewolf forest" and The Edge of Hell is open until "Hell freezes over," which is usually around the first weekend in November for both.
Tickets cost $20 for either house or $33 for both and includes a hay ride as transportation between haunts. For more information visit. www.kcbeast.com or www.theedgeofhell.com.
blane@unews.com
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