Hello Guys and Ghouls!!!

 Well the move is finally over. It took nearly 3 weeks to get everything done but now its done. Finally!!!

 Since it took me so long to get everything moved I have not had time to focus on the haunt. Much less work on it. In moving there were also a few things that got left behind. My scarecrow I had nearly finished and my 10' reaper frame already encased in the wire. But it's ok!!! I can try to get them back and if I can't I will just start them all over again. I don't give up easily. And just because something got left behind does not mean all hope is lost.

 In the meantime I am once again looking into a new location. A location closer to my current home and closer to town. I think a higher traffic area is the best way to go. If we have to go with the old location - so be it. But I am shooting for a new one, lol.

Happy Hauntings . . . Tina

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Hello Guys and Ghouls!!!

 Now that the year has officially begun its time to start thinking about getting started. As many of you know we had some troubling issues with our location last year. Those issues prevented us from having our haunt. But this year we have decided to take back our location!!! We have decided that it is truly the best local and we simply cannot allow it to slip away.

 So with that in mind we have constructed a plan to handle all the issues from last year; including the snakes. We certainly learned a lot over the 2007 season that will greatly help us out through the 2008 season. Visiting other haunts was fun but only reminded us of how much we would rather be hosting our own. This year we have devised a plan to make our haunt not only longer but more exciting than ever.

 Though we had planned to do a theme of twisted faerie tales we are strongly considering changing those plans for 2008. Our fans have asked us to bring back our mad deer hunter Earl. They have missed him in a big way from what we are told. Until visiting other haunts we weren't even aware Earl had a fan base. We are aware of it now and can't wait to get started.

 Some of our plans to bring Earl back to life include expanding the graveyard to cover the entire first section of the trail. The graveyard is to be filled with many motion activated props, air cannons and live actors. Living statues comes to mind here, lol. other areas will also be expanded to allow more space for guests to roam or even touch objects in scenes. We had a pile up of guests on the ground in our chainsaw scene due to narrow path way in 2006. This time around we want to give them an open area to run in without the worry of a second pile up. More chainsaws are planned for this year. Who knows - there may even be a wandering chainsaw that no one will ever know where it may turn up - not even me, hehe.

 Well thats all the tidbits I'm going to give at the moment. Just know that we plan to bring Earl back for the fans in a huge way. I'm off to get started on the new script, scenery and prop ideas. I promise to keep you informed and up-to-date. Now where did I put that Reaper frame last year, lol.

Happy Hauntings!!!

 Tina

Ps . . . Thanks for the idea Mad Labs!!! The garbage bag contest gave me the coolest idea ever. Big hugs!!! 

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Hello Guys and Ghouls!!!

 Its funny how fate has a way of twisting around on you sometimes. My family and I have been discussing the idea of moving back to the mountains for quite some time now. We have only gotten serious about the idea over the past couple of months. I have spent countless hours looking for a place and had almost given up hopes of ever having my haunt again. That's when fate stepped in.

 I had stopped looking for a place to haunt to find a place to live. I wasn't even thinking about haunting. I was too busy focusing on where, when and what all we have to pack to move. Last night everything changed!!! While surfing the rental ads we found a place that is too awesome to pass up. Its an old farmhouse built in 1902 with a 100 acres. As a haunter how could I pass up the opportunity!?! I'd be crazy - right!?! Lol!

 We are taking a trip over Thanksgiving weekend to check it out. I am hopeful but not going to get my hopes up just yet. After all the place does have one major downfall - one bathroom - lmao. Like I said before its funny how fate has a way of twisting around on you. But at the same time I remember the past "too good to be true" places. So until I see it first hand, walk the land and smell that sweet mountain air I'll keep asking myself if its real.

 Happy Thanksgiving  . . . get stuffed, hehe

  Tina

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Hello Guys and Ghouls!!!

 After a much needed break and computer issues I am finally back. I didn't think I would make it back before Halloween but I did. Talk about a happy dance, lol.

 Anywho - I have spent some time visiting other haunts and found I cannot go anywhere that I am not known. Everywhere I go people run up to me and ask about my haunt. No matter where I go there is always someone looking for me. I can't even go to Myrtle Beach without someone saying, "Hey! You're the one with that trail. Where is it going to be this year?" It breaks my heart to give them the bad news but at least I can tell them to look for it next year. At first it was very disheartening. Then it became quite annoying, lol. Now it just gives me hope for next year. I refuse to lose sight of my dream. And those who know me know that I do not give up easily. My haunt will be up and running next year if I have to ward off snakes to do so, lol.

 In the meantime I plan to visit more haunts, continue working on props and moving forward in whatever ways possible. I hope that I can even make the time to visit a convention or two along the way. I won't make any promises but I'll keep my fingers crossed. I am newly inspired, ready, willing and most definately able. I will work harder now than ever before and that is a promise.

 So hats off to those having haunts this year, to those I have visited this year and those who will continue next year. The work is not easy, something always goes wrong and things never go as planned - but you know what??? That's what makes haunters such a special breed. Because we know how to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and try again without taking it out on the world around us. And that is exactly why I am proud to be known wherever I go. Because its those who seek me out that make it all worth while.

 Good luck to everyone Halloween night. I wish each of you the very best show ever.

Happy Haunting . . . Tina

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Hello Guys and Ghouls!!!

 I have now had the chance to go visit the shopping center and see what's what. With permission from the owner, even though the price is too high, I took some officials in to check the building out. When I said the price was too high I didn't know how right I was until my trip with the officials.

 As it turns out the building will have to be completely rewired from one end to the other. None of the smoke/fire alarm systems work; including the overhead sprinklers. The roof is in need of major repairs and they found lead paint inside the building. I wish I could say it got better but it doesn't.

 After we finally made our way to the bathrooms we found the plumbing to have some really major and disgusting issues. Not only are most of the fixtures broken but the septic system has been backed up into the bathrooms for quite some time. Sewer gases almost knocked us down when we opened the door.

 So here we are back at square one all over again. Do I give up now??? Of course not!!! But it does make me wonder if I should go back to my original location and fight for it. Take it back and hold onto it as tight as I can. This would mean I will have to get rid of all the snakes but that is doable.

 I'm not exactly sure at this point what I will do. I know that I will have to do something very soon if there are any hopes of getting the haunt running for next year. Right now I'm just too disgusted and need time to ponder. I'll let you know where we decide to go from here.

 Tina

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Hello Guys and Ghouls,

 Today is a very sad day for me. I have just been notified of an accident involving one of our haunted trail actors. Travis, 18 yrs old and pictured below, was in a serious car accident and has a very long recovery ahead of him. Travis suffered head injuries, broken arm, broken ribs and a severed spinal cord. His progress has been slow but steady. Travis has suffered amneisa and has no recollection of the accident.

 Even though I am shaken up my thoughts and prayers are with Travis and his family today.  Such a young man with his entire life ahead of him. He was lucky to have survived but he still has a long struggle to endure. We will be sending our love and support to him for as long as he needs us and then some.

 Tina

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Well I can officially say that one of the locations - not the shopping center but it was a discount store once upon a time - is crossed off the list. I went to visit the location and was so disappointed that I almost walked right back out the door.

The first thing you see when you walk in is well over half of the ceiling and roof in the floor. The black paper over the windows and doors prevent you from seeing this until you walk in. These crazy people want someone to pay nearly a million $$$ for a building that is falling down!?! I looked right at the Realtor and said - my exact words - "Not in this lifetime nor any other. Next!!!" - Then I did walk right out the door, lol.

So on to look at the shopping center. I will be going there next week. I sincerely hope to find it in much better shape than the last building. I'll keep you guys posted!!!

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Hello Guys & Ghouls!!!

 As you all know I have been looking into new, indoor, locations for my haunt. I have searched all over and found something that caught my eye by chance. It is an old shopping center that has been empty for quite a while. It's right in town on a very busy highway. I would have to relocate my family but I'm open to that, lol. I will let you know more later on. Just wanted you to know I have not given up, hehe.

Happy Hauntings . . . Tina

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Hello Guys and Ghouls!!!

 I have fussed and worked and worried over this tombstone long enough. I have repaired this thing so many times I was ready to just burn it. I ended up remudding, repainting and spraying with poly. Wouldn't ya know the very next time it rained we saw the exact same damage. So once again I found myself cleaning the chips away and wanting to burn them. Luckily my son was here and had a really good idea!!!

 I saw how I had used "Great Stuff" to make my crypt last year. He suggested that instead of trying to mud all over again I use the Great Stuff on the tops. His suggestion was to use the foam to create vines on the sides of the stones and nearly overgrown with vines across the top. This may be the best idea for these stones yet. If now I can just get the foam to play nice, lol.

 I'll let you know how it turns out . . . Tina

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