The attraction has operated since 1992. Towering wooden gates emblazoned with skulls greet visitors, a look that recalls folk horror movies like "The Wicker Man." Just inside, two huge bonfires burn. Hundreds of engineers, retail attendants, makeup artists and actors work there.
Little happens in the haunt without director of operations Paul Brubacher knowing about it. He says some designers, himself included, have worked music festivals, and that experience fed the Van Helsing vampire village feel. Every scene has an emergency radio in case an actor has a problem or somebody falls and needs to be evacuated. In a barn behind the scenes, art director and makeup manager Chris Knowles and his team use pressurized airbrushes to turn ghouls, vampires and aliens creepy fast.
The National Retail Federation expects Americans to spend more than $13 billion this spooky season, whether on horror films, costumes, candy or attractions. As much as $300 million to $500 million of that goes to haunts, where people willingly pay to be frightened. Tens of millions of people take part every year.