Abundance of hauntings reported in Top of Utah

Source: Standard-Examiner, Ogden, UtahOct.儲存 04--Even the witches and ghouls are suffering in the fallout from this spring's diesel fuel spill at Willard Bay State Park.The spooks of Fright Lights, a drive-through Halloween light display, are moving to the park's South Marina this year as cleanup of the spill continues.The change means a completely drivable visit for guests, as opposed to the wagon rides or walk-throughs offered at the former North Marina venue, says manager Bruce Baughman of Roy."They'll be able to sit in their car and drive through, rain or shine," he says.Fright Lights is one of several Halloween-oriented attractions opening in the Top of Utah, with everything from haunted historic buildings to scary creatures skulking about corn mazes.Fright LightsThe lights will shine over an expanded exhibit at Fright Lights when they pop on Saturday, Oct. 5, at Willard Bay State Park.The venue will have nearly 80 displays, larger than in previous years, says Baughman. Many scenes are animated, he adds."For example, we have The Headless Horseman; he's riding a galloping horse and he throws his head across the way," Baughman says.There's a witch alley and a pumpkin alley, plus some free-standing figures that are illuminated with 3-D lights, the manager says.The scary factor at Fright Lights is on the low end of the scale."The haunted houses, they cater, I think, to older teenagers, young adults. We're trying to be family-friendly," says Baughman, who also helps run the annual Christmas light display at Willard Bay.The manager says it takes about three weeks to set up the lighted Halloween scenes, which make for a different sort of fall outing in the Top of Utah."There's nothing that I'm aware of similar to what we're doing," he says.Besides the drive-through display, located off Interstate 15's Exit 351, Fright Lights includes a hay jump, a straw bale maze and laser tag. Children 12 and younger receive a free pumpkin.* Hours: 6-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday, Oct. 5-30* Admission: $6; $5/ages 3-12.* Information: 801-628-8893Nelson's Corn MazeIf you have any doubts about how challenging this Perry corn maze is, just ask the folks who couldn't find their way out.No, they aren't still stuck in a field of corn, but some of this season's first visitors aren't making it all the way through Nelson's Corn Maze."They wander back the (same) way they come in," says Douglas Evans, a member of the Perry family that operates this seasonal attraction, which opened last weekend.If folks persevere, Evans says, they can certainly find their way out of the 10-acre maze at 2950 S. 1600 West, Perry."You have to find the trails to get through," he says.Nelson's Corn Maze is slightly smaller than last year, Evans says. About 3 acres of land the family usually leases for the event has been lost due to its conversion to fruit orchards.The maze is haunted as soon as it turns dark on Saturday nights, which amps up the fear factor. As Evans quips, "Do you like being chased by chain-saw people?"Now in its 14th year, the corn maze is something families can enjoy, Evans says. "We get quite a few youth groups from the various churches."When folks are tired of running around in the corn, they can enjoy hot chocolate, soft drinks or snack items at the concession stand.* Hours: 6-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 6-11 p.m. Fridays and 4-11 p.m. Saturdays, through Oct. 31* Admission: Weekdays: $5/adults, $3/age 12 and younger, $15/families. Weekends: $6/adults, $4/children, $20/families. Group discounts available.* Information: 435-723-2529, 435-723-6546Carter's Crazy Corn MazeThere isn't anything funny about the clowns lurking in Carter's Crazy Corn Maze.A few creepy clowns are new additions to the annual maze in Garland, and organizer Lisa Carter is sure they will give some visitors a fright."People are scared of them," 儲存倉he says, although, "I always thought them to be happy people."Another addition to the maze is a tractor tunnel, constructed of giant tires that folks can walk through. Add in the usual fog machines, scary music and tents with strobe lights and black lights, and Carter's Crazy Corn Maze is ready for a new season beginning today, Friday, Oct. 4.The 10-acre maze features a truck and trailer design spotlighting the attraction's sponsor, C&R Auto and Trailer in Tremonton, says Carter, whose family is operating the fall attraction for its seventh year.The design includes plenty of twists and turns, and some puzzling paths that run adjacent to one another but may, or may not, wind up at dead ends."You just keep thinking you're in the same spot," Carter says. She adds, "My husband and son, who cut it out, went through it the other night and couldn't find their way out."Located at 700 S. Main St., Garland, the attraction is on the Carter family farm. Campfires and picnic tables are available at the site, and hot chocolate and other refreshments are sold.Each year, the maze sponsors a canned food drive on one night and also raises money for a community member in need, Carter says."I feel that people come and support us," she says, "and we want to give back."* Hours: 6-9 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 6-11 p.m. Fridays, 4-11 p.m. Saturdays, Oct. 4-Nov. 2. Haunted 7:30-10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.* Admission: $6; free/4 and younger. All tickets $4 on Mondays; group rates available Tuesdays and Wednesdays.* Information: 435-452-1886Historic Downtown Logan Ghost TourTheir names alone can start spines to tingling: The Death Wagon Ghosts, The Saloon Murder Ghost, The Vaudeville Ghost.All are specters you may "meet" on the Historic Downtown Logan Ghost Tour, which begins Friday, Oct. 11.The tours, offered on weekends, feature members of the Bridgerland Chapter of the Utah Storytelling Guild and the Cache Valley Paranormal investigators who "resurrect" tales of former residents of some of Logan's historic buildings."The stories are true; whether the person who's deceased is still amongst us is up to your interpretation," says Gary Saxton, manager of the Logan Downtown Alliance, which sponsors the event.The tours begin at the Eccles Theatre, 43 S. Main St., where folks listen to the tale of The Vaudeville Ghost. Guides then lead participants to four other locations, all within a short walking distance: the Lyric Theater (The Ghost of the Lyric), the Bluebird restaurant (The Logan Dramatic Society Ghost), the J.R. Edwards Building (The Saloon Murder Ghost) and the Emporium Building's Copper Mill Restaurant (The Death Wagon Ghosts).Visitors get to go inside the various buildings to hear the stories, so everyone receives a "paranormal pulsar light" on a lanyard that provides lighting in dim conditions. Dessert is served at the Copper Mill stop, and chocolate truffles are handed out at the end of the spooky hunt.Although the second annual event is gore-free and family-friendly, Saxton says it isn't recommended for small children.Most of the stories for 2013 are new, Saxton says, adding, "We're getting more and more ghost sightings and stories, so I think over the years, as this develops, we won't run out of options to entertain our Halloween visitors."* Hours: 7-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Oct. 11-26. Tours begin every 20 minutes and last about 100 minutes; last tour begins at 9 p.m.* Admission: $8. Book reservations in advance online; limited tickets may be available on tour nights.* Information: 435-752-2161 and .logandowntown.org.Contact reporter Becky Cairns at 801-625-4276 or bcairns@standard.net. Follow her on Twitter at @bccairns.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah) Visit the Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah) at .standard.net Distributed by MCT Information Services迷你倉最平