In a nation searching for cheap thrills and scares, the North Carolina area has got something to offer: haunted houses. These are not your father’s haunted houses of old, with a few people waiting here and there to pop out of a corner and scream. No, these are much more; take for example Kersey Valley in High Point.
This ‘House’ is an extensive corn maze, hedge maze, and mansion, all laden with professional Hollywood actors. According to its website, Kersey Valley is the 6th ranked scream park in the nation and always has something new to offer; the park changes every year.
The park has become so publicized that it is being featured on the Travel Channel in their series titled America Haunts, and another called America’s Most Haunted, both airing at the end of October.
Brooks Bennett, former Leesville student, attended Kersey Valley this year. “[Kersey Valley] was crazy! I was the first person to arrive, and I had to drive five hours to get there, but it was worth it. It was probably the scariest thing I’ve ever done, I almost wet myself! The Original Hollywood Horror Show was better though.”
The second haunted house that Bennett was referring to is located in Snow Camp, North Carolina, near Chapel Hill. The park claims that it is “[t]he only Haunted House produced by true Hollywood filmmakers.
Those two would be Dean and Starr Jones, who have been coming to set up this establishment in Snow Camp since 1989, and it has grown in popularity each year.
The Hollywood Horror Show also claims to have the most realistic actors located inside the haunted house, ready to terrify the unsuspecting guests; Bennett agreed loudly with this.
Not all students partake in the haunted house traditions, however. In a random survey, only 20 percent of Leesville students were planning on attending a haunted house this year.
Zack Lutrario, senior, was one of these students. “I just don’t like them, they scare me man. I used to go but the people kept touching me.”
Rules are in place in most of the haunted houses to prevent people from physically touching you, which keep the haunted houses safe, but still reasonably terrifying.
Whether people are attending these haunted houses or not, they are undeniably a part of North Carolina history, as well as Halloween tradition that people from all over the state partake in.
Will Bennett is a remarkable staff writer who was recruited from his early days. In fact, before Bennett could even speak, the Mycenaean took serious interest in him. While many consider this practice to be unethical, the Leesville editors disagree. Alex Stewart claims that his contributions to the staff have been “Pullitzer Prize” worthy.
In addition to his writing, Bennett enjoys animals, Freshberry Frozen Yogurt, Hip-hop music, and long walks on the beach. He can often be found on his seaside estate composing original music, writing moving poetry, and balling with old basketball greats like Larry Bird and Michael Jordan.
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