Haunts give heebie-jeebies

Helen Navejas, an actress at the Fear Fest haunted warehouse, has her ghoulishly veined makeup painted on by Amanda Richman. Navejas is one of 35 actors and robotics haunting Fear Fest. Located at 72nd and L Streets, it is in its first year of operation.

By CHRISTINE GIEFER
Assistant Scene Editor

Halloween may be creeping up on you this year, but there is still time to treat yourself to the tricks of haunted houses in the area.

Omaha is filled with Halloween attractions that can spook your socks off. 

Scary Acres features many haunted attractions including a forest walk, a haunted castle and a journey through its stalks of terror. There also is the haunted house on a hill, a new addition this season. Scary Acres appears to be in the middle of nowhere on 17272 Giles Road — a perfect atmosphere for haunting its visitors.

Don’t let its location in a strip mall turn you away from The Shadows Edge, located at 3457 S. 84th St. As soon as you step inside this mazed dwelling, one of Shadows Edge’s residents will be sure to startle you. 

From butchers and children prisoners to Santa Claus gone mad, the actors live to sneak up on unsuspected guests. Beware of chainsaws — these creatures are not afraid to use them.

Stop by Mystery Manor at 716 N. 18th St. It’s just a few steps from campus. Being cold in a line doesn’t have to scare you away — its monsters stay busy by giving you a preview of horror while you wait to enter. Many actors have been disturbing Creighton students since the birth of this haunted theater in 1984. Some find this old brothel to be literally haunted. 

Many of the actors claim to have encountered ghosts. Heather Hannaford, fourth-year actor at Mystery Manor, recalled seeing an unknown blue light travel around her when she was alone on the second floor.

“Sometimes I won’t go upstairs alone,” she said. “You get cold feelings around the house.  It’s pretty weird and cool.”

If you’re brave enough, take yourself through this two-story place. Finish it by taking a trip down its spooky slide. Be careful, though. It may be too scary to walk back to the residence halls. Taking a trip to Mystery Manor will do more than create nightmares; some of the proceeds go to Prevent Blindness Nebraska.

If you’re interested in getting a big group together, Ranch of Terror is a place to consider. It is located in Bellevue off Highway 370 and 48th Street. Ranch of Terror provides private bonfires for groups to stay toasty throughout the night.

Hop on a hayrack ride through a haunted forest, or go through its haunted house. If you’re feeling brave, dare to venture through its haunted Indian caves.

You don’t have to burn a hole in your wallet to get terrified this Halloween. Tickets range from $8 to $15. You can plan on going to these attractions any evening from now until Halloween. They open at dusk, and most run throughout the night.