Shanley Hotel Paranormal Investigation

On May 25th, we will be participating in a private paranormal investigation at The Shanley Hotel in Napanoch, NY. This haunted hotel was built in 1895 after the original hotel (built in 1845) burned down to the foundation on March 18, 1895. The Inn is comprised of 35 rooms, a hidden basement room, secret passages inside closets, and a former bordello.

"Upon entering the Bordello, people have reported feeling lightheaded, shortness of breath, heaviness and feelings of joy/sadness. The 'Bordello' is considered the most active place in the Hotel." - The Shanley Hotel

We look forward to sharing our experience with you. Make sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to Live Chat and Receive Photo Updates on our Paranormal Investigation.

Have you visited The Shanley Hotel?  Tell us about your experienc in the comment section below. 

Additional Information

• Official Websit
• Facebook Pag
• Twitter Feed
• Read more about the history of The Shanley Hotel here.
• Book your own overnight stay and paranormal investigation for $85 per person.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="960.0"] A Postcard of The Shanley Hotel from 1906.[/caption]

REVIEW: Lakeville Haunted House

Lakeville Haunted House
28 Precinct Road
Lakeville, MA

It's a crisp autumn night, when I pull up to the former Ted Williams Camp, to visit Lakeville Haunted House. Despite being early November, the Haunt is on in full effect: the parking lot is full, a DJ is spinning to a crowd of dancing teens and the aroma of spooky concessions wafts through the air. Delightful. I love to be surrounded by fellow haunt lovers, all dying to stretch the Halloween season a little longer.

I am really excited. Lakeville Haunted House is the first haunt we've visited that is entirely non-profit. All of the proceeds are donated to scholarships and local charities. In their '21 years of 'blood and tears,' Lakeville Haunted House has raised a monstrous $200,000 for the community.

 

Is It Scary?

According to their Official Website: “No matter where you turn, you can feel the eyes of someone or something watching you. A snap of a twig, the rustling of leaves, the howling wind and screams of fear fill you with fright as you travel through the twisting, turning maze of horror.”

The Raven and Black Cat says: Lakeville Haunted House explores many different themes and phobias for your terrifying pleasure. If you tremble at chainsaws, run from clowns, and are afraid to walk through the woods alone then Lakeville Haunted House will definitely scare you.

 

What We Love

I love that they have embraced their roots by starting out with a Crystal Lake-inspired camp section. Lakeville is a rural area and there’s nothing scarier than running through cabins and seeing Jason slowly approach your group. 

The fabulously creepy clown maze had a ton of disorienting effects and hidden doors; my group got stuck on multiple occasions trying to find the exit. The troll blocking the path, was my favorite character. When I asked him what the toll was to pass, he whispered, “Your Soul!” and proceeded to 'suck my soul' with conviction. It was a fantastic touch. The drawbridge is another great and unexpected effect.                

 

What Could Be Better

Children are absolutely terrifying in a haunt, and the little kids at Lakeville were some of the best actors we’ve seen. Unfortunately, the teenagers were significantly less intimidating, especially when they broke character to say hi to their friends that were attending the haunt. Haunted attractions that rely on a volunteer staff have to work with what they’ve got, but you can increase the intimidation factor by placing teens in a victim role and employing detailed masks or makeup.

Everyone loves a good chainsaw scare, but when there’s a chainsaw around every corner you lose the element of surprise and it becomes banal. Try exploring different power tools like drills, angle grinders, or dental equipment - they’re just as threatening, but will vary the experience and keep your audience on edge.

 

Final Thoughts

If you're looking for a traditional walkthrough style haunt in the woods, you should definitely pay a visit to Lakeville Haunted House. It explores all the basic horror themes, features original handcrafted sets and costumes, and enthusiastic actors. There are a lot of scary elements, but you don’t have to worry about anyone touching you and it’s not so terrifying that your kids can’t enjoy the fun too. Lakeville Haunted House is a fun-filled family-friendly attraction for a good cause.  

 

Lakeville Haunted House 2012 Season

October 19 - November 3

 

Ticket Information

General Admission: $15.00

(Anyone with a military ID can get in free!)

 

Age Requirement

No age requirements are specified.

 

Additional Information

• Official Website
• Facebook Page
• Twitter Feed
• Youtube

 

Happy Birthday, Edward Gorey!

Today is the 88th Birthday of the late, great Edward Gorey.  The macabre writer and artist known for his ghoulishly illustrated books. Our personal favorites are The Gashlycrumb Tinies and The Doubtful Guest.

Celebrate his birthday by paying a visit to the Gorey Store for a vast selection of Gorey collectibles or plan a visit to his home in Yarmouth Port, MA. The Edward Gorey House has been a museum since his death in 2000 and will reopen with a new exhibit on April 18, 2013.

Visit GoreyStore.com today and use coupon code: DOODLE for 10% off orders of $35 or more.

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REVIEW: Slim Chance's Chamber of Horrors

Slim Chance's Chamber of Horrors
5750 Sunrise Highway
Sayville, NY

 

Step right up to Slim Chance’s Chamber of Horrors! It’s easy to scare people in an abandoned asylum or warehouse, but creating an unsettling environment in a strip mall is an adventurous endeavor. Haunt veteran, Marty Arominski has done just that. What Chamber of Horrors lacks in atmosphere, it makes up in spirit.

When we arrived, we were elated to hear blood curdling screams as two zombies chased a teenage girl through the parking lot…at a full on run. Moments later, a chainsaw wielding clown ran through the crowd, eliciting another round of shrieks. Chamber of Horrors is filled with a cast of demonic characters dying to scare you over, and over and over again.

 

Is It Scary

According to Proprietor Slim Chance: “We have sights and sounds to thrill you, entertain you, entice you and ultimately leave you and your gallant party of friends and family, screaming, begging, pleading, running for the exits in terror and crying for the very mothers that birthed you!”

The Raven and Black Cat says: Chamber of Horrors is a faced paced, carnival inspired haunt bathed in blood and loaded with disorienting effects and startle scares. If you’re afraid of clowns, spiders, living dead, and can’t help but scream when things go bump in the night, than this is the haunted house for you.

 

What We Loved

The clever set design allows for multiple points of entry in each room. Instead of lingering after a scare, the actors rush off, creating a glorious wtf moment. Before you can process what just happened, they’re back again for more, sometimes following you through multiple rooms. The heavy use of strobe lights is disorienting and sets you up nicely for startle scares from porcine demons, crazy clowns, and blood thirsty zombies. Favorite moments include a pitch black maze of directional arrows, a Long Island housewife dying to feed us a home baked fetus and a silly sing-a-long rendition of Highway to Hell.

 

What Could Be Better

We would love to see a unifying theme or story line to tie the rooms together. Character development is always more effective when the actor has a very clear idea of who or what they are portraying. A few characters at Chamber of Horrors had fabulous depth and detail, but many of the actors just screamed in our faces, which is ineffective and irritating. Come up with a story for each room and a background for the characters in it. When the actors know exactly what’s happening and what their objective is, then they can react to the audience as they enter instead of relying on a set script or constant volume. Some of the most unsettling moments can come from just a whisper.

The caged mad doctor throwing entrails is a brilliant idea; the effect will be perfect when you dye the wash cloths dark red to look like bloody  flesh.

 

Final Thoughts

Chamber of Horrors is an evil carnival loaded with startle scares, hair-raising creatures and dizzying effects. The weekend after we visited, Attius Plaza hosted an actual carnival surrounding the haunt with rides, games and food. The combination of the two events makes for a perfect Halloween celebration.

 

Slim Chance's Chamber of Horrors 2012 Season

October 5 - November 4

 

Ticket Information

General Admission: $15.00  |  RIP Fast Pass: $20.00  |  Timed Tickets: $25.00

 

Age Requirements

According to the official website: "This attraction was not designed for very small children. It’s up to parents to decide if their kids are mature enough for The Chamber. If their age is in single digits and you hope for more, give this careful consideration."

 

Additional Information

• Official Website
• Facebook Page