Set along the swampy shores at the south end of Lake Tohopekaliga, there’s an abandoned drive-in filled with curiosities, dangers and mysteries that come alive in the dead of night. On the island of Manhattan, a mass has formed, creating zombie-like creatures and terror in New York.
At least those are the stories guests are given when visiting Scream n’ Stream and Tunnel of the Damned, two new Orlando-area Halloween attractions. The former is a new drive-through haunted attraction at Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures in Kissimmee, while the latter presents a more traditional haunted maze within the Orlando Forum on International Drive.
Teams of Halloween aficionados, designers, artists and Halloween Horror Nights refugees have come together to craft these haunts from the ground up, moving from concept to opening night in a matter of weeks, rather than months.
Here’s a first look at these new haunts.
Following orders
At Tunnel of the Damned, visitors are greeted by a military sergeant, who barks orders to stand on red Xs on the ground. Groups moving through the maze are limited to eight or fewer members, a modification in light of COVID-19.
A video with Lieutenant Rodriguez explains the situation at hand and reminds new recruits to keep their masks on, among other ground rules.
In the case of Scream n’ Stream, a drive-through haunt, an entirely different set of rules is at play. After all, safety is paramount when dealing with vehicles rather than guests on foot.
Face masks are required when car windows are down, the maximum speed limit is 3 mph, drivers are not allowed to take photos or video and honking or revving engines are prohibited activities.
Performers won’t stand in the roadway, touch vehicles or scare drivers while they’re moving. In many scenes, a red or green light gives direction on when to stop or go.
Spooky stories
During Scream n’ Stream’s journey through a “Night at the Die-In,” guests are exposed to a host of crazy characters in a cult, and they’re looking for fresh meat to serve as sacrifices.
“These high school kids want to go and party at the abandoned drive-in, then it turns out there’s this band of cult members gathered, kind of a la Manson’s ranch,” said Michael Burnett, who oversees props, makeup, prosthetics and costumes at Scream n’ Stream.
Tunnel of the Damned’s storyline details a mysterious mass surrounding Manhattan and the zombie-like creatures it has created.
“Two weeks ago, in the westbound lanes of the Lincoln Tunnel, a portal opened up. So the military has been sending scientists and soldiers through and nothing and nobody has come back,” said Patrick Braillard, one of the creative minds who helped produce the maze. “Our job is to find a way out, off the island. What you encounter there is that a tear has happened in our dimension and it has leached into the citizenry on the island.”
The scare factor
Part of the challenge for the creative team behind Scream n’ Stream was crafting an experience that contained the same scares found in the cramped corridors of a traditional haunted house, Burnett said.
“We try to add a little scare with some distractions … The overall thing was trying to give people really cool visuals,” he said. “We’ve tried to create more of a show, a theatrical kind of thing, as opposed to a bunch of scares.”
The scares aren’t too jumpy, and those less fond of surprises might enjoy this experience from the safety of their cars. There are a lot of gory visuals to appreciate during the roughly 20-minute experience, including severed body parts, bloodied props, a wood chipper and set pieces that are larger than life.
Tunnel of the Damned gives horror fans a louder, more jumpy experience almost reminiscent of a Universal Halloween Horror Nights house — after all, co-creators Patrick Braillard and Kim Grommol are HHN veterans.
Some performers are set behind plexiglass or fencing, but some zombie-like creatures have holes to pop out of and curtains to hide behind. The scares might be easier for actors to achieve with individual pods of people walking through.
How they’re not HHN
These new attractions worked with a timetable unheard of for most professional haunted experiences. While the planning for Halloween Horror Nights usually starts a year in advance, Scream n’ Stream came together in two months, while Tunnel of the Damned had just six weeks to take shape.
The I-Drive haunted maze differs from HHN houses in that it will morph twice during its run.
“About 10 days into the operation of the haunt, we’re going to flip from what we’re calling phase one into phase two. It’s the second act of a three-act show,” Braillard said. “We are going to change the aesthetic, adding and subtracting things from the actual house. And we’re going to change the way in which you experience the house as you travel through it.”
Tunnel of the Damned’s second iteration will be called “City Overtaken,” which will eventually transform into the finale, “Apocalypse.” The idea is to keep dedicated fans coming back for new scares, something made possible by a season pass.
At Scream n’ Stream, the drive-through haunt offers a new type of car-based experience that was previously uncommon. Scaring guests from the safety of their vehicles isn’t an easy feat, but the visuals throughout the drive are sure to stun.
Haunted hangouts
Each of these attractions offers extras to entertain fans with treats before or after the tricks.
Scream n’ Stream visitors can explore offerings on the lakefront patio of Boggy Creek. Find non-alcoholic drinks and spiked beverages (off-limits for drivers and those under age 21), light bites, merchandise and visits from the Fog Queen.
Families can experience a “Drive Boo Trick-r-Treat” trail during daylight, with kids receiving candy from socially distanced stops. Families can also take a ride on “the only haunted airboat tour in Florida” during a 20-minute jaunt on the lake, complete with ghost stories and nocturnal wildlife, including alligators.
Visitors to Tunnel of the Damned can grab drinks and hang out on Orlando Forum’s patio with an option to feast on ribs or pulled pork sandwiches from Git-N-Messy BBQ.
Foodies can also enjoy a side of frights while attending The Dark Seance, a haunted dinner hosted by “Claire Voyant.” The 90-minute experience features four courses and possibly goosebumps.
If you go
Scream n’ Stream is open Friday-Sunday Sept. 25-Oct. 31 at 2001 E. Southport Road in Kissimmee. Tickets for the trick-or-treating drive and the haunted house start around $56 per vehicle. Airboat tours cost $25 per person. A portion of proceeds will be donated to Second Harvest Food Bank. Learn more and buy tickets at screamnstream.com.
Tunnel of the Damned is open nightly Oct. 1-31 at 6362 International Drive in Orlando. Tickets cost around $20 for a one-time pass, $30 for a day pass or $80 for a season pass. The Dark Seance runs Tuesday-Sunday Oct. 1-31, and tickets cost $87.50 each. Learn more at orlandoforum.us.
Find me on Twitter @PConnPie, Instagram @PConnPie or send me an email: pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com.
