‘Scaregrounds’ brings Oaks Park visitors brand new Hallowe’en thrills
Published 12:00 am Sunday, October 27, 2024
- In the “Graveyard Shops” area, Jenny Fontana – who runs a business called “Morbid Merry-Go-Round” – showed some of unusual art she makes and sells. There was also a “creepy sideshow” near these Hallowe’en shops at Oaks Park.
In October, people who were looking for the complete “Hallowe’en experience” – including three terror-inducing haunted houses, roaming creepy monsters and fiends, startling special effects, and creepy “sideshows” – made their way to Oaks Amusement Park to experience “ScareGrounds PDX”.
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Located at the north end of the property, near the famed Oaks Roller Rink, “ScareGrounds PDX” – created by Vendetta Productions – assembled world-class haunted house sets and an unrivaled cast.
“For 2024, we unveiled our newest attraction: ‘The Forbidden Fortress’,” announced ScareGrounds PDX Director Stefanie “Lethal” Shahvar. “This fantasy/medieval-themed haunted house was a cursed castle in which wizards wielded dark magic, dragons lurked in the shadows, and ancient curses came to life!”
This season, a total of 57 cast members were inside, and roaming the grounds outside, of the haunted realm, she said.
ScareGrounds PDX is carefully planned by the producers long before it opens each October, Shahvar said. “During the year, we create new themes for the haunted houses and sideshow. Then, we do our casting in mid-August, with several characters in mind – but we are also open to folks bringing their own ‘terrifyingly entertaining’ characters to show off!”
The other two Main Attractions were “The Silver Scream” – a decrepit movie palace, where infamous horror cinema villains were unleashed; and “Slayers” – a lair of modern-day monster-hunters doing what they do best.
In addition to these three “Haunted Houses”, there were also “Sideshow Attractions”, in which could be found a blackout maze, a “Selfie Museum” – and vendors at “Graveyard Shops”, among other things. And we use the word “things”…advisedly.
“A bunch of us drove up from Eugene to be here, and we weren’t disappointed,” commented U of O student Alexis Jacobson. “It’s scary-good fun!”
This issue of THE BEE may have arrived in your hands before the end of October, in which case you might still have time to go to Oaks Park with the family to enjoy this year’s “Scaregrounds”. But be aware that some of these spooky attractions are probably not suitable for young kids! Also be advised that these productions have admission charges (most visitors feel they are worth it); and that nonprofit Oaks Park itself now charges for parking in its large parking lot complex.
If you haven’t visited “Scaregrounds”, get a taste of what thrill-seekers find and experience when they visit – and get a peek backstage – in this brief and exclusive BEE VIDEO! – https://youtu.be/pLCEy4ZF3eM