SCarowinds 2011

Fall conjures up many images; bright colored leaves, cooler temperatures, and screams of kids being chased by chainsaws.  Many of us fondly remember local haunted houses sponsored by civic clubs and local businesses that brought on the Halloween spirit.

While many of those local haunted houses are still around, some amusement parks have stepped up now offer haunts of their own.   For the price of just a couple of individual haunts, the amusement parks offer half a dozen or more haunted houses, mazes, and other scares.  If you find enjoyment in being startled and aren’t appalled by some blood and gore, they are well worth your time and
money.

Carowinds is no exception.  They go all out to make this an exciting experience.

Their name lends well to easily transforming the park into Scarowinds with lots of scares and excitement while maintaining their traditional character.

Even before the sun sets, you start to settle into the mood of what is to come and there is a lot to see.  It’s actually better to get
there right when Scarowinds opens so you can enjoy the atmosphere.

The makeup artists and costumers do a great job with the actors.Getting there during daylight allows you to see more of them than you do
after dark.

It’s not all about scares.  There are quality shows that get you in the spirit.

With that being said, there are plenty of scares to be had.We found The Asylum to be the scariest and most disturbing of all the
haunts that we went to.

As darkness falls, the atmosphere changes into something ghoulish.Fog lingers from machines strategically placed around the park and the
addition of lights from Snoopy’s Starlight Spectacular really adds to the effect.

Even the Skytower is not immune to being transformed into something creepy.

You need to take in the whole park (Planet Snoopy is closed – this isn’t a kiddie event) to get the full effect.  Around every corner is something interesting.

There are 8 mazes and haunted attractions to choose from as well as 3 scare zones.  Some are more frightening than others but all of them are fun and provide a nice balance to your night.

You should take your time strolling around the park because there is a lot to see.  Enjoy the moment, more so than this guy who periodically gets electrocuted.

Rushing around can cause you to miss some of the décor that the staff has painstakingly put in place.

If haunts aren’t for you, there is still a reason to come.Many of the rides are still open and riding in the dark brings a whole new perspective to the experience if you haven’t tried it yet.

If you are thirsty or hungry, there is plenty of food and drinks to be found.

Even the entrance plaza takes on a new look and feel. Beware, though, that you can only enter Scarowinds once per night.  Once you leave there is no coming back.

The hearse outside the entrance serves as a reminder.

If you enjoy an occasional startle and some mild to moderate scares, you should mark a trip to Scarowinds on your calendar.  It is open
through Halloween and is sure to please!