Halloween attractions strive to scare
Monday, October 12, 2009

By:
Holly Leber (Contact)
For anyone visiting the Chattanooga area’s myriad haunted attractions during October, it may be wise to keep some spare pants on hand.

“We’ve had people lose control of their bodily functions,” said Tim Green, co-designer of this year’s Haunted Cavern at Ruby Falls.

Mr. Green and his partner, Todd Patton, are co-owners of the Fear Connection, a Hixson-based haunt company. The two have designed the Haunted Cavern for the past four years.

A new attraction this year is the Haunted House on Broad Street, housed in a former mortuary, Crombie’s Funeral Service. Actual death equipment — coffins, bodybags and an autopsy table — are incorporated into the tour through the rickety, 100-year-old building.

“Here’s where the fluids ran down through this hole into a drain,” said owner and haunt enthusiast Dan Laymon, of an autopsy table seemingly covered in blood. The imitation-blood art is done by Chattanooga area artist Tommy Payne.

Mr. Laymon said the history of the building helps set the Haunted House on Broad Street apart from other Halloween attractions.

“Do you know of another haunt attraction within 500 mlles that’s an actual mortuary?” he said.

Mr. Green and Mr. Patton strive to set themselves apart as well, by conjuring up a new terror scenario each year.

At the Haunted Cavern this year, visitors will descend deep into the vault of the Wyrmwood Asylum, where the area’s most psychotic criminals were kept by Dr. Kilgore, according to an elaborate backstory. The doctor, Mr. Green said, would study the most disturbed inmates rather than try to cure them.

“(He would) remove their eyelids, just to see how sleep deprivation would affect them.”

For each haunt they design, Mr. Patton and Mr. Green create a detailed story, but you won’t see a lot of wandering skeletons or ghosts shouting “boo” from these two. They like keeping it real, so to speak.

“Someone who is in a straitjacket or a little psychotic is something that can happen every day, unlike vampires,” said Mr. Patton. “A lot of people don’t like crazies.”

The other show is on May 16th from 5:30 pm till 8:00 pm at Michael’s Fine Arts and Framing in Dalton, Ga.  I will be showing a selection of abstract work and Dennis Sprinkle will be showing his nature photography.  Admission to that show is free.  Wine and light hours dourves will be served.  Michael’s Fine Arts is located 1/4 mile off of Walnut Avenue on Dug Gap Road.  Take I-75 to exit 333 and go East on Walnut Avenue approx. 1 1/2 miles to the intersection of Walnut and Dug Gap.  Turn at the Walgreens. 1325 Dug Gap Road.  any Questions call (706) 278-8840.