Less than an hour away from the University of Indianapolis lies Indy Scream Park. Celebrating its 15-year anniversary, community members can enjoy multiple attractions and horror experiences until Nov. 2.
According to the Indy Scream Park press release, the park showcases six different attractions: Lockdown, Backwoods, Zombieland: Unchained, Kilgore’s 3D Circus, Nightmare Factory: Blackout and Zombie Paintball Assault. Of the six attractions it provides, five of them are included in the general admission ticket with all-night access, according to the ticketing website. According to HR Manager and Vice President of Haunt Production Aubrey Stone, there is something at Indy Scream Park for everyone.
“We have indoor and outdoor attractions,” Stone said. “We offer a midway with games, food, drinks and actors out there to interact with you even if you’re not going through the haunted houses. It’s a really fun experience for all ages because whether you’re scared of clowns or zombies, there’s a different experience in each haunted attraction for a different scare value.”
The indoor attractions at the park are Lockdown, Nightmare Factory: Blackout and Kilgore’s 3D Circus, Stone said, with the other three being outdoor. She also said the outdoor events available to patrons include a half-mile walk through Backwood, a post-apocalyptic walk through Zombieland: Unchained and a war experience of fighting off the undead through Zombie Paintball Assault. Zombie Paintball Assault is an additional charge not included with general admission that varies based on the paintball package they choose.
Zombieland: Unchained Deputy Manager and Scare Actor Shelby Eacret said she is a scare actor first and foremost. Although her experience is oriented towards Zombieland, she said the scare actors, especially in the open space outside the attractions, are there for people to see characters they are familiar with along with some unique ones pulled from the attractions.
“The characters you see in Midway, the variety is a lot,” Eacret said. “… What we like to do is get a little bit of everything, so we have a zombie with a military uniform, which people can link to Zombieland, and we have a bunch of really cool characters out here that you won’t see except for in the other haunts.”
Participants 18 and older looking to have an immersive experience are able to visit two of the attractions, Lockdown and Zombieland: Unchained, and opt into wearing a glow-in-the-dark necklace that allows the actors to interact with them directly. This may include separating them from their group and touching them.
“I love the interactive attractions,” Eacret said. “I think they give the most scares. I love the intimacy of stealing someone away from the group, and it’s my favorite. I love seeing the reactions, and I love seeing how much fun the actors have doing it.”
For those with deep fears of varying terrors, Indy Scream Park’s website has information on all of the attractions, so attendants can avoid anything troubling to guests. Additionally, Stone said all of the actors are trained in recognizing the needs of the parkgoers and are ready to help anyone panicking or in distress. In terms of safety, Stone said they employ police officers for security, and no weapons are allowed on the premises, with bag checks at the entrance.
Overall, Stone said the employees hope to leave you entertained, whether that is through a laugh or a scream. Starting Oct. 6, the park will be open every day of the week, with longer hours on the weekends. Anyone interested in going to the park can visit its ticketing website, find it on social media @indyscreampark or sign up for its e-newsletter.
