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Frightmares 2010 reviews.

Frightmares at Lagoon is always a fun time.

We made it out opening night and bring you our reviews of the new attractions for the 2010 season.

New in 2010 is the “Scary and Crow’s maze”. This is for wee ones, not scary, there’s a height limit (over some height can’t enter), and is a companion piece to the Trick or Treat Trail, meant to split traffic between the two. Set up also as a trick or treat.

From 2010 Fun

Talia enters….and first up is the Witch who is “Aaaa scary”…

From 2010 Fun

Talia understands Halloween so well already she is faking scared…it’s rather funny.

From 2010 Fun

Coloring at the scarecrow…

From 2010 Fun
From 2010 Fun

The fairy was easily Talia’s favorite part. Thrilled when she was sprinkled with pixie dust…

Overall Scarey and Crow’s is a very fun Trick or Treat time. However, it ultimately fails miserably in it’s ability to divert traffic from the Trick or Treat lane, and that disparity is in the difference in treats handed out. The likes of spider rings and pictures to color here just can’t compete with cold hard candy.

We were unable to get into the Trick or Treat lane as a result, as traffic was simply insane there.

Also new in 2010 is LOCKDOWN.

This is a “4 spider” rated haunted house ‘too scary for kids’. Themed in a Prison with some demented guards and worse inmates.

This is actually one of the more enjoyable haunts at Lagoon, in my opinion. It actually takes the theme and runs with it in a logical progression from the kitchen, cells, laundry, and on through death row. A few recycled things from Deception last year get tossed in here and there, and don’t fit quite as well as I would like, but it’s always nice to see the top end props as the finale brings.

Alec found this one to be the most disturbing of the night.

From 2010 Fun

Talia actually rather enjoyed it, giving inmates high fives as they screamed and reached from their cells. Too scary….pah….

From 2010 Fun

Returning from last year are 3 haunts.

First is Psycho Dave’s junkyard…however, new this year is a one time through limit. Sure, it got some additions from the now defunct highschool, but I was a little disappointed to see the change. It’s still fun to see all the leftover crap, especially for those of us who remember where they came from.

Next up is Deception. This thing really lacks any kind of theme, and is a jumble of assorted rooms, highlighted by a wax museum of theatrical villains. Kyle found this one to be the most disturbing…which is strange as Talia walked through it on her own fine, not reaching to be held and only occasionally grabbing my leg. “Look daddy, they got BLOOD!” Her seeing my excessive makeup for the lab prior to it melting off seems to have rendered her more immune to the stuff on others.

I was rather disappointed with this one myself, but I’m not a fan of the random crap thrown into a house kind of haunt to begin with, so I’m a bit biased. And, they DID get Kyle jumpy.

Finally comes the long standing Funhouse. Talia’s LEAST favorite among them. She has most definitely developed a fear of clowns.

Mostly showing off effects with the 3d glasses, this is more fun than it really is scary. (unless you hate clowns) The inclusion of a chainsaw is a little odd choice. It also racked up the longest line by a long shot early into the hours of darkness.

All in all, I still say Lagoon is the best bang for your buck for Halloween fun in the local area.

Atmosphere just simply can’t be overstated.

From 2010 Fun
From 2010 Fun
From 2010 Fun
From 2010 Fun
From 2010 Fun
From 2010 Fun

Demons by dusk.

So.

You travel around here in Utah for any length of time, and sooner or later you will come by a witch, a devil, a demon. It seems all shapeless rock formations in Utah are named thus. Witches, Devils, Demons. For a long time I was curious just what those Mormon Pioneers were thinking with naming such rock formations.

Then, I began to look for Spider Woman. The Navajo believe that to seek Spider Woman is to find her, as the threads she weaves touch everything. And here, it was, as well. Spider Woman, creator of these Witches spread about Utah.

From 2010 Buildup

Simple rock and earth formations.

To make the long story short, it is told thus:

One day, the evil creatures of the nether regions, tired of living in the dark and dank, decided to dig up to the surface and take over everything above and below the earth. They dug and the ground trembled and rumbled. The people knew they needed otherworldly assistance, and sent a medicine man to visit Spider Woman. Seeing the plight of the people, and knowing this to be a pure man, she agreed to help, and sent this shaman to visit the god of the North.

When the shaman returned to confront the demons, Spider Woman came down and let out her web, holding them in place. The Shaman then called to the Northern god, who let out ice upon the land, freezing all these demons. When spring came, the Ice had been replaced by earth and rock, and all the demons still stand struggling to free themselves to this day.

I had intended to create some stone formations for some time, and had been pondering just how to go about it. But, random stone columns littering the lawn is one of those things that really doesn’t reach out and grab your attention. Especially when you do not know this story. So, they have been on the lower end of the priority scale for some time.

Then, I was watching South Pacific. There, in one of the scenes, there was, in the background, these wood/stone pillars with masks on them. Something clicked. Why not place faces on these stone demons?

Monster mud to the rescue.

From 2010 Buildup

What do you do when a base is not fully dry yet? Why, rope the thing to the car to it don’t tip over.

From 2010 Buildup

And, all lit…Demons by dusk.

From 2010 Buildup

Now, for reasons too complicated to relate here, I couldn’t bring these into the garage for fear they would get ruined…and, I didn’t want to fear for wind blowing them over…so, they are presently staked out front for the neighbors to ponder over.

From 2010 Buildup

They need to have a good dry brushing on top of this base, but I’m presently debating just WHAT to do that with.

They would make fabulous pieces for the black light area, so fluorescing paint is a potential here. Yet, they would make a lovely alternate to some other things I was planning on, with more traditional lighting as well.

Need to whip up some more monster mud and make some more friends…