Taylor Corley, Campus Carrier arts and living editor
Mya Sedwick, Campus Carrier staff writer
October has officially begun and “spooky season” is upon us. There is no better time than now to wear crazy costumes, eat too much candy, watch scary movies and visit haunted houses. This season only rolls around once a year, meaning Halloween enthusiasts should take advantage of all the hair-raising fun Rome has to offer while it lasts.
The most popular activity in Rome this time of year is the Gates of Misery haunted house. This two-story, 100 year-old building is located at 174 Chatillon Road and uses live actors, special effects and props to give visitors a terrifyingly real experience. This year’s theme is “The Void.”
“For years there have been rifts torn between this universe and others that have given many dark creatures access to our world,” the Gates of Misery’s website says. “Those monsters have wreaked havoc, but now a new portal is opening. The Void is a place of darkness and horror and carnage.”
The haunted house is open every Friday and Saturday night, Sept. 27- Nov. 2 as well as Halloween night. Tickets are $20 and go on sale at 7 p.m. but are not sold after 11:00 p.m.
Another thrilling option is Bloodwood Trail, an event that has been mixing old fashioned Halloween scares with Rome’s abundance of wooded areas for the past decade. Bloodwood Trail provides a unique experience for visitors by hosting the hauntings outdoors rather than inside of a warehouse. Workers do their best to combine elements of fear and excitement by coming up with a new, interactive themes each year. A few years ago, participants had to defend themselves against zombies by using laser tag guns.
While the trail is designed to scare young people and adults alike, the terrain of the trail may be more suited for those who are more active. Each year a bone-chilling theme sends even the bravest of souls darting down the trail.
Broad Street is also bringing back their haunted tours this year. The tours are 90 minutes long and led by the Southern Paranormal Investigators, the SPI Crew. The SPI Crew is a paranormal research group founded by Barry Caudle and Chris Lanham in 2007. Their main purpose is to assist those who are experiencing paranormal activity.
Along with giving tours, the SPI Crew will be talking about the latest in paranormal research equipment and techniques and sharing experiences from their most recent case studies.
The tour’s online description mentions that the path includes steep slopes, uneven pavement and a lot of walking so comfortable shoes and clothing are suggested. The tour is not recommended for children under the age of 12.
Tours on Broad start Oct. 4 and are every Friday and Saturday night at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. until Oct. 12. Ticket are $10 per person and the proceeds benefit the Myrtle Hill- Oak Hill Memorial Association. Tickets are available online or at Georgia’s Rome Gift Shop and Visitor Center.
A less scary Halloween festivity for those who are not a fan of jump scares and ghost stories is trunk-or-treat at Garden Lakes Baptist Church. Berry College Volunteer Services is partnering with Garden Lakes to host a candy-filled event for children around town.
“It’s really fun if you get super into it,” senior Sam Kreps said. “One year a group of kids from Berry dressed up as Pokemon villains and had the kids throw Pokeballs around. Everyone really enjoyed it.”
Students who choose to participate will be asked to decorate their cars and come up with games for the trick-or-treaters to play.
“There was a cookie decorating station one year,” senior Bobby Kreps said. “A little girl took a big bite out of a cookie she had piled a glob icing onto. She offered me the rest and I couldn’t say no.”
The trunk-or-treat is on Oct. 26 from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Any size trunk is welcome and students should sign up to volunteer early in order to plan a theme for their car.