Christine N Rifkin – Author

Back in the 80s and 90s, when horror was really coming into its element, I had the pleasure of growing up in the prime of local haunt creativity.

I remember one of the first haunts I visited – Haunted Hamptons – held at our local park during Halloween. It was one of the earliest times I remember waiting in a long line just to shuffle one by one through the park and get scared by actors dressed as the popular slashers of the day. They decorated park benches with bloody scenes and had moving tombstones along the paths. The limited lighting and ambient forest noises helped to immerse you in the middle of your own horror movie, and as a 5-year-old, I couldn’t be anymore entertained.

A few years later, the first Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando was announced, and in 1993, I had my first experience at an HHN House – Hotel Hell. The immersion was upped by a million times and I even remember getting truly scared when I couldn’t find my way through the house. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, I couldn’t believe what I was experiencing, and once I left the event, I couldn’t believe that I made it out alive.

That was the start of my obsession with haunted trails, haunted houses, and haunted anything. It’s like theater for horror fiends, and I truly love the craftsmanship and creativity that goes into creating these experiences for people of all ages. Between the writers, the scenic artists, the actors, the producers – there are so many hands involved with putting on a truly tremendous and scary event that everyone will recommend to their friends.

Am I thrilled about how popular haunts are now with the new generation? Yes and no. I feel that many people are just going for the sake of saying they went, but the true die hard fans – you are my people. I’m a tough cookie now, and I no longer get as scared as I used to, but I always appreciate when an actor is able to get a jump or a scream from me because, that’s talent. I love the rush of excitement when I walk into a haunted house or trail and I can promise you, I’ll be going to haunts until my heart gives out.