The Niles Scream Park, one of Michiana’s most popular autumn attractions, recently completed another successful season at its always changing 44 acre site on Mayflower Road between Niles and Buchanan.
This year, the 43rd consecutive year for running the project, the Scream Park raised over $124,000 for more than 55 area children’s organizations, civic groups and other charities. Proceeds benefitted local school and service organizations including groups such as the Make a Wish Foundation, Boy Scouts, Pets Connect, Positively Dance and the Niles Drama Club. The funds raised also will be used for four college scholarships for local high school seniors.
In addition to the cash donations, the Niles Scream Park supported many local causes, auctions and benefits with ticket donations totaling more than $2,000.
The project included six haunted attractions and provided volunteer opportunities both in construction and operation of the Scream Park. Plans are underway for even more frightening additions in the coming year. Over 22,000 hours were volunteered by over 530 different people before and during its 22 nights of operation to prepare and operate the seasonal attraction.
The year also marked a visit from interior visitor number 1,800,000. Cindy Bowers of Elkhart, Indiana, was the special milestone visitor. She received a gift pack when she visited the Scream Park on Sunday, October 16, 2016 with her friends Brad Russell and Anna Zultanski, both of Three Rivers, Michigan.
The Scream Park broke a Sunday attendance record on October 23 when it welcomed 6,454 interior attraction visitors. The previous annual attendance record also was smashed this year as 112,192 interior attraction visitors enjoyed the shows.
Highlights of the season included a visit from Eileen Dietz the actor who portrayed the demon in the movie The Exorcist and a very popular Black Out! event at the Park on November 4 and 5.
The Scream Park is recognized nationally in the haunted attraction industry. It was voted #1 Haunted Attraction in the nation by voters on the Coaster Nation website for the second consecutive year and was selected as one of the 31 Must See Attractions by the national publication, Haunted Attraction Magazine for the fourth consecutive year.
The Scream Park was ranked as number 13 in this region by Haunted House Chicago. For the third consecutive year, the Haunted House Indy review team name the attraction a “Must See Haunt 2016”. The Park also was chosen as #1 Halloween Activity in the South Bend Tribune’s Readers Choice Awards.
