The nationally renowned Niles Scream Park is ready to officially start autumn by scaring the “yell” out of you with seven different haunted attractions. This year marks the 47th consecutive year of their annual fright festival. The gates will squeak open on Friday, September 11th, and be open on the remaining Fridays and Saturdays in September. Beginning in October, the Park will be open all weekends (Friday, Saturday and Sunday). And don’t forget their Black Out event–only on Friday, November 6th and Saturday, November 7th.
The Niles Scream Park is not just scary, it is considered by many to be one of the top haunted attractions in the country. Certainly one of the largest, the Niles Scream Park offers 44 acres of blood-curdling fear! Unlike other haunted houses, Niles rebuilds each room of all three interior haunted houses each year to provide you with completely new and unique shows. The professionally designed sets and ingenious scare-tactics led the Niles Scream Park to be recognized by Haunted Attraction Magazine as one of the “Top 31 Must-See Haunted Attractions” nationwide for the last six years running!
For those with the courage to tour all seven attractions, here is the line-up for 2020:
Niles Haunted House – The largest and most popular of our attractions, it has been with us since the beginning! Before you even get to the massive house, you must make your way along a lonely, winding path with shaky bridges over dark ponds, foggy patches through trees and a completely blacked out guard building.
Once you get into the house, there are over 100 different paths through the attraction and it is impossible to see it all with less than seven trips. Each year the rooms, theme, sound effects and scares are changed to provide a fresh show. In 2020, you will experience several scary stories intended to be told in the dark!
After you’ve made it through the main House, you still have to survive the “back swamp” which also has its own scares and monsters to frighten you.
The Basement – BREAKING NEWS! Police are stymied in the investigation of a missing reporter. The reporter, whose name is being withheld, is believed to have been investigating unusual activity connected to a 1920’s ranch-style house. The home was constructed by the mysterious Flory family who all disappeared in 1952, leaving everything behind. The house was presumed to be abandoned but recent evidence has pointed to descendants of the family being alive! The investigation was re-opened when someone came forward claiming to have escaped from the Flory house basement. Sheriff Taylor has released a statement that there is not enough evidence for a search warrant at this time. The public is warned to keep off the premises until further notice!
The Cursed Crusade – For generations, the Smith family passed down legends of an artifact with the power to control time. It was protected by guardians both living and dead to keep it from those who desired fame and fortune. In 1922, a team of archeologists led by Jimmy Smith followed the trail of clues to the previously undiscovered Tomb of Tutankhan, rumored to be the last location of the powerful object. The team was never heard from again. Earlier this year, Jimmy’s grandson, Elliot Smith, set out on a quest to find his grandfather or what happened to him. But now he’s gone missing too!
Field of Screams – Considered one of our most popular attractions, even a GPS won’t help you find your way out of this series of outdoor mazes. Finding a way out means venturing through the forest, a massive cemetery and even an abandoned carnival. But once you’re there, your problem becomes how to escape!
Dark Terror-tory Haunted Hayride – If the other attractions have you tired of running, you can get on board a tractor-drawn wagon and ride the Dark Terror-tory Haunted Hayride. The trail is approximately a mile long and filled with more than 30 sets that will take you on a journey through some of the scariest places on earth. A mix of humor and scares, the ride is certainly not a typical Fall hayride through the woods.
Hooded – Our most intense horror experience ever! Each patron is blindfolded and oh yeah, the actors can touch you! Adults 18 and older only. You must sign a waiver. If you bail out of the attraction, you got what you paid for–an experience so intense you couldn’t handle it! No refunds. No chicken out passes. Good luck! This will be the final year for this attraction, so don’t miss it!
Mini Escape Rooms – The Niles Scream Park has brought the popular escape room concept to their midway. A new twist is “speed escape rooms.” Fast paced and exciting, there will be several five-minute escape rooms open at the Park.
The midway features several food concessions that provide enough variety to satisfy everyone’s cravings. The Gift Shop will let you shop till you drop for the latest Halloween paraphernalia. The upgraded photo-op will offer 3D pictures for purchase to commemorate your night.
The Niles Scream Park is a non-profit community project that uses approximately 200 volunteers per night to staff its various attractions. These volunteers represent over 65 Michiana area community and school organizations. Since 1996, more than $2 million have been donated to local and nation non-profit organizations and to the Niles Scream Park funded college scholarships for students at Niles, Brandywine, Dowagiac, Cassopolis and Edwardsburg High Schools.
The Niles Scream Park is located on Mayflower Road, south of Niles-Buchanan Road just off Exit 5 of the US 31 Bypass. More information on prices, times and dates of operation can be obtained by visiting the Niles Scream Park web site at www.haunted.org or calling 269-687-FEAR.
