Brie Arsenault ’29
Olivia Merva ’29
EE Staff Writers
This fall, Lake Compounce has transformed from a family amusement park into a haunted destination. Phantom Fall Fest is the annual Halloween event, drawing crowds with its mix of haunted house, entertainment, and late-night rides. Phantom Fall Fest has been running for the past four years, and has become a popular attraction for children as well as adults.
Phantom Fall Fest runs from September 20 through October 26. The haunted event is a new and improved version of Lake Compounce’s old event named “The Haunted Graveyard.” Phantom Fall Fest offers captivating haunted attractions with special themes. In many areas, there are scare zones filled with spooky decorations which adds an eerie effect to the amusement park. While the nighttime offers horrifying experiences, the event also incorporates family-friendly activities, which makes the event more appealing to wider audiences. Phantom Fall Fest utilizes the entire park and creates an overall enjoyable experience for all.
The event offers a variety of frightening activities, the favorite being the haunted houses. All five haunted houses are open once the clock hits 6 p.m. and that’s when the fear starts to kick in. This year, there are five distinct, horrifying, and terrifying haunted houses. Each haunted house is designed with impressive and interactive sets, live actors, and special effects that keep your heart racing. Each of the five haunted houses differs in their level of intensity and scare factors. While all of them are designed to thrill, each one targets a certain extent of fear, so you can choose your path wisely based on your bravery.
In addition, there are roaming scare actors throughout the park after dark, bringing the haunted atmosphere to life. At 6 p.m. these costumed actors are unleashed around the park, usually surrounding haunted houses, so beware of your surroundings and gestures, as they don’t always stay confined to specific areas. They’ll sneak up behind you, pop out from corners, or slide across the pavement with sparks flying from their knee pads. Several of the actors whisper, follow you silently, and stare you down without saying a word. Each actor has unique characteristics, numerous actors are dressed as twisted clowns, plague doctors, ghouls, and zombies surrounding haunted villages. They react to your behavior, and your every move. If you scream, they might chase you, and if you laugh, they might appear to become creepier. Their presence adds a layer of unpredictability, therefore be aware of your surroundings and actions after the actors are released.
Ultimately, the Lake Compounce Phantom Fall Fest is one of the most anticipated and exhilarating events of the entire year. Our experience at Phantom Fall Fest was filled with entertainment, screams, and laughter and now it is an event we look forward to, as each year the scares enhance. If you enjoy horror or are looking for a simple autumn experience, Phantom Fall Fest at Lake Compounce is an unforgettable event. With new and improved scares and even more family fun it’s an event worth the trip.