A while back I did a blog post about the haunted attraction Brigantine Castle at the Jersey shore (read it here). As summer approached, the commercials on the local stations would play stuff like the below:
And to a young kid, this stuff felt very real and strange. It seemed more like an opportunity to be in a horror movie than an actual haunted house. And the commercials seemed like it wasn't a ride or amusement at all, but some place where you were literally attacked by monsters. Important to note: My parents never took us there. As I would have loved to have been slapped in the face by that skeleton hand like Larry of the Three Stooges.
The below article is fantastic and talks about the Jersey shore during the Golden Age of Haunted Attractions.
Here's an excerpt:
From outside, the dull gray fortress of Brigantine was menacing—quite a contrast to blue skies, crashing waves, and tumbling beach balls. You could often see the castle’s demonic-looking cast hanging around the backdoor, and watch fathers daring their teens to enter, then cringe as they handed over their tickets, fear in their eyes. I had never gone in myself, but I knew the real frights were inside. Patrons found themselves in a darkened maze of approximately 30 rooms, each with its own blood-curdling storyline.
Click below for the article...
8 comments:
Wow - I had no idea all this cheesy fun was to be had on the jersey shore.
right?
Looks so ominous on the beach like that.
probably one giant fire hazard too.
Mr. Haunted Eve here. Having grown up in NJ in the 70s and 80s, I remember those commercials for those haunted attractions quite well. In particular, the commercial for the Haunted Mansion in Long Branch, NJ. Not someplace my parents would have ever taken me back then, but I recall my much older teenage cousin had gone with a group of his friends to one of them and didn't care for the experience, something along the lines of the haunt actors being a little overzealous.
ugh. I hate haunt actors who get up in your face, so I'd imagine back then they were super over the top.
That looks like a crazy cool haunt!!
right? i'll never know what was in there.
I like the idea of spending a day at the beach and then going back to something like that at night... when you're worn out and sun-tired...
Great post Rot. I have really been enjoying all your daily postings. I have been through all the major classic Haunted Houses of New Jersey. Castle Dracula in Wildwood, The Haunted Mansion in Long Branch, Brigantine Castle, The Gates of Hell in Seaside Heights, The Haunted House Morey's Piers Wildwood. These place would never be able to operate today. Aside from being not ADA accessible they were truly frightening experiences with one being as cool as the other. Each had its own unique vibe. Brigantine Castle was more a theatrical event since they used to employ acting students from nearby Stockton State college. It was massive with multiple floors. On the roof was the infamous Rat Tunnel where a scare actor would sprinkle a shaker bottle of meat tenderizer on you before you entered. It was pitch black with the deafening sounds of rats. As you walked through you would feel them brushing against your feet and legs. It was actually cut rubber water hoses attached to the wall. Very effective. When I was in there two twin girls who were dressed as nurses had hatchets and the were banging them near my feet and laughing not saying anything else. The girls were always creepier than the guys to be honest. The Haunted Mansion at Long Branch was my personal favorite. The stained glass windows on the front depicted the Seven Deadly Sins. It had a huge dining room with rotten food on it and a Satanic Chapel with pews of Cloaked figures most were dummies but one or two were actors who would spring up and chase you. They had an altar with a Goat Headed priest. The Lizzie Borden room was full of blood. Castle Dracula was famous for having two rides in one. Above was the walk through castle below the dungeon boat ride. It also had a mad scientists laboratory and an operating guillotine where the would chop off the actors head and blood would run down a plank into a bucket. The Haunted House on Morey's Pier in Wildwood was at the rear of the pier and was a real house that was built. It had stairs to get up to the second floor and was very claustrophobic. It had an upside down room where everything was on the ceiling and a hallway of razor blades you had to pass through. All of these attractions were either closed down due to safety issues or burned down. I wish someone would try to build a new haunt that rivals these past classics. There are pics of these attractions on www.Funchase.com and the site you mentioned www.darkinthepark.com
Wow, Mike! I really appreciate you leaving this detailed comment.
And I absolutely LOVE that you got to experience ALL of those!
You're something of a Legend to me now! haha
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