Wednesday, October 18, 2023

Haunted Overload: Daytime

Located in a pretty rural area at the site of DeMeritt Hill Farm, Haunted Overload exists in some woodlands at the far end of the property, completely hidden by trees and some rustic tall fences that look to have been built to keep towering creatures in, and not out.  There really is no sign other than that of all of those massive creatures and rustic installations from the outside.  It's like a great secret in the woods.  

When we pulled up, a Fall Festival was occurring, and people were buying pumpkins and baked goods.  We bought some hot apple cider and cider donuts, and a piece of pumpkin roll.  It was sunny and breezy.  You could hear a spooky soundscape coming from that wooded area I mentioned.  Not sure if it was a sound test, or part of the daytime walkthrough, but it was very welcome and created a building sense of tension as we approached.  

I will write about the Night Experience soon, but during the day the amount of detail, a lot of which gets lost in the shadows as the sun sets, is truly staggering.  Everywhere you turn you are met with the most miniscule element overloaded with the most ridiculous level of detail.  The fusion of organic elements and crude rural buildings and fences is absolutely perfect, like a small village has been reclaimed by the forest around it.  The iconic towering Scarecrows and Reapers are flanked by human-sized ghouls, ghosts, skeletons, and corpses in varying stages of decay.  And there are pumpkins.  So many pumpkins.  REAL pumpkins with real candles inside.  The entire daytime walkthrough was unforgettable, and we will always make it a part of the trip to Haunted Overload.  Seeing it in sunlight made us so excited to experience it at night.  You try to imagine the darkness, the fog, roaring chainsaws, and stalking Haunt actors of every variety.  The anticipation was off the charts.

We took a ton of photos and some of our faves are below...






















3 comments:

Mike V. said...

Oh man that looks incredible. I have always wanted to make it a destination to get up there and see all of Haunted Overload in person. Truly one of the best places to celebrate the season. I envy you Rot. These pictures are insane. First you go to Salem which I have been to many numerous times and love it then Haunted Overload. So glad you are visiting all of these spectacular Halloween places. And of course I am looking forward to your haunt this year as always. Enjoy the High Holy Season. Cheers. Mike V.

MR. Macabre said...

This place is THE best looking, most detailed outdoor haunt that I've ever seen. I watched a daytime walk through on The Grimm Life Collective YouTube channel last year, and this place is amazing. I have to see it in person, even if it means going by myself. No one else in my family loves Halloween the way I do. I could spend hours there if allowed, just to get some ideas for my future haunts at our son's home.
The use of REAL pumpkins and 100's of skeletons makes it really look like an abandoned site. That locomotive is very cool. The wood structures are over the top amazing.
I envy you as well.

Revenant Manor said...

There are several 'someday' destinations on my Halloween season list, but I'm not sure there is anything higher up than a full day & night spent exploring Haunted Overload.

Not a lot of things that could live up to a name like that. On the surface, it just seems like it would HAVE to be hyperbolic, but clearly not in their case.