A string of reported zombie sightings disseminated panic over the weekend throughout Downtown Binghamton. Several witnesses said they saw a horde of the undead terrorizing pedestrians walking past the Southern Tier Independence Center late Friday and Saturday evening. Believe the rumors: The zombie apocalypse has dawned.
Hold on — this just in: The reported zombies are actually actors from the Haunted Halls of Horror, a 15,000-square-foot haunted house at 135 East Frederick St. Whether you are looking to celebrate Halloween early, display your courage in front of your crush or witness a 40 year-old-man pee his pants, this is a bone-chilling attraction you will not want to miss.
For the past three weekends, visitors bravely traversed the transformed basement and screamed at the sight of mutilated corpses, psychotic circus performers and deranged killers. The course is brought to life with gruesome animatronics and costumed actors that never miss a chance to catch you off guard, providing attendees with a unique, twisted exhibition of terror. If you missed out on the past shows, don’t fret, the scare-fest will continue this Halloween weekend. Tickets are $10 each, so stop by on Oct. 31 or Nov. 1 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. to put your bravery to the test.
Spawning from the Halloween fanaticism of Todd Fedyshyn and Bill Bartlow, the Haunted Halls of Horror is in its fifth year of operation and its outstanding track record forecasts many more. Last year’s haunt planted nightmarish images in the minds of over 3,000 visitors and raised $98,000. Even more, there is a hopeful message hidden behind the shadowy corridors and sinister spider webs that span the Haunted Halls of Horror. The Southern Tier Independence Center ensures that every dollar raised helps to support those with disabilities within the Binghamton community.
“It really is a phenomenal cause,” said Maryam Gordon, a Vestal resident. “And it gives parents something to do with their kids, so I hope the attraction is here to stay.”
The Southern Tier Independence Center is a nonprofit community service organization, so when Fedyshyn and Bartlow initially presented their idea to Maria Dibble, the Southern Tier Independence Center’s executive director, they had to ensure that the Haunted Halls of Horror would be a successful fundraiser and blow attendees away. The final product was better than anticipated.
The dread initially creeps up on you while confined within the walls of the “hell-evator,” slowly jolting and rattling on its way down to the unknown horrors waiting below. The elevator doors open after a crashing halt and the only option is to continue through a pitch-black hallway, the darkness freeing your imagination to wonder what dangers lay ahead. The scene slowly sets itself: Unsettled graves, disembodied limbs and rotting corpses make you second guess your decision to come here. Before the goose bumps get a chance to settle, the halls are filled with disfigured zombies and ghoulish faces lurking around the corner, waiting until the perfect moment arises to startle you in your tracks. Distant screams can be heard, foreshadowing the fright that creeps only a few steps ahead.
The remaining contents of the attraction will be left up to your imagination. From unsettling surgeons dismembering their patients to chainsaw equipped menaces, the frightful sights contained within the Haunted Halls of Horror are truly the work of a maniacal mind. Those who dare to enter must be ready to show mental fortitude, or at least be prepared to scream, run and feel their hairs stand on end. Do you have what it takes to make it out alive?