BY SCARLET THALMAN
BCR CORRESPONDENT
NILES, MI – The Niles Haunted House had its opening weekend Saturday, September 6th, marking the beginning of the organization’s 52nd year. The Scream Park, one of the top-rated haunted attractions in the country, is a non-profit community project in Niles, Michigan dedicated to entertainment and service.
The organization has donated over 2.7 million dollars to local non-profit organizations through the years, with 148,000 just in the last year. Additionally, the organization supports the community through offering multiple college scholarships to local high school students. The successful production and community impact achieved each year is the result of careful planning, strong volunteer involvement, and support from patrons.
Work takes place year-round to ensure the successful execution of the season, and attractions begin to undergo renovations immediately after the season concludes — some attractions even begin to be torn down before all patrons have left the park on the last night. This cycle of preparation provides the means necessary for the accessibility and safety guaranteed by the park, while also allowing 80% of the attractions to change each year. In addition to the dedicated staff that work toward the success of the park, volunteers also take on a wide range of responsibilities.
Many roles within the park are filled by volunteers including actors, makeup artists, ticket takers, and many more. Aside from work during the season, volunteers play a vital role in construction, decoration, and teardown of the attractions throughout the year.
To ensure the park’s continued operation, a variety of regulatory and safety requirements also must be met. While the park does not require an annual operating permit, it does obtain a signage permit each year and a building permit for any roofed structure over 200 square feet. The park also completes inspection reports and submits affidavits to Niles Township. These reports include checks of the sprinkler and fire alarm systems, affidavits on flame-retardant usage, emergency lighting compliance, pool water levels for fire safety, and inspections of more than 120 fire extinguishers, going beyond requirements to ensure the highest level of safety.
Beyond permits and inspections, the park maintains strong ties with local municipalities by hosting an event for area fire departments to tour the property and by organizing annual fire drills attended by the Niles Township Fire Chief. These efforts familiarize first responders with the layout in case of emergencies and strengthen the park’s relationship with local safety officials, ensuring the high standard of safety the park strives for. Legal issues related to copyright are also avoided through the work of the legal team and artists, as the park relies on original sets and concepts created in-house rather than borrowing from popular franchises.
While volunteers and staff keep the park running behind the scenes, guests are drawn each year by the attractions themselves and the promise of a scare. This year brings the same acclaimed creativity and attention to detail with some new additions, providing the opportunity to experience the park in a different way. The park will host adult-only and almost actorless nights, with the almost actorless nights taking place Thursday the 30th and Friday the 31st of October and the adult-only night taking place Saturday the 1st of November.
Almost actorless nights involve a limited number of actors present and are intended for patrons who want to enjoy the attraction without jump scares on every corner. This addition is also only available in the indoor attractions. The adult-only night comes after expressed demand for a child-free experience. The attractions will not be changed; the only change is that you must be 18 or older to participate.
The Scream Park is ready to carry out another successful season, offering both new additions to their entertainment experiences and the same commitment to local service and safety.