SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — The Spooky Season has officially kicked off with the opening of Dorney Park’s horrifying Halloween Haunt, promising thrills and chills for ghosts and monsters of all ages.
Starting Friday the 13th at the Allentown-area amusement park – which begs the question, is this the setup for a horror film or an episode of Scooby Doo? – the seasonal attraction is featuring brand-new scares like FORGE YOUR FeAR in addition to the return of spooky spectacles including The Ghost in the Machine.
The park is promising that this year’s event will be “the Lehigh Valley’s largest celebration of all things spooky, scary, and downright terrifying,” with something for just about everyone.
Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom Public Relations and Communications Manager Ryan Eldredge said he is particularly excited for the new scare zone FORGE YOUR FeAR, which builds upon the lore of the park’s newest roller coaster.
“It is pulling from the Iron Menace backstory, which is that of an old-time steel baron Hiram S. McTavish, who was known in this fictitious community for working people really hard, trying to get results and be better than Bethlehem Steel and his competitors, no matter what the cost,” Eldredge said.
“So we're pulling that out so there'll be scary characters kind of reminiscent of the steelworker days in the 1920s and ‘30s, and just provide folks some scares while giving them a taste of Lehigh Valley history in kind of a tongue-in-cheek fictitious fashion.”
Roaming through the fog-infested dark of FORGE YOUR FeAR, you may see some ghoulish former employees of McTavish – perhaps seeking out their boss for some sweet revenge? – and, if you are truly unfortunate, the baron himself.
If you do happen to run into McTavish, do not tell him you’re late for work – it won’t end well.
The Halloween Haunt also happens to be a perfect time to take a ride on the Iron Menace if you haven’t yet, as Eldredge pointed out rides will remain open during the event.
Now, if you wish to indulge in some spooky spectacles after hitting up the Iron Menace or Steel Force, beloved haunts The Ghost in the Machine, Tourist Trap, Blood on the Bayou, Trick or Treat, Blackout, Necropolis, and Roadside Stop ‘N Chop are all coming back for 2024.
Scare Zones Carnevil, Port of Call, Midway Misfits, The Hollow, and Dystopia will also return for this year’s haunt.
As you wander through the Scare Zones, be prepared for a fright, especially if you have coulrophobia: creepy clowns are all over the place, and more than willing to surprise you for a thrill.
If undead pirates are more your speed, Port of Call is the place to be – if you can make it out alive, that is. But if you’re looking for a bit of a fun show, make sure to catch the Skeleton Crew as they soar through the air in some incredible acrobatic routines, and engage in some fire juggling.
Over in Dystopia, the scares quite literally slide up under you, with frightening miscreants marauding through a bleak industrial future space ready to scare anyone who dares venture into their territory.
If you dare venture into Trick or Treat, prepare to face off against a coven of sisters seeking revenge from the town which scorned them.
Or perhaps you’re yearning for a sweet treat – in which case, Blackout might be just the flavor you’re looking for, if you like your candies with something… extra. Within the confines of Miss Dee Lecktubble’s former factory, you will be subject to scares from the souls of Dee and her employees, who she killed when she burned the location down as her business began to fail. And you had best believe she is not happy about that.
Being that Halloween should be enjoyable for all, Dorney will again offer their “No Boo” necklaces, which serve to alert performers that the wearer is not up for jump scares.
If your little ones aren’t ready for nights of fright, the park is also running their daytime Halloween event, Tricks and Treats, on Saturday, with games, treats, pumpkin picking, trick-or-treating, live shows and more.
Now, if you happen to be a Halloween Haunt superfan, Eldredge recommends getting in early – doors open at 6 p.m. – and making your way to the bottom of the park around Steel Force to see all the park’s monsters as they make their way in.
“Folks that come here a lot, especially teens and tweens, they will line up along the midway to cheer them on to their attraction and get excited and get creeped out,” Eldredge said.
Jacklyn Hammel, who brought her family, including 3-and-a-half-year-old horror fanatic Sinead, said everyone was having a great time during their second year at Halloween Haunt on Friday.
“So far, it’s been good,” Hammel said. “I’ve got a couple pictures of her with some of the people who are dressed up, and they always make sure with the kids that are little that they get down to their level, and kind of make it fun for them, too – not just the whole jump-out-and-scare you kind of thing.”
Little Sinead has a particular liking for those characters in costumes, especially when she had an opportunity to hold hands with Krampus and spook the adults last year, her mother said.
As the for the haunted houses and mazes, the Hammels said they were saving them for the end of the night for maximum spookiness, but they appeared eager for some scares.
Young Felicity Miller was thrilled to return to Halloween Haunt for this year’s grand opening with her sister Sophie and dad Jairus, but she was more focused on the rides above all else.
“My favorite one is the Iron Menace. It’s a good ride,” Felicity Miller said, adding she wasn’t scared, despite riding the coaster in the dark, surrounded by eerie fog.
Halloween Haunt runs Friday and Saturday nights through Oct. 27, along with HAUNT Sundays on Oct. 6, 13, 20, and 27.
