This is a series of interviews we do with the people who are changing the face of the haunted attractions and horror industry. This week we interview the folks from NETHERWORLD haunted house. They build some of the sickest sets you have ever seen.
Why did you first become interested in the haunted house/horror business?
It seems like I have loved scary stuff all my life. I did a haunted house at my elementary school and got hooked scaring people at a very young age! I had all the classic monster models, read Famous Monsters Magazine — the whole nine yards!
What previous jobs have you had?
After college, I worked at TV stations in Tallahassee, Florida and Atlanta, Georgia for 18 years. During those years I mainly worked on the production of news shows, running camera, audio, directing and such. I also shot and edited commercials, was a lighting and set designer, produced special events like telethons and parades, and eventually moved into management. But the interesting thing that was horror related was my TV show Tales From 6 Feet Under, a local hosted horror show. Every week I would run old horror movies with crazy skits during the commercial breaks.
What job do you do right now? Is the haunted house/horror job your full-time gig?
I still do occasional special event related projects, but NETHERWORLD is my primary focus.
How long have you been in the business?
Since I was ten years old! No, really I would say three years of actually designing and running real charity haunts in conjunction with my TV show, three years with a professional haunted house chain (Silo X) and 11 years of NETHERWORLD, so pretty much about 17 years.
How did you start?
Well, I was doing the hosted horror show as the bizarre Dr. Speculo, and after working closely with the Muscular Dystrophy Association for years on the local telethon coverage we decided that a haunted house would be a great fund raiser. Using my collection of horror props, the TV station, and my actor friends who helped with the show, we hooked up with the charity and did our first show, “Dr. Speculo’s Trail of Terror!” After the memory of how hard it was wore off, I guess I was hooked!
What’s the scariest haunted house you ever attended?
Article comments
1 - Amy
I attended Netherworld two years ago and had a great time. We took three car loads (17 people) on October 20. Two of our three cars were vandalized. One got the window broken out and a purse stolen. The other had a cell phone and a purse stolen. The police were not very nice...he was just going down the lots and taking reports-he had about 30 that night. The house was great and the characters outside are fun. The area is not great and they aren't prepared for the amount of people that show up.