GTTP Nite At Sparty's Haunted House
Believe it or not, GTTP'ers seem to have a life besides going to the park. For your friend and mine, Sparty Jeff, this 'alter ego' involves the creation and execution of haunted houses. He's a fanatic to the utmost when it comes to these places of terror and puts that enthusiasm to use every year when he creates a haunted house in Saginaw, MI, for charity.
He'd been excited to see some of the GTTP'ers show up and check out his creation and when I'd heard I'd immediately wanted to take a trip up. I'm in Ann Arbor, so it's only about an hour and forty five minute drive. Plus I used to live in Bay City, a city close to Saginaw, so I was familiar with the area. So come Halloween night, I decided to ditch the dorm Halloween party (which consisted of a string of Xmas lights strung around the room, a boombox playing "Monster Mash," and a bunch of idiots wearing the same Halloween constumes as last year attempting to win a prize) and pay GTTP's "Pointer of the Dark" a visit.
Brian sadly couldn't make it up for the event, since he had just left from experiencing his first CP closing day (and thanks again to everyone who extended a hand to my fledgling Pointer boyfriend this summer!). So I hijacked our own Red Garter Rob to be my haunted house buddy and off we were on the spookiest of nights to go see what Jeff had to offer. After an uneventful drive (well, as it goes, considering a car with me and Rob in it means there will be nonstop chatter) we were in Saginaw and pulling up to the hulking black building that is Skull Mountain. I soon spotted Jeff in his signature jean patch jacket and hugs and hellos insued, and he generously extended a free pass to Rob and I.
I hate haunted houses. No, I mean, I love them..but I also hate them. They scare the crap out of me, which is a rare thing. Normally only spiders or fire will do it, but haunted houses..oh yeah, instant scared. So knowing Jeff would spare no "Boo!" and that usually on Halloween he makes the house scarier than normal anyway...I was petrified. I already nearly ripped Rob's arm off in Undertaker U back during the season so by the time we walk in I'm hiding behind him with a death grip on his arm. (Warning: Go in a haunted house with me and I WILL rip your shirt/arm off)
So in we walk...the first room was basically just a stop with announcements about rules of the haunted house. There's Jeff with a big grin on his face standing in the doorway. Great. We start in..now I don't remember the entire thing like a ride circuit but I remember parts, including hearing "ANNE!" and "RED GARTER ROB!" booming out of the darkness when you least expect it. This house was filled with pitch black mazes with things following you, things grabbing at you, and screaming at you. More than once I just shut my eyes and followed behind Rob because I didn't even want to know what was coming next.
Highlights of the house included a great ghost effect like the haunted horse effect at CP, a moving wall room (that wasn't working, unfortunately, but looked awesome), an Egyptian room with mummies that jump out at you, tons and tons of dark mazes with ghoulies to come and get you, and technical effects to scare the bejeezus out of you when you least expect it. I was so impressed with all the effort Jeff and his crew put into the house and the creativity involved, so that it wasn't just a bunch of scenery with a few people jumping out at you but a truly scary experience. It was very disorienting and messed with your head, enough that I saw Rob jump more than a few times (although will he ever admit to it? nooo....). Jeff followed behind us adding details to certain scenery and watching our reaction to everything which added another neat twist to the trip.
No doubt one of the funniest things that's ever happened to me on Halloween came about in the Egypt room. We come waltzing in and out of the left side this guy dressed up as a mummy starts hauling butt into the room...and promptly slips, falls, and slides across the floor slamming into a table and becomes a motionless heap. I thought it was the intended effect but the actors trying to hide their laughter gave it away. The guy clipped me in the shin as he went by so I have a nice big bruise as a souvenir. It's really hard to be scared after you've just laughed til you cried:
ACTOR: BOO!!!!!!
GUEST: ::dying of laughter and ignoring the actor's attempt at fright:: DID YOU SEE THAT GUY?
ACTOR: ::taking off ghoul mask:: HOLY CRAP I KNOW!! Funniest thing ever!! ::collapses on floor::
We made it through the house alive and then sat around catching up on the latest with Jeff and looking at pictures of his sweetheart daughter Julia as an angel for trick or treating. He explained to us some of the effort involved in putting together the house, how some of the effects work, and showed us the realistic "lightning and thunder" effect he has set up with loudspeakers and flood lights in the woods around the house. Jeff's group put a good $15k into this event and the care they all took shows. This was a traditional haunted house meant to scare you and give you your money's worth, and it delivered.
Kudos to you, Jeff, on your efforts. It definitely made my Halloween to come up and go through the house and the hospitality was more than appreciated. All you GTTPers- Get up there next year and check it out! Not only will you be backing up Jeff and his girls (who are three of the nicest people you'd ever want to meet), but you'll be giving charity a hand too. You have no excuse, so mark your calendars now and go check out Jeff's masterpiece, Skull Mountain. Worth the drive and then some!
Thanks again, Jeff, for EVERYTHING this season and I look forward to seeing you and the girls again soon!
(Rob, care to add more details? :) )
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*-CP Irvine-* "One of us!"
*The FewER, The Proud, The Po!nter Girls*
AIM: ACEerCP
Thanks again Jeff...
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One of us.. One of us..
Supreme Commander of "Rich's Smurf Army"
June 11th, 2001 - Gemini 100
SOOO glad you guys enjoyed the Haunt and Thank you sdo much for coming...I wish more of the GTTPers could have made the trip but theres always next year where we have so much more planned for you :)
Again thanks for showing your support for me and our cause and I hope we scared the s%$#t out of ya :)
You guys Rock
Jeffrey Spartan
aka Jeffrey the Haunted Spartan during October
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http://www.msu.edu/~armbrus9/cp.html
mf laps = 100! No More No Less!!
Wheres the Electricity!
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One of us.. One of us..
Supreme Commander of "Rich's Smurf Army"
Revenge is a dish, best served cold, or by those who are cold at heart..
June 11th, 2001 - Gemini 100
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DIPPIN DOTS!!!111 THEY ROXOR YUR WORLD!!1!
Awesome play by the spartans, and the diamondbacks just ROCK
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This second hill is my favorite part of the ride. It is so Cool!
Gemini 100
Its Dan K's fault
Raptor Flights: 504
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