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Nightmare on 19th Street Enter at your own risk by Heather Daniel, co-news editor Traditionally, when thinking of what to do for Halloween, we think of trick-or-treating, dressing up in costume, carving pumpkins, watching scary movies or attending a Halloween party. This year, three men from Lubbock and Austin have made a dream become a nightmare by creating Lubbock’s first Halloween theme park. That theme park is called Nightmare on 19th Street. Nightmare on 19th Street took about a year to develop, though the idea was pondered for quite a while. The community has played a major role in making Nightmare on 19th Street successful. “So far, the community has been really supportive, and we haven’t had any picketers, so that’s a good thing,” said Corey Trahan, one of the three co-creators. “Overall, people are just really happy that there is something to do for Halloween.” They have had people volunteer to help build the attractions, do makeup, act, promote the theme park, and work at the theme park. One thing that Trahan, the president of the project, stressed is how amazed he was at how dedicated the volunteers were. There are volunteers ranging in age from 15-25. “It is really great to give some of these kids something to do,” Trahan said. He was really happy to give some of the high school kids who might be stereotyped as “metal heads” or outcasts a place to hang out, a place to be productive rather than a less desired alternative. While there has been a faithful following, some have found that being an actor/actress at a Halloween theme park just wasn’t for them. “We have had some volunteers that find they just can’t hack it.” I guess most fail to realize that those costumes can get hot. There also are a lot of smoke machines and strobe lights that after three hours can cause a major headache. The attractions at Nightmare on 19th Street include Clown Town, the Witch’s Walk and Blood Moon Manor. Clown Town is a maze decorated with glow-in-the-dark spray paint. There are arrows that are spray painted on the walls that are strategically placed to confuse you. It is dark, as the maze is outside, and the clowns roam the maze with the intent to scare. It is probably safe to say that unless you’re Coulrophobic, then Clown Town won’t be as thrilling as other attractions. The Witch’s Walk is outside and about a mile long. The witch picks you up at the top of a hill and walks you down to the main entrance, which happens to be cemetery gates. She has a tiki torch lit and explains the history behind the walk. After her speech, she wishes you luck and let’s you go your way alone. The walk takes you through a haunted village, and you never know what is going to jump out at you or what kind of twisted people you will meet. You will go through phases such as the pumpkin patch, Grandma’s house and the meat market. The main attraction is the Blood Moon Manor, a haunted house with many rooms. You have a guide who remains at the back of the line to make sure you stay on the beaten path. Before going through the haunted house, you watch a video of a few rules. One thing they do mention is that you shouldn’t touch the actors/actresses and they will not touch you. Most of the rooms are thematic. The detail in the Blood Moon Manor is impressive. Some of the themed rooms include: Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees and Saw. If you are seeking a scare, this is probably the attraction you will most want to attend. Nightmare on 19th Street is located at the Lonestar Event Center at 602 E 19th St. It is $20 to get in, but it’s your own fault if you pay that price. The Halloween Spirit store, Jake’s and Stars and Stripes Drive-In have coupons. In addition to the main attractions, they have Mayhem Midway, where you can buy food, drinks and check out the booths they have. They also have Terror Tavern, for those who want to partake in drinking an alcoholic beverage. The gates open at 7:30 p.m, and no one will be allowed in after 11:30 p.m. You are encouraged to come early, as it should be an all-night event. Because of the overwhelming response I waited an hour and a half to get into one attraction, so go early. Depending on the success of the event, Nightmare on 19th Street could become an annual event. Considering the response I saw, there very well could be another Nightmare on 19th Street.
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