The Experience Haunted Attraction

What is The Experience?

To describe the difference between The Experience and other attractions you must first understand our definition of Haunted Attraction and Haunted House. A Haunted House is typically a maze that leads you from one room to the next with a series of vignettes that end with a person jumping out at you. Typically the vignettes will have a loose storyline or no storyline at all. For example: The first room is the bedroom of a little girl, the lights go out and then you walk into a room setup to look like a swamp. These rooms have no particular relation to each other. This style applies to all of the typical October attractions (i.e. Haunted House, Haunted Woods, Haunted Forest, Corn Maze, Haunted Boat, etc.) A Haunted Attraction also uses a series of vignettes but they all focus on telling a single story. Where a Haunted House will typically rely on characters from movies (Friday The 13^th, Halloween, etc.) or create characters based on masks available at costume stores, a Haunted Attraction is comprised of original characters with a definite storyline with a beginning, a middle, and an end.

The Experience is a theatrical presentation based on a storyline. This year the designers have found an abandoned building that holds a tragic past. It seems this building is where the Legend of Hanna Bagley was discovered.

Where is The Experience located?

This year the attraction will be held in Columbus near the Lennox Towncenter. The designers found an old building that used to be a Boarding School. It turns out that this building suffered a huge tragedy in its past.

In the past we have run the attraction on the historical Schmitter Estate grounds in Ostrander Ohio. Ostrander is about 45 minutes North of downtown Columbus. The Schmitter estate is known throughout the state for its haunted happenings over the years. The Schmitter estate are private grounds. No trespassing, and you enter the attraction at your own risk. Nightmoves Entertainment Inc., Center Stage Players and The Schmitter Estate will not be held responsible for damage or injuries incurred while attending the attraction. Please heed all rules and be careful.

How did The Experience come about?

The designers all admit that they dislike typical Haunted Houses because usually the actors are unsatisfactory, and “just not into” performing in the attraction. What normally could be a terrifying scene becomes very annoying to the audience when the performer jumps out and yells “Boo!” The designers are more fascinated by the more recent style of Thriller/Horror movie based on psychological terror rather than “in-you-face” gore and action such as The Village, The Ring, The Grudge, Darkness Falls and The Boogeyman.

What can I expect at The Experience?

Do not expect to have an harass you or chase you through the attraction. Our actors go through a rehearsal process to perfect their respective roles and are required to give the same performance for the last group of the night that they gave for the first. We manage this by placing floor managers in the attraction to observe and we send mystery shoppers through to evaluate the actor firsthand.

Do not expect to be led from one scene to another with un-related vignettes. All pieces of our attraction fit together to lead you to the ultimate ending. It all begins with your ticket purchase and ends once you are in the parking lot.

Expect to engage your mind. We prefer to play on your senses. Look for shadows, listen for the sounds, and watch the corners because it is in the unknown that terror truly lies.

Expect to be entertained. You are an audience in our walk-through show. Look for the clues that we place in all sections of the attraction. Just like the movies we will place clues to throw you off the path, or to help you to the conclusion.

Where do you get the ideas for The Experience?

The same place that most attraction designers find stimulation: Movies, Myths, Urban Legends. We also go a step further an analyze our childhoods. We ask ourselves “What was I afraid of most as a child?” Oftentimes the answer shows up in our attraction. The other aspect of it is to try and do something no one has ever done. We are currently working on an attraction based on a deadly virus (much like the “Virus” movies of the 1990’s) and in the end the audience realizes they have the virus!

Who are the actors in The Experience?

Nightmoves Entertainment Inc., the producer of The Experience also operates Center Stage Players, an all-musical theatre troupe in the Short North of Columbus Ohio and casts actors that have performed in past shows. Center Stage Players is a non-profit ohio corporation that has applied for 501(3)c status. Information on Center Stage Players can be found at www.centerstageplayers.com.

Can I be an actor in The Experience?

We do use outside actors for our attraction. Click on “Contact Us” to let us know of your interest. Rehearsals typically begin in September and volunteer actors only work the dates that they are available - we do not expect you to work every night... though most of our actors enjoy it so much that they do!

Does the Experience offer concessions, or sell retail items?

We occasionally offer beverages depending on the weather. You can get our logo gear at The Experience Store.

What amenities are available at the site?

We offer portable restrooms and concessions.

Is The Experience indoors or outdoors?

Our attraction for 2007 is indoors.

Is The Experience acceptable for children?

Part of the reason we created the Experience was to entertain all ages. So yes our attraction is always acceptable for children - though most will not understand it much. If you are looking for something fun, creepy, and entertaining for October then you should come out to visit! As a designer, I would invite my mother to this attraction and be proud!