One of Metro Atlanta’s Top Haunted Houses Is Staying Open During COVID-19
Netherworld Haunted House in Stone Mountain, Georgia, is adjusting its business plan in the face of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
If the Grinch stole Christmas, then COVID-19 stole Halloween. But the coronavirus pandemic hasn’t stopped thousands who continue showing up to the few local haunted attractions that stayed open.
Netherworld Haunted House in Stone Mountain is one of the horror Meccas known nationwide for its elaborate scenery, actors and realistic animatronics. It’s become a Halloween tradition in Atlanta over the last 24 years.
Now, co-owner and creator Ben Armstrong said he hopes Netherworld can be an escape from the true horrors of 2020. Armstrong said Netherworld has cut its attendance intentionally and dramatically to keep distance between groups. Timed ticketing in half-hour blocks also means that the Netherworld experience is going to be more limited.
“I’m sure next year will be hard. But, honestly, I think it’ll be harder for a lot of other folks who have been hit even harder by this, particularly people who have gotten sick,” he said.
CDC Halloween guidelines list indoor haunted houses as a high-risk activity. That’s especially because screaming without the protection of a mask is an efficient way to spread the virus — so much so that as Japanese theme parks reopened over the summer, authorities there made efforts to ban screaming on rides.
Earlier this month, the CDC also updated its guidance on its “How Covid Spreads” webpage, which determined that people are more likely to become infected in poorly ventilated and enclosed spaces.
But Armstrong says Netherworld is doing everything to keep its guests and staff safe. That includes staggering actors, handwashing and sanitizing stations, as well as the timed, staggered entries.
He says even though it’s tempting during holidays like Halloween, it’s important for Georgians not to let their guard down.
Netherworld is also not the only haunted attraction open in Atlanta, but it seems to have some of the strictest COVID-19 guidelines.
WABE contacted another north Georgia haunt called Camp Blood. They didn’t respond, but their website only recommends that visitors wear face masks and social distance. Then there’s the annual Six Flags over Georgia Fright Fest, scaled-back this year and re-branded as Hallowfest. Yet, officials told WABE that there are a few zones across the park where people can remove their masks.
So far, Netherworld staff say they’ve felt pretty comfortable with the setup.
Jessica Sammis, Netherworld’s casting director, said for anyone who’s ever worked in a haunted house, scaring someone is the most exhilarating feeling. Even though Netherworld has cut down on the staff during the pandemic, actors are really taking ownership of the show this year, she added.
“Everybody is feeling 2020,” Sammis said.
“While we do have to do all this social distancing, and the mask-wearing, and all the changes, I think people just need to get out of reality for a minute. And that’s really what Netherworld provides. When you come here, you get to be scared of monsters, not germs.”
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