One big frightening family

ATHOL — For a bunch of monsters, they’re a friendly lot at Scarywood Theme Park.

Before the hordes roll in when the gates open at 7 p.m. Friday, clowns, dolls, cannibals, witches, scarecrows and mummies, even a guy wearing a pig’s head, are standing together behind the scenes.

And, of course, there are zombies.

There’s a unity among them. They’re in this fright night fun together. They’re joking, laughing and smiling, swapping stories as they get some last-minute encouragement and instruction.

“It’s like we’re a big family that’s able to scare people,” said Brian Tortarolo, in his fifth year as a “haunter.”

On this night, Tortarolo is playing Chucky, with a wild tussle of red hair, red shoes and overalls.

“I’m a nice little demented doll,” he said, offering a sweet smile.

Ty Sisk is an imposing huntsman, carrying a giant ax and severed heads tied around his waist. He has a kind face until he puts on his mask, which is that of a deformed creature and a bloody helmet.

Yep. That will have them screaming.

He’s been part of Scarywood since 2017.

“I get paid to scare people,” Sisk said.

Now in its 13th season at Silverwood Theme Park, this year’s theme of Scarywood Haunted Nights is “Lights Out!”

The special effects are flowing.

Fog that smells like rotting leaves rolls in. Chain saws rumble. Corpses dangle from ropes. Lights flicker. Ghouls growl. Gunfire pops in the distance. Screams echo. Clowns, naturally, have maniacal grins and get right in your face.

And yes, things that go bump in the night do exactly that, and much more, in scare zones like “Clown Town,” “The Dark Forest,” “Anarchy,” “Freak Farm,” “Phobia,” “The Toybox” and “Quarantine Zone.”

It’s no easy task to be part of this terrifying team.

Scarywood hires about 250 haunters who pass auditions and attend Scare School. Students learn how to survey their surroundings, categorize their victims and scare the heck out of them, said Silverwood’s Stephanie Sampson.

Each haunter is hired for a specific role and creates his or her own backstory for their character.

“Actors will also invade your personal space to create the ultimate uncomfortable encounter,” Sampson said.

Kate Clegg of Athol is one of them.

She’s back for her eighth season, playing two characters, Steampunk Victoria and Headless Helga.

Victoria likes to have fun, Clegg said, and Helga, well, “she’s to die for.”

Clegg has perfected the art of innocently moving with the crowd, looking for someone not paying attention, and then, suddenly, she turns with a yell.

Works every time.

“I’ll be right there,” she said proudly.

Clegg looks forward to “the satisfaction of hearing people scream when you’ve gotten them good. I especially like getting the big, burly men because they're think they're all tough and when you make them squeal like little girls, it’s great.”

But, before that happens, they have to get in a spooky state of mind.

Haunters arrive about 4 p.m. for the transformation. Costumes on, makeup applied, they can begin vocal and physical warmups.

“As you can imagine, their night consists of lots of screaming, running, and can create a general fatigue,” Sampson said.

Makeup artist Savanna Shafer is in her seventh Scarywood season.

It takes about 10 minutes to turn an agreeable face into a disagreeable one.

“Each character has their own kind of look,” she said.

Brothers Noah Mayfield and Zach Kirwin were both playing sliders. They run around, seemingly coming from nowhere, sliding on kneepads and shoes adorned with steel.

They make an unexpected entrance and catch people unaware.

“I just love scaring people,” said Mayfield, whose character name is YipYap.

Kirwin, in his first season, plays TipTap. He was inspired to join by his older brother, who has been a menacing figure at Scarywood for years.

His older sibling gave him some tips: Stay quiet, follow someone, then, drop in on them.

"Just have fun," Kirwin said.

New this year is Planet Zombie. Here’s a brief description:

“It's been six long years of fighting the zombie horde, and we are losing ground. The infrastructure is failing and the electrical grid is destroyed. Few survivors are left, and getting to the checkpoint without infection is up to you. Your only lifeline is a small red flashlight as you navigate the dark streets of Planet Zombie.”

This year’s haunted attractions include favorites like the Blood Bayou, Chuckle's 3D Sideshow and Pharaoh’s Curse.

There are also two shows.

“Dillusion: An Eternal Encore” will usher you through the gates of hell with Nick Norton.

“This horror/magic show will be a mesmerizing mind trip that you won't soon forget,” a release said.

Next, "The Hellbilly's" is Scarywood Estates Trailer Park, described as “a little slice of heaven located in beautiful North Idaho. We pride ourselves in making sure all who visit feel like family.”

Some rides will be operating, including Panic Plunge, Krazy Kars and Timber Terror, which will be going backward.

Gates are open from 7 to 11 p.m. on Thursdays and 7 p.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays through October. Parking is $10 per vehicle.

But be forewarned. Tortarolo and Clegg, rather Chucky and Headless Helga, are waiting for you.

"Being a little person makes it a lot easier," Tortarolo said, chuckling. "People can’t see me and I really sneak up on them."

Clegg stands so still as Headless Helga it's hard to tell if she's a prop or real.

"When they come up to touch me, I’ll let them know I’m not a prop," she said.

She's a real screamer.

Tickets, info: www.scarywoodhaunt.com