Scarywood returns with new nightmares

As the sun set Friday, 300 costumed cast members prepared to scare the wits out of thousands of theme park visitors on Scarywood's opening night.

The annual event returns this spooky season with 10 uniquely themed scare zones where cast members lurk in the shadows. Doom Town and The Wharf zones are new this year, and so is "Nightmares," a haunted maze featuring 14 rooms and 13 different phobias, including claustrophobia, gore and failure.

"It's very psychological," said Sara Jean Meddock, Silverwood public relations manager. "You're going to be walking through, and you're going to be learning things about yourself that you may not even have realized you were afraid of."

Cast member Adam Gabrielson plays a red-eyed character in a gory apron known as "the butcher" in one room in the new "Nightmares" attraction.

"You'll know when I scare you because it'll be the loudest," Gabrielson said.

This is his first year as a Scarywood cast member, but he already has an entire backstory for his character. He said the character was abandoned as a child and had to hunt in the woods to survive, which turned him into a violent and evil individual.

"He wants to chop people up and eat them," Gabrielson said, "and he'd rather eat them before they're dead."

Since 2021, "Chucky" has been one of Scarywood's most popular and frightening characters, portrayed by cast member Brian Tortarolo.

As a seasoned cast member, Tortarolo roams throughout the park, inducing screams from visitors. At midnight, when the park closes, Tortarolo likes to chase people out with a chainsaw.

"I love Halloween and I love scaring people," said Tortarolo. "It's kind of like therapy. You need it once a year, to let it out."

Many of Scarywood's cast members return year after year, Meddock said. They are like a giant family and enjoy each other's company, with backgrounds ranging from television acting to teaching pre-school.

"A lot of them take these roles very seriously," she said. "It's almost their alter ego, so they become the character once they get out there."

Meddock said she expected about 4,000 visitors on opening night, an increase from last year. She expects attendance to rise as Halloween approaches and tickets to sell out in advance.

Among Scarywood's opening-night visitors was Jared Woody, who traveled from Montana. He said he has visited Silverwood before, but this is his first time at Scarywood.

"Seeing all the scary actors and decorations and stuff is really cool," Woody said. "We don't get this in Montana."

He said he is most excited to experience the new "Nightmares" attraction and rides in the dark.

Scarywood's closing night is Oct. 30. Until then, opening hours and ticket prices vary by day and are available online only at Scarywood's website. Tickets are limited and may sell out in advance. Scarywood is not recommended for children 12 and younger.

    Scarywood cast member Brandi Smithers has Jazmin Portee paint her face on Scarywood's opening night.
  

    Brian Tortarolo as "Chucky" and other Scarywood cast members prepare for opening night.
  

    Scarywood entrance with clowns lurking.
  

    Scarywood cast member on opening night.
  

    Scarywood cast member on opening night.