DANIELS, W.V. (LOOTPRESS) – This weekend, Frights Nights WV, southern West Virginia’s top haunted attraction, will open its 2021 season.
Ashley Long created Fright Nights 12 years ago with specific goals in mind. Five-year goals were completed in three, awards were won, and records were broken. Now, Long wants to make each season better than the last.
Unlike most events, Fright Nights stood strong against COVID-19 and was able to offer a 2020 season with some limitations. Despite the raging pandemic, Long says they saw record attendance and sold out every night.
This year, Fright Nights is expecting at least 10,000 people to go through their haunted experience. This year will offer five haunt scenes, including Ghost Town, Camp Kilamee, Freak Show, Asylum and Hex.
The haunted house features the work of more than 40 actors who, after graduating from scare school, are ready to leave a lasting impression.
“They learn how to be super scary,” Long explained. “We don’t say ‘Boo!’ here. We do more psychological scaring and jump scares.”
Like last year, this season, Fright Nights will be operating under its COVID-19 Scary Safe Program. People will be kept distant when entering each attraction, and groups will not be paired with other groups.
“You are going in with people you know,” Long stated. “So, if it’s a date night and only two people show up, you’re going in together. It makes it scarier, but so much fun.”
In addition to social distancing within the attractions, inside actors will be masked. The masks will either be concealed by makeup or by a costume. And, rather than having to wait in long lines, Fright Nights is continuing to offer timed ticketing.
“If your tickets are for 7:30 p.m., then you arrive at 7:30 p.m. You’ll get a text when it’s your time to enter the attraction,” Long shared. “In the meantime, there are no lines, so you can hang out at our big bonfire. We have concessions and beer, wine and jello shots available at our Beer Before Fear bar.”
Long said there will also be food trucks on-site and a large tent for seating.
Those who would prefer to wait in their cars can do so. They can even listen to Fright Nights’ radio station- 88.3, The Fear- which will be broadcasting horror trivia, music and more.
This season, Long says Fright Nights has something for everyone.
Those who like to be scared can enjoy a normal night, while those who like to be terrified can go through the attraction on October 31 during lights-out night. Those who want to enjoy Fright Nights but don’t like to be scared also have an option. Fright Nights will host a Fall Festival from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on October 10. During this time, guests can go through the attractions with the lights on. The animatronics will be on, but the actors will not be performing.
Managers are hidden in each attraction to pull out guests who can’t make it through. Long says it takes roughly 25 minutes to go through the haunted house.
The Fall Festival will also feature hayrides, inflatables, food and shopping vendors and more.
“I’m excited to watch this season grow,” Long stated. “You have to experience this at least once. We use the natural ambiance, and our sets are like you are literally walking right onto a movie set. Our actors are absolutely fantastic; they’re excellent. They are what set us apart from other haunted houses. It’s definitely worth seeing.”
Fright Nights WV is heavily active on all its social media pages, including Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. Tickets must be purchased in advance at frightnightswv.com.
Fright Nights is open every Friday and Saturday night in October. The attraction is located at 255 Resort Drive in Daniels.
