By Karla Sullivan
Beginning this trip on the west coast and making our way across the country, to a once famous ship who boasted five dining areas, lounges, two cocktail bars and swimming pools, grand ballroom and even a small hospital. The Queen Mary was the only civilized way to travel carrying celebrities such as Bob Hope and dignitaries such as Clark Gable. As World War II started, the ship was stripped of its luxury, returned to passenger travel after, and departed on her final destination. She is now a floating Hotel, attraction and event venue that hosts. Dark Harbor, a unique haunting experience that offers an unforgettable scare.
Midwest:
Erebus, located in Pontiac Michigan, is considered one of the largest venues with crushing walls and bottomless pits. The four-story haunted house tells a story of Dr. Colbert who actually built a time machine for the government. He broke away. Did it in secret in this building downtown Pontiac. And every time he put someone in his time machine, the time period looked at them as a virus and wiped them out. Obsessed with trying to make this thing work, he sent more and more of his people into the machine. Eventually he ran out of personnel and ran out of financing. But then he had a brilliant idea: disguise the time machine as a haunted house. Now he had an endless supply of human guinea pigs willing to go in, but also to help finance the program.
East
One of America’s scariest is Terror Behind the Walls at Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania consistently ranked in the top ten of haunted attractions. This is a massive haunted house in a real prison. Real stories are brought to life in the famed Cell block 12. Visitors have options: they can explore the prison and watch or they can opt for interactivity which includes being grabbed, held back or even removed from their group. Many do believe that the Penitentiary is haunted. Officer and inmates have reported visions or strange experiences.
South
The 13th Gate in Baton Rouge, is one of the largest haunted houses in the South and have been scaring guests since 2002. The areas are both indoors and outdoors which are regularly switched out. They opened a second attraction in 2011 and doubled their size with hundreds of zombie filled crypts and their incredible attention to detail.
And what about insurance for these either year round or seasonal attractions?
Haunted house insurance is available that specifically covers liability, excess liability if needed and volunteer accident insurance.
Although injuries are uncommon, a frightened person can accidentally trip, not just a visitor, but employees as well. Many interactive houses do have you sign a waver if you want to be involved in the action that they are not responsible for injury.
Haunted House insurance may have some exceptions which means that in some cases pyrotechnics, live animals, stunts, mechanical devices, private armed security guards, trap doors, chutes and even actors jumping out at visitors may not be covered. Therefore, it is important to discuss your attraction in depth with a qualified agent.
Workers compensation is a requirement in most states if you have employees. It provides coverage for injury, medical bills, loss of income and death for full and part-time workers.
The risk of injury to haunted house employees by frightened customers in the haunted house makes it a very good idea to get this coverage even if it is not a requirement in your state.
Happy haunting!
