Breaking News
Lifestyle Feature

Big scares and spooky nightmares

By Travis Rosenau 8 min read

NEW ULM -- For those in favor of a good scare, the area is once again buzzing with Halloween haunts, tours and spooky festivities.

NEW ULM NIGHTMARES

Doug Hughes of New Ulm Nightmares wants it clear that area fans of all things creepy and spooky don't have to travel far to experience some of those scary thrills.

New Ulm Nightmares has been the go-to haunted house attraction for more than a decade and it continues with two new haunted houses at the Brown County Fairgrounds.

This year, the indoor haunted houses revolve around zombies and paranormal activity. The first weekend is in the books, but there will be two more weekends of haunts left, taking place on Oct. 23 and Oct. 24, along with Oct. 30 and Oct. 31.

"We want you to come and be scared," Hughes said. "The whole goal of a haunted house is to be scared, but you're having fun. At the end of it, you're laughing, it's a great time."

Nick Vigil is back to assist Hughes with his haunted nightmare creations, the fourth year Vigil has been on board as a creator and haunted house runner for New Ulm Nightmares.

"We always try to get together and come up with themes and things like that," Vigil said. "Scenic design stuff, I love doing. At the high school now they're doing 'Footloose,' and I'm building a set there, too, so I jump from this set build to that set build. And I work at Screamtown [in Chaska]."

"He'll be soon past the master," Hughes joked. "He's already passes me with all the technology … I'm old school still."

"Zombie Apocalypse" was Vigil's haunted creation this year, while Hughes came up with "Paranormal Inc."

Hughes said he and Vigil think of ideas for the haunted houses years in advance and often have extra ideas in mind to sprinkle in when it makes sense.

"I try to remember the next year what we're gonna do, so I try to save scares and things for the next year," Hughes said. "It's hard not to use all the scares we have and all the techniques [laughs]."

Vigil said it's not easy remembering all of his scary ideas because he has so many of them.

"I try my best to keep track," Vigil said. "I know Doug's got a ton of ideas for his. We have other ideas and then we scrap those ones because we just forgot about them, so then we have to bring them back for next year."

In "Zombie Apocalypse," the town's been infected and those who enter must make their way to the subway station to get out of town. The other haunted house, called "Paranormal Inc.," which sees paranormal activity going on in an old house that got so bad the family trying to sell the house call in Paranormal Inc., something Hughes called a play off of Ghostbusters. However, Paranormal Inc. has never encountered something like what is in the house and several members have gone missing.

"Each year it's getting more and more," Hughes said of the turnout. "We're getting a lot from Mankato, we're getting a lot from farther away. Besides the regular crowd that we love, we're getting more from Mankato, St. Peter, Owatonna, even up in the cities. Last year we asked people in line where they're from, where did they hear about it, we hear Chaska and the cities."

Vigil said last year he even heard some attendees came from Iowa.

Those interested in going this year can buy tickets online at newulmnightmares.com or at the fairgrounds, which will also offer free parking. Tickets are $15 per person for access into the fairgrounds and two haunted houses, while a $20 fastpass is offered per person, which includes front-of-the-line or quicker access to both haunted houses. There will also be a $25 VIP fastpass available per person, which includes front-of-the-line access to both haunts, preferred parking, extra experiences in one of the haunts and a free bag of popcorn or sticker, limited amount.

On Halloween Night, this year taking place on a Saturday, it will be sticker night from 9:30-10:30 p.m., with both haunts being "blackout" haunts, which means guests will only be given one glowstick to make it through the haunts. Along the way, creatures, ghouls and zombies will be waiting to try to tag haunt goers that get too close with a sticker, giving an extra challenge to get through unscathed.

Hughes said New Ulm Nightmares relies more on good, old-fashioned scares and a lot of friends and family assistance.

"We don't like blood and guts, sometimes we have a little bit, but we rely on the creepiness factor or the scare factor or the pop-out, that's what we like," Hughes said. "We have a tons of family and friends that do a lot [to help]. Without them, we can't really do anything."

Hughes also said he has about 30 volunteers helping out and also said Brown County Fairgrounds manager John Dietz has been a big help.

This year will also have new Halloween-themed drinks and mini donuts by Chasing Sunset Drink Co. available for purchase. There will also be two brand-new, five-minute escape rooms, which will cost an additional $5 per person, per escape room. In addition to that, "Pumpkin Chuckin'" is back, giving those interested a chance to shoot three pumpkins from slingshots to hit targets and win prizes. "Pumpkin Chuckin'" costs $5 for three pumpkins.

October 24 will also feature a no-scares Halloween experience for kids during the day which sees no scare actors and lights on in both haunted houses for $5 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

"They can come through, all the lights will be on and no scares, no scare actors, but people can come see and shoe their kids a haunted house," Hughes said. "Both houses are open and they get free candy and stuff. It's kind of a fun way to experience the haunt without being scared."

For more, see newulmnightmares.com.

LAST YEAR OF NIGHTMARE UNDERGROUND

Zoo Man's Nightmare Underground in Sleepy Eye will have its final year as a haunted house setup in October as Brent "Zoo Man" Mielke prepares to transition his collection of spooky, silly and strange props into a year-round exhibit.

"I want to make a museum," Mielke said. "That's my goal is to have a big, big museum and then people can enjoy it year-round. I'm getting older and not that I'm running out of energy, I just want to do something else and if people want to come in and look at my stuff, that's great, they can come in all year round instead of just a couple weeks each year."

Those interested in going to the Zoo Man's Nightmare Underground yet this season, it will be open yet on Oct. 24, Oct. 29, Oct. 30 and Oct. 31. Interested parties are asked to call for their appointment to book a time slot by calling Mielke at 507-766-2523. Thursdays open at 7 p.m., but Zoo Man said he's willing to open earlier on Fridays and Saturdays, depending upon how many interested parties there are. Saturday afternoon haunts begin at 4 p.m.

Zoo Man's Nightmare Underground can be located at 145 East Main Street in Sleepy Eye.

The haunted adventure begins with a walk down a set of creepy stairs as werewolves howl and a guide leads the way through one of the area's most decorated haunted attractions. There's also a large clown room that won't have those who step inside laughing for long. In addition to that, Zoo Man has set up a big picture window to step into for a great photo opportunity.

Zoo Man said he will allow four guests to pass through at a time, with a group of four costing $60 total. Mielke is once again offering a Sleepy Eye Ghost Tour or a tour of the 1895 Opera House. Small-group tours of four people per tour costs $60. The Ghost Tour stories are based on true happenings in Sleepy Eye, with local folklore and a little extra Halloween fun along the way. Those interested in any of those tours are again asked to call 507-766-2523 to book their experience.

More information is available on Facebook at Zoo Man's Nightmare Underground.

OTHER HALLOWEEN FUN

Halloween Hop returns to New Ulm on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 10 a.m. to noon. Families are invited to make their away around New Ulm to visit participating businesses for a morning of trick-or-treating and Halloween fun. Participating businesses will welcome trick-or-treaters and hand out candy or other treats during the event. A complete list of participating businesses can be found at www.newulm.com. The Halloween Scavenger Hunt is also being held in conjunction with the Halloween Hop at the Brown County Historical Society museum. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., those interested can stop into the museum for free admission and a fun scavenger hunt for kids that will feature candy, activities, and more. All ages are welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Starting at /week.