INCLUDES SERIOUSLY CREEPY VIDEO | Here’s a ‘peek behind the curtain’ at the best Hallowe’en attraction in the area – one that has folks from outer East Portland screaming (some, in delight) …
On opening night, guests shiver with anticipation of the thrills to come in ScareGrounds PDX at Oaks Amusement Park, now through the Hallowe’en season.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
On opening night – Friday, October 6 – the cast and crew of ScareGrounds PDX were scurrying to make sure everything was ready for visitors to be immersed in a world of Hallowe’en horror, at historic Oaks Amusement Park.
In the backstage lot, while some of the characters were still in makeup and costuming, others were gathering the terrifying props they’d be using throughout the evening.
Making sure all is in readiness is Estelle Fulmor of Vendetta Productions LLC.
“We really like being at Oaks Amusement Park – it’s our fourth year here – because there’s already an amusement park here, with great rides and other attractions,” Estelle Fulmor, of Vendetta Productions LLC, told East Portland News.
“Another thing about The Oaks is the family atmosphere, which makes this the ideal location for our ‘haunt’ production,” Fulmor added.
In the makeup department, another character is prepared for a role in one of the haunted houses.
“We are a ‘premier haunt’ here in Oregon; we were recently named one of the ‘Top Haunts’ by the Haunted Attraction Association organization — cited for both the safety and the quality of our show,” proudly pointed out Fulmor.
Watch, and get a peek “behind the curtain” – as well as previewing some of the attractions at
ScareGrounds PDX:
The themes of their haunts this year are:
The Complex – Enter a world full of mutant experiments, where horrifying monsters haunt your dreams.
Slayers – Face off against iconic monsters like vampires, werewolves, and more in this thrilling haunt.
Silver Scream – Silver Scream returns with more of the villains and monsters from film lore, ready to send shivers down your spine.
“We choose the themes for each season based on stories that are popular in current culture,” Fulmor explained.
“We also take into consideration creative ideas from our associates. We believe that we’ve created some really good storylines!”
In this haunted house, gruesome experiments are taking place.
In the Sideshow area, you might run into this tall walking zombie.
Their starting crew list numbered 111; about 65 to 75 of them are actor-characters. “We also have makeup artists and technicians who, when their work is completed, then transition to being haunters.
“The best part of this, for me, is that – behind the scenes – we’ve become a group of friends that are timeless,” observed Fulmor. “I met my partner, Alex, working at a haunted house, and we were married at a haunted house. Our crew gets to be a family a month out of each year – when we get to dress up, be the people we wanted to be, and provide a great show.”
Is this host, moving toward us, dead … or alive? It’s time to move along ...
In addition to these three chilling haunted houses, guests can take in featured sideshow attractions, browse sinister concessions, play haunt-theme games – and of course enjoy all the rides, games, and food that Oaks Amusement Park itself has to offer.
ScareGrounds PDX
- Open October 13th-15th, 20th-24th, 27th-31st, and again on November 3rd-4th
- Rides open at 6 p.m.; Haunted Houses open at 7 p.m.
- Tickets start at $22
- For more information and to purchase tickets, CLICK HERE.
- To learn the days and hours of Oaks Amusement Park rides, and to purchase bracelets and pre-pay parking fees, CLICK HERE.
© 2023 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™
click here to subscribe
