Indy Scream Park

Hannah Elstro, MVC Writer

It’s that time of year again: Indy Scream Park is coming to town. 

One of the most anticipated attractions in Indiana, Indy Scream Park

Sugar Skull and Icky the Clown pose with each other (Piper Todd)

offers a unique Halloween experience which is sure to be remembered. The park opens September 10th, remaining open throughout both September and October in anticipation of Halloween. The park is open Friday to Sunday in September, but open every night in October. Tickets ranging from $25 to $40, depending on whether or not a VIP pass (which allows a person to skip the lines) is purchased and if tickets are bought at the door (which is $5 extra) or online. A must-see for any horror lovers, it is one of the most famous and highly anticipated Halloween attractions in Indiana.

In the entryway of the park lies Monster Midway. It looks like a normal fairground, offering food, drinks, and entertainment — if not for the monsters found wandering around. Reports have cited several strange monsters living there throughout the years, including Icky, Sticky, and Bonzo, three psychotic clowns; a mute man in a straightjacket named Gaunt; Doll, who is fairly self-explanatory; and a skeleton named Sugar Skull who got trapped in the grounds on the Day of the Dead. 

A group looks terrified as they pose with Icky the Clown (Piper Todd)

For those not yet ready to venture deeper into Monster Midway, have no fear. Guests who go straight after reaching the entrance will find themselves on a path leading to either Zombieland or the Backwoods. 

For Zombieland, it’s just what it sounds like. This attraction puts guests in the shoes of a survivor of the zombie apocalypse, just trying to make it to the end of a zombie-infested land unscathed. Beware of the risks, though — anyone who joins in on this interactive journey may be separated from their group or grabbed.

If any wandering souls somehow survive Zombieland and continue on the path, they may just find themselves in the Backwoods. The Backwoods are a corner of a national park, where guests are supposed to be enjoying a hike. This serene corner soon turns into a half a mile fight for life as cannibalistic hillbillies appear around every corner, intent on killing anyone who can’t stumble their way back out.

If neither Zombielands or the Backwoods is your cup of tea, though, there’s always Nightmare Factory Blackout, Killgore’s 3D Circus, or Mutations. All indoor attractions located to the far left of the entrance, these attractions should be more geared towards those less athletically inclined.

Icky the Clown and Infected (Piper Todd)

In Nightmare Factory Blackout, guests are trapped wandering around in complete darkness when the radiator at the factory they’re in goes out. When strange things start happening, the goal becomes survival as everyone tries to escape the darkness and the factory’s new inhabitants.

Killgore’s 3D Circus is an annual attraction, appearing out of thin air and disappearing just as quickly. 3D glasses are provided, right before their assortment of not-so-friendly clowns arrive. This homicidal troupe has been said to always give a killer show.

Mutations is the only other interactive attraction in the park, which means that customers can be grabbed in it. In this world, a pandemic that mutates humans has broken out. A group of doctors are trying to save those who wander into the doomed facility, leading to them bringing anyone who enters through rooms filled with mutated, virus-ridden people in search of an exit.

Sugar Skull and Icky the Clown pose with each other (Piper Todd)

For an extra fee, guests can also experience Zombie Paintball Assault. Just to the right of the indoor attractions’ building, Zombie Paintball Assault is far from a normal bus tour. In this thrilling ride, Lieutenant Ronald McDonald has recruited guests to bring in the season’s zombie quota from the safety of a school bus — but Lutindent McDonald might have lost a few marbles on his previous trips. Make sure to snag  tickets quickly, as they can sell out. Zombie Paintball Assault tickets can be found online, along with the prices — $9.95 for 100 paintballs, $14.95 for 200, and $19.95 for 300.

So, if you’re looking for a good scare this fall, Indy Scream Park is the place to go. For any more information on the park, attractions, prices, passes, or any other questions, make sure to visit their website, linked here.