Every night at Woods of Terror, the evening begins with something you might not expect at a haunted attraction.
Before the screams really get going, before guests head into the attractions, and before the night takes over the Midway, the Woods of Terror band takes the stage and plays the National Anthem, a loud, unapologetically rock and roll version of one of America’s most recognizable songs.
For Eddie McLaurin, owner and operator of Woods of Terror, it is much more than an opening song. It is a tradition rooted in gratitude, patriotism, and respect for the men and women who serve this country.
For years, Eddie invited local school groups, choirs, and talented singers to come out to Woods of Terror and perform the National Anthem. It became something special for the haunt and for the young people who had the opportunity to stand in front of a crowd and sing.
Then, in 2016, Eddie decided to take the tradition in a new direction.
That was the year the Woods of Terror band was formed, and the band began performing the National Anthem every night during the haunt season.
And they don’t play it quietly.
The Woods of Terror version brings the energy of a rock concert to a song that represents something much bigger than entertainment. Guitars, drums, vocals, and the unmistakable sound of the WOT band turn the National Anthem into an opening-night ritual that is uniquely Woods of Terror.
It is one of those moments that reminds guests that Woods of Terror is about more than haunted houses.
Eddie has always been extremely patriotic, and the National Anthem gives him an opportunity every night to recognize the people who make the freedoms we often take for granted possible.
That includes the brave men and women of the United States military.
Eddie is deeply grateful to those who have served and those who continue to serve. The freedom to build a business, entertain thousands of people, create jobs, put on a massive Halloween production, and operate Woods of Terror year after year is something he does not take lightly.
So while guests may come to Woods of Terror for the screams, the costumes, the sets, the Midway, and the entertainment, there is a moment every night that carries a different kind of meaning.
The lights come up.
The band takes the stage.
The National Anthem begins.
And for a few minutes, the entire Midway pauses to recognize the country, the freedoms we share, and the people who have sacrificed to protect them.
It has been part of the Woods of Terror experience since 2016, and after all these years, it remains one of the traditions Eddie is proudest to continue.
Because at Woods of Terror, even in the middle of Halloween, there is always room to stop and say thank you.
Woods of Terror. Bigger. Better. The Best.
