My Woods of Terror Story: 18 Years of Screams, Growth, and Family
By Erika Jones
Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve always loved Halloween. There was just something about the costumes, the makeup, and the thrill of being scared that appealed to me in all the best ways. At just 15 years old, I decided to really put my love of horror to the test by joining the scare actor team at my local haunted house, Woods of Terror.
Truthfully, I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
I remember walking up to a sea of other hopeful scare actors on audition day and immediately feeling like I belonged. Something just clicked from day one. I knew this was where I was supposed to be.
I started my “career” as a victim from the SAW franchise. Chained to a dentist chair, I pleaded for my life night after night throughout the Halloween season. It was the weirdest job I’d ever had,and to this day, it’s still my favorite.
Back then, our movie scene was nothing more than a brick facade of a burned down theater, an old movie screen, and a few dark turns through the woods, with my section completely out in the open. Fast forward to today, and Horrorwood Cinema has become one of the most iconic attractions at Woods of Terror. The towering marquee rises above the trees, drawing guests in year after year. Add horror legends like Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger, and Jason Voorhees, and it’s easy to see why it’s become such a fan favorite.
Year after year, I kept coming back to Woods of Terror. Some seasons I was there every single night. Other years, life made it harder, and I could only help in a smaller capacity. But no matter what was going on in my life, I could never truly stay away.
There’s something magnetic about this place.
It has a way of pulling people back every fall. Actors, makeup artists, builders, managers, security, concessions, so many of us return season after season because Woods of Terror becomes so much more than just a haunted house. It becomes a second home.
Watching the transformation of this show over the last 18 years has been nothing short of incredible. I honestly don’t think people realize just how special this place really is.
Since 2008, I’ve watched small attractions become massive productions. I’ve seen our makeup department evolve from cream paints and Spirit Halloween stage blood to professional airbrush systems and some of the best alcohol-activated makeup on the market. Our costumes have transformed from pieces that could have been found at a local thrift store into Hollywood-quality creations that are as detailed as they are terrifying.
Every year, the sets become bigger. The monsters become more immersive. The stories become more detailed. The scares become better.
And somehow, we always find a way to top ourselves.
Woods of Terror has continued to earn recognition as one of the top haunted attractions in the country. Every season, our team pours countless hours of hard work, creativity, and passion into bringing nightmares to life. From the carpenters building incredible new sets to the makeup artists transforming actors into monsters, every person behind the scenes helps create the experience our guests have come to love.
I’m incredibly proud to have witnessed this place grow into everything I always believed it could be. And I know we’re nowhere near finished.
When I was a young haunter, we’d hear whispers about the Legendary Haunt Tour. It was something almost mythical. Only the best haunted attractions in the country earned a spot on that tour, and getting to visit those shows felt like standing in the presence of haunted house royalty.
Now, in our 35th legendary year, Woods of Terror has earned its place on that prestigious tour.
To think that the haunted house where I started as a scared 15-year-old kid has grown into one of the country’s premier haunted attractions is something I’ll never take for granted.
It’s honestly crazy to think that our show was once less than half the size it is today. We had fewer attractions, a much smaller staff, and attendance that looked nothing like it does now.
Today, working a busy Saturday night at Woods of Terror feels like working at Disney World. Thousands of guests fill the midway. The energy is electric. The screams never stop. The nights fly by in the blink of an eye, and every season creates memories I’ll carry with me forever.
Getting to watch this place grow into something so extraordinary has truly been one of the greatest honors of my life. Woods of Terror has given me lifelong friendships, unforgettable experiences, and a second family that I’ll always cherish.
It started as a place where I wanted to scare People.
It became the place that helped shape who I am.
