Eight years of providing Halloween scares at Nightmare at Beaver Lake and actors have never once failed to reach their goal — to make an adult patron wet his or her pants.
“Sometimes we get it on the opening night, sometimes we get it on Halloween night, we’ve never not had a year where somebody didn’t,” said Dana Young, a Sammamish resident and member of Scare Productions.
Approximately 350 volunteer werewolves, vampires, zombies and other ghouls will take their shot at the coveted prize — a toilet seat with a plaque on it — when the annual outdoor haunt kicks off at 7 p.m., Friday at Beaver Lake Park.
The Nightmare runs through Halloween night, open every night except Monday, Oct. 22 and Tuesday, Oct. 23.
As is the case every year, there will be plenty of new surprises for those brave enough to take the 3/4-mile stroll through the dimly lit woods.
“We change 90 percent of our show every year,” Young said. “The 10 percent we keep, we change it up. You might see a strobe room again, but it’s going to look different.”
There are several interesting sets this year, including “twisted books,” which will provide scary takes on many popular novels past and present. Some books on the list include Hunger Games, Lord of the Flies and Macbeth.
Visitors will also tour dozens of other spooky scenes, including a field of vampires and a post-apocalyptic zombie village, equipped with a burning car.
With live, unscripted actors and no reliance on expensive animatronics, Young said visitors are guaranteed one of the more unique Halloween experiences in the state.
The actors — many who are local high school students — are taught the psychology of scaring people and how specific ghouls are supposed to act. She said the improvisational freedom of each actor makes for a different experience every time.
Cary Young, who is the Rotary Club’s team leader for Nightmare at Beaver Lake, admits she’s been caught off guard several times.
“I never knew I could laugh and scream at the same time,” she said. “It’s a bizarre sound that I didn’t know I could make.”
The entire tour takes roughly 45 minutes to an hour to complete — if there’s no running involved.
There are options for the young ones as a family hour is held from 7-8 p.m. each night. The full scare runs from 8-10 p.m. on weekdays and 8-11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
“The whole show is bloodier after 8,” Dana Young said.
As for keeping the pants-wetting streak alive, she’s confident it will continue. And when it does happen, there’s no hiding it.
“How do you know somebody peed?,” she asked. “First of all the smell. And the other thing is, and I don’t know why they do it, they always go ‘Oh, my God, I just peed my pants.’”
Nightmare at Beaver Lake is produced by the Rotary Club of Sammamish in partnership with Scare Productions, KZOK Radio and the City of Sammamish.
The event drew 12,000 people in 2011 and organizers are targeting 14,000 during the ninth annual event.
All proceeds go to fund scholarships for students at all three Plateau high schools as well as several area charities.
Nightmare at Beaver Lake
When: Oct. 19 – 31, closed Oct. 22-23.
Family Hour: 7 – 7:45 p.m.
Full Scare: 8 – 10 p.m. (school nights); 8 – 11 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays
Admission: Family hour, $10 per person; Full scare, $16 per person.
Discounts: Donation of canned food to Lifewire provides $1 discount and $3 discount coupons are available at select retailers.
Zombie ride: For the first time, a zombie motorcycle ride will make its way to the Nightmare at Beaver Lake on opening night. Sponsored by KZOK 102.5 FM, approximately 60 zombie motorcycle riders will make their way from Eastside Harley in Bellevue to the Sammamish haunt. Riders are expected to show up by 8 p.m. Former childhood television star and current KZOK DJ Danny Bonaduce will be broadcasting live from the event.
More information: www.nightmareatbeaverlake.com
