Artist Spotlight

This month in our web exclusive spotlight we bring you Nightmare Acres based out of South Windsor, CT...happy Spooky Season!

Hidden away in the woods in South Windsor, Connecticut is Nightmare Acres, a little pocket where Hell spilled over. The haunt describes itself as “a 30-45 minute outdoor walkthrough where you will truly experience your worst nightmares.” And, Black Noise has the pleasure of getting inside the mind of the man behind the madness, Frank Colon.

Dakota Fenrir : First, I would like to express appreciation for you taking time out of your busy schedule to chat with me. I know you’re gearing up for the season. So, how did Nightmare Acres come to be & how has it changed since the beginning?

Frank Colon : NIGHTMARE ACRES BEGAN AS NIGHTMARE CORN MAZE IN 2015 ON A FARM IN GLASTONBURY, CONNECTICUT. IN 2016 I JOINED AS AN ACTOR AND IN 2017 I CAME ON AS A BUILDER WHEN WE MOVED TO OUR CURRENT LOCATION WHERE WE BECAME NIGHTMARE ACRES. THE CHANGES HAVE BEEN NUTS AS FAR AS THE SIZE OF THE SHOW GOES. WE'VE ALSO GROWN HUGELY AS A BUSINESS AND LEARNING HOW TO CONDUCT OURSELVES AS SUCH.

DF : What’s it like running a haunted attraction?

FC : A FUCKING NIGHTMARE... IT TRULY IS A LABOR OF LOVE TO WORK YEAR ROUND ON SOMETHING THAT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR ONLY 15 NIGHTS. AT TIMES IT CAN BE A HEADACHE; BETWEEN DEALING WITH UNRULY CUSTOMERS AND ACTORS. A LOT OF ACTORS COME INTO THIS THINKING SCARING IS EASY. EVEN FOR THOSE WHO ENJOY IT, IT IS LABOR INTENSIVE. YOU GOTTA BE IN YOUR A-GAME AT ALL TIMES; IT IS A TYPE OF MARATHON. YOU HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY AND REALLY PUSH TO GET THROUGH EVERY NIGHT WHEN YOU'RE SCARING AN AVERAGE OF 1000+ CUSTOMERS A NIGHT. ACTORS DROP LIKE FLIES, SOME EVEN AFTER TRAINING NIGHT; AND WHEN THEY DROP YOU EITHER HOPE FOR MORE PEOPLE TO APPLY OR YOU YOU HAVE TO SUCK IT UP AND SHIFT THE SHOW TO MAKE IT WORK.

DF : What’s something they don’t tell you about starting a haunt?

FC : HOW SHITTY SOME CUSTOMERS CAN BE. THE GENERAL PUBLIC HAS NO IDEA HOW MUCH WORK GOES INTO PUTTING ON A SEASONAL SHOW. MOST PEOPLE ARE GREAT ATTENDEES BUT THERE'S THAT SMALL HANDFUL THAT COME OUT, HAVE ZERO RESPECT AND MAKE THINGS SHITTY. THERE'S SO MANY ASPECTS TO STARTING AND RUNNING A HAUNTED ATTRACTION THAT I COULD WRITE AN ENTIRE BOOK.

DF : Without revealing too much, what can people expect from Nightmare Acres this season?

FC : ANOTHER LEFT TURN ... SERIOUSLY, WALLS HAVE MOVED SCARES HAVE IMPROVED AND THE FLOW SHOULD BE THE BEST IT'S EVER BEEN.

DF : What’s something you’ve gotten to do because of Nightmare Acres that you might not have had the opportunity to otherwise?

FC : BEING CONTRACTED OUT BY THEME PARKS TO REPAIR, REDESIGN AND IMPROVE HAUNTS. I'VE BEEN ABLE TO GO TO MULTIPLE TRADE SHOWS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE HAUNT INDUSTRY. I'VE EVEN BEEN ABLE TO GO TO A PAINTBALL TRADESHOW TO LEARN HOW TO SETUP AND OPERATE OUR OWN PAINTBALL FIELDS ON SOME OF THE PROPERTY THAT ISN'T BEING UTILIZED FOR THE HAUNT.

DF : What is a goal you aspire to for Nightmare Acres?

FC : 50TH ANNIVERSARY. I WOULD LOVE TO SIT BACK SOMETIME FROM NOW AND SEE THE SHOW STILL FLOURISHING IN ALL IT'S GLORY.

DF : What advice would you give to someone interested in starting their own haunt?

FC : DON'T DO IT! YOU HAVE TO REALLY TRULY BE PASSIONATE ABOUT IT. BUILDING, PLANNING AND OPERATING A HAUNTED ATTRACTION WILL TAKE EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT AND THEN SOME. YOU HAVE TO LIVE AND BREATH HAUNT. IT WILL TAKE ALL OF YOUR TIME. LUCKILY WE'RE AT THE POINT NOW WHERE WE CAN AFFORD TO DO THIS AS A FULL TIME GIG(BARELY). WE ARE DEFINITELY STARVING ARTISTS. BUT IN THE EARLY YEARS, WE USED TO WORK OUR 40+ HOUR JOBS AND WORK 40+ HOURS PUTTING THE HAUNT TOGETHER.

DF : What is one mistake you made early on that you didn't expect?

FC : BURNING MYSELF ON A CHAINSAW MUFFLER... HONESTLY THERE'S TOO MANY TO LIST. YOU'RE GONNA MAKE MISTAKES AND HONESTLY THOSE ARE JUST LEARNING MOMENTS.

DF : Do you have staffing advice? How do you vet your security & actors?

FC : BUILD A FAMILY FOR THE "FREAKS AND GEEKS". YOU WANNA HIRE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT AFRAID TO BE THEMSELVES. YOU WANT PEOPLE WHO NORMALLY DEAL WITH RUDE CUSTOMERS ALL DAY, THAT IS THEIR FUEL. VETTING CAN BE HARD, YOU NEVER KNOW WHO'S GONNA SHOW UP BUT, THAT'S WHAT BACKGROUND CHECKS ARE FOR. I ALSO TELL ALL MY ACTORS TO REPORT ANY AND ALL OUT THERE COMMENTS. NIGHTMARE ACRES IS A SAFE SPACE FOR "WEIRDOS" AND I WILL ALWAYS AIM TO KEEP IT THAT WAY.

DF : How much of the haunt is hand-built & how much have you sourced externally?

FC : 99% MOST EVERYTHING HERE IS BUILT WITH OUR OWN BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS... MOSTLY TEARS AND BLOOD.

DF : What in your personal life has made it possible for you to be a successful haunter?

FC : BEING A FUCKING MANIAC. I'VE ALWAYS REALLY LIKED BREAKING THINGS DOWN AND PUTTING THEM BACK TOGETHER. MY MAIN SKILL ASIDE FROM HAUNT ACTING IS BUILDING. I LIKE BEING HANDY AND FIGURING OUT PUZZLES. HAUNT BUILDING ISN'T LIKE BUILDING A HOME AND FOLLOWING A BLUEPRINT. IT'S MORE LIKE, HERE'S AN IDEA NOW LET'S FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE IT WORK. IT ALSO TAKES TONS OF PATIENCE. HAUNTS DON'T JUST POP UP OVERNIGHT LIKE MOST PEOPLE THINK. IT IS A YEAR ROUND MIND FUCK.

DF : I cannot thank you enough for this incredibly insightful look behind the scenes of running a haunted attraction. As someone who has worked for your haunt, I can tell our readers it is everything it claims and more! The community that he has created amongst his actors and staff is phenomenal and that energy comes through in every facet of the show. If you haven't gone in previous seasons, I highly recommend that you go experience Nightmare Acres for yourself!

You can find out more about Nightmare Acres at Nightmare Acres