New Haunt Opening! Track our Progress!

[shawnc]

We have learned over the years many tricks and tips on working with a tiny budget. We build soley around with what we find. If anyone would like some tips on that topic, or has a small budget to work with - we are bursting with great CHEAP ideas to acheive a quality product.

Now there's an idea for a new book.

The place looks great, especially working on a small budget.

[OblivionHauntedHouse]

We dont have the time to write a book, or we would. But I am willing to share any and all info, tips or tricks I know to any haunters in need. Thanks for the comments, Shawnc!

[chuck weber]

everyday. Incredible stuff you can just pick up and take. Travel the highways and byways with a big, open empty truck. You'll be surprised what you'll come back with. great props, furniture, and stuff you can use in your room scenes. You guys got it all going on! Good luck. The place looks great so far. It's all in just using your imagination.

[Front Yard Fright]

It's looking great guys! Keep up the awesome work!

[OblivionHauntedHouse]

everyday. Incredible stuff you can just pick up and take. Travel the highways and byways with a big, open empty truck. You'll be surprised what you'll come back with. great props, furniture, and stuff you can use in your room scenes. You guys got it all going on! Good luck. The place looks great so far. It's all in just using your imagination.

You got that right! If you look really close at the elevator picture...the buttons are actually shotgun shell tops shoved into foam. We ofcourse will paint and detail it all but its all about thinking outside the box.

Thanks for the compliments. We are pretty excited about the event.

[xtremecreator]

Looks Great!
I noticed you are using wood 2x4's and OSB in a non
cumbustible building. Did you check with the fire marshal? I know you can sometimes set up a temporary haunt and get away with it. But if its permanent they might require steel studs and such.

Thanks

[freak 'n' stein]

AMAZING new attraction. I especially love the logo. The "Ticket Pods" are cool too!

I was also gonna comment on your panels. Are the OSB boards on 2x2 frames? Yours look slightly thinner than traditional haunt panels.

PLEASE KEEP US POSTED!!!

[OblivionHauntedHouse]

Our panels are 2x2x8 frames with half inch OSB on them. Previously approved by our fire marshall. They requested a special Emergency exit system, however. We basically have a parameter hallway around the whole event as well as center halls between each section that all of our E-doors push out to. These halls all exit to a exterior fire exit and are properly lit at all times. I thought it would be a pain at first, but has proven to be quite efficiant in getting around our haunt

[OblivionHauntedHouse]

I received a couple PM's regarding our furnace in the basement scene. We do not purchase vacuform panels. Although I would LOVE to, we just cannot afford it for our first year. The furnace was actually a wooden crate that something was shipped in, and we picked it up outside of a dumpster. We cut the drop panel door in it and trimmed it out.

Onto the bricks. I have a big pet peve when you are in a haunt and walk close to a practical prop or peice, and touch that peice... it should feel real. Now after going to a convention or two, your first thought would be to go with vacuform which is a great choice, but can get kind of pricey.

Here is what we do....

Go to your hardware store or Habitat Re Store (if you have those, they are amazing. A thrift store for building materials!!!) and purchase a cheep 5 gallon bucket of drywall mud and various sized mud spatulas.

Apply the mud quite heavy in the form of bricks. Once dry, paint the entire surface the desired color of your brick. When that drys - paint in the grout to your desired color. be sure to water down the grout paint. It should be a bit thicker than milk consistancy. This will help you get cleaner, smoother looking lines. From there, if you are feeling artsy you can go in and add low lights and highlights to each brick.

Easy distressing: Walmart sells colorplace BLACK cheap ass paint for like 80 cents a can. You can buy a case for less than 20 bucks and it will last you all season. This stuff will not cover anything solid - lets face it. you get what you pay for...but thats why you got it. Its cheap! It works fantastic for hitting the edges of props. costumes, etc for a darkened old distressed look.

Now when your customers touch your pillars, furnaces, or exposed brick showing through wallpaper - it will appear to be real brick, for a lot cheaper than the other routes.

I hope that helped.

-Erick

[scarygoat]

Love what your doing! Would have never guessed what your budget was after seeing those sets!