The 7th Street Haunt, Lou-Evil’s Newest Haunted Attraction
By Noah Wullkotte/ jollypumpkin@aol.com
Today we interview Travis Boling, owner and operator of The 7th Street Haunt in Louisville, Kentucky. Travis has been working at different haunts all over Greater Louisville for many years and now has his own haunted attraction. In this interview you’ll learn about what makes The 7th Street Haunt unique and what customers have to look forward to this haunt season. Without further ado, here is City Blood’s interview with Travis Boling of The 7th Street Haunt.
How has working at Psychomania, Theater of Terror influenced you in creating The 7th Street Haunt?
Working not only at Psychomania but all the Fright Night Productions haunts such as Quarantine, Chamber of Horrors, and 31 Ways to Terror has really been a learning experience. With The 7th Street haunt I now had a chance to take all the ideas and scenes that we had done for all those years and really build off of them. With the blessings of Phil Granger and Matt Kemp, I started my quest to build the The 7th Street Haunt.
One thing that I kept in mind the whole time that we were building The 7th Street Haunt is something that Phil had always said. He said to “keep them entertained from when they pull up to the lot until they leave”. You won’t go anywhere at The 7th Street Haunt where you will not be entertained. The guests come 1st and always will. I guess that is what I took from Psychomania.
Louisville is a very competitive market when it comes to haunts. How do you plan on competing with established haunts that have large followings?
My view is that the Louisville haunt scene is friendly competition. I have received so much help and support from my “competitors” that I can only believe that they want me to succeed too.
How large is The 7th Street Haunt and are you utilizing every square foot?
The location of The 7th Street Haunt is over 13,000 sq feet; which apart from the exit hallways and make-up/staff rooms is all pure terror.
What are some of the difficulties you have faced starting your first haunt?
You name it and it’s happened, everything from permits and layouts to finding actors and the build. We acquired the building in June and have done all, but kill ourselves to get it built for the incoming victims. Thankfully the owners of the building, which are also the owners of the Expo Five, are helping us along at every turn.
How would you describe The 7th Street Haunt? Is it theatrical, in your face intense, gory or something entirely different?
From the beginning guests will realize that this is a theatrical haunt with a back story that has never been told. While walking through the haunt they will become a part of the fiendish experiment of Dr. Cyrus Harmmon. It’s more psychological than other haunts while keeping with a few haunt traditions.
What was the first haunt you had ever visited and can you tell us about the experience you had?
The 1st haunt I remember going to was in New Albany at the Culbertson Mansion. Back then I must have been 7 or 8 and it was scary for me then. I can remember my mom (Tracy Stanfield) twisting my head around when she was scared of a spider falling on her head. There were very close spaces and people were really getting into what they were doing. I remember all the masks and monsters and it was just a good haunt.
What are some things people can look forward to when they purchase a ticket to The 7th Street Haunt?
Guests can rely on The 7th Street Haunt for a full night of unique entertainment. Along with the casket ride, photo booth, indoor line and concessions they can look forward to a haunt experience that takes terror to a different level.
Tell us a little about the staff that’s helping you this year with The 7th Street Haunt?
We have a wonderful staff that is on board with us this year. Tabby and Mike Gray have signed on to be our Make-up/wardrobe mistress and GM. David Vanarsdale will be working with actors to help them create their inner monsters as our acting manager.
Much of the old cast from Psychomania have decided to join us in this venture. The people that we have this year are great. They have really put their everything into this. The 7th Street Haunt would be nothing if not for the group of people that helped create it. I would just like to also say thank you if any of them are reading this.
Besides The 7th Street Haunt and Psychomania, what is your favorite haunt past or present and why?
It’s hard to really say which haunt has been my favorite. My good friend Jason, the owner of the Devils Attic, puts on one heck of a show. He has a great make-up artist and wonderful scenes that make his haunt fantastic and a must see. Asylum Haunted Scream Park is great as well. They make you think you are in each one of the scenes and that your life is in danger. Rich has done a great job with his outdoor space.
My all time favorite would have to be 31 Ways to Terror. It was just so traditional and spooky. The scenes were small, but the actors had real heart. It was both indoor and out door and it was out in the middle of nowhere. I loved it so much that the next year I went was the same year I started working for them.
Will you be using any of the salvaged props and materials from Psychomania and is there anything people will recognize right away?
The guests will notice a lot of the old props from Psychomania. We cleaned them up and gored them up again for a new season of frights. Real fans of Psychomania will notice the Ward 9 Doors and the old morgue tables along with the caskets from the funeral home and many of the retired props from the first few years Psychomania was in operation. We will also have some of the old signs on display to pay tribute to one of the area’s best haunted houses.
City Blood would like to sincerely thank Travis Boling for taking his time to answer our questions about The 7th Street Haunt. The 7th Street Haunt is on longer open, but you can check out Travis’ haunt American Horrorplex at www.americanhorrorplex.com.