Today, we interview Jeremy of The Nightmare at Stagecoach Hollow in East Liverpool, Ohio. This spooktacular haunted trail is sure to put a chill down your spine and raise the dead.
Tell us about The Nightmare at Stagecoach Hollow.
The Nightmare at Stagecoach Hollow located in East Liverpool Ohio is an almost 3/4-mile walking trail with terrifying characters and scenes. With help from our local Kiwanis chapter, we opened in 2021 and are anxiously awaiting our second season opening September 30th.
What obstacles do you face operating a haunted trail?
Probably our main obstacle is being outside in the weather. The first couple weekends the temps are still somewhat decent, but as we get closer to the end of the season it starts getting cold. Also being outside when it rains too hard, we must shut down. Another obstacle we face is that there is no power to the trail. Every scene and the entire trail are powered by generators placed in several spots throughout the attraction and far enough away that it doesn’t hinder the scare for our customers.
What is your favorite scene and why?
A favorite scene is hard to choose because I have several, but I’d have to say it’s a tie between our Chainsaw/Cannibal village and our old, dilapidated church with our nun actors. Both scenes are new this year and are very highly anticipated.
What separates The Nightmare at Stagecoach Hollow from other haunts?
I believe what separates us from everyone else is our passion and determination to succeed. My partners and I have a great working relationship with each of us having a particular skill set. Brian is our intricate detail guy who makes sure everything is perfect and budget friendly. Karah is more prop oriented and amazing with decorating. Noah is very strong and can get props and building materials where they need to be, he’s also good at building. Jeremy (myself) is known as the blitz guy. If we need 200 yards of trail cut or five structures put together in a few hours I’m that guy. Together we make a great team and all four of us are actors as well.
What do you look for in an actor?
We look for energetic likeminded individuals that have the same passion that we do and don’t mind first timers who want to learn. Between the four of us we have a combined experience of about 70yrs and are always willing to teach other how to work different groups.
What are some of the scenes people can expect to experience?
Without totally giving it away we have Butchers, Clowns, Chainsaws, Zombies, and much more. But hey I can’t tell you all our secrets. You’ll just have to take a trip so see us. But I promise you there’s something for everyone.
What inspires you to create scary scenes?
For me, a lot of my scenes I’ve created over the years have come from dreams. Sometimes I’ll wake from a dead sleep and jot notes down. Some I’ve used and some I haven’t.
How do you promote The Nightmare at Stagecoach Hollow?
I think our main way of promoting is through social media networks. We have a Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/stagecoachhollow and we also have an Instagram page @stagecoach__hollow (with 2 underscores) We also do promotions with local businesses such as discounted tickets, character appearances, holiday parades, and sometimes giveaways.
What do you enjoy about being part of the haunt industry?
We would all agree that the most enjoyable part is the people we meet along the way. We’ve met a lot of great people in this business that we have formed friendships with. Even haunts that aren’t more than 20 miles from us offering tips, tricks, and company contacts to help us become successful. I also can’t forget about our customers. Without our loyal customers who come out to see us every weekend, buy our tickets and apparel all we would be is an empty field with the four of us saying what if we did this and what if we did that. Our customers are what keep us striving to get better and better every year and cranking it up every weekend. It’s giving 110% in our performance each night.
If you could change one thing about your haunt, what would that be?
Right now I wouldn’t change a thing. I love what the four of us have and what we are capable of accomplishing. We would however like to eventually put a building on the property that can be used for an inside attraction as well as an outside attraction. No telling what the future holds because the sky is the limit.
For information on The Nightmare at Stagecoach Hollow, please visit www.facebook.com/stagecoachhollow.