Spooky season is the most hated and loved season of the year. Typical activities include carving pumpkins, watching scary movies, and going trick-or-treating. But most importantly, residents of Houston find entertainment in visiting haunted theme parks.
Redrum, located at 1800 E Hwy 90 Alt in Richmond, TX , is just one of many popular haunted theme parks in the area. It is a place where fear is introduced beyond just screams and horrific expressions. There are four levels of fear, and each has its own haunted house. Each house is different, each with its own unique backstory.
Oscar Smith, who has worked at Redrum for three years, claims each haunted house the park has to offer is original. That being said, there is a great deal of preparation involved in maintaining the haunted environment.
“It takes us hours but we get it all done,” he said. “I think it’s a little hard since some of us are still in school, but the job is totally worth it.”
Oscar’s experience working at the establishment has been a blast.
“Watching everyone’s makeup getting done, practicing their screams and the fun we have all the time is magically scary, which is weird,” he said. “Working with and for Redrum was awesome.”
According to Oscar, scaring people is a unique specialty not many people have.
“Scaring people is one of my specialties,” he said. “I think it’s just something you’re born with.”
Despite working in a haunted theme park, Oscar is not a fan of all things scary.
“I don’t particularly like scary things, so it is ironic that I would work in haunted houses,
Oscar said. “But I’ve always loved to go above and beyond for Halloween.”
Redrum has four attractions: three haunted houses and one laser tag arena, in addition to various areas for people to eat and hang out with friends. One of these houses being the TWISTED CIRCUS.
“My favorite house might be the twisted circus, only because of how crazy it is,” Oscar said. You will see a wonder of hatred, the brutality of dizziness, and the corruption of the ruin.”
Circuses have been around for ages. Twisted enough already, but the Twisted Circus is something strange in a completely different way. Horrors within are caged, and animals hungry for blood. This will make your senses and mind shatter into a billion pieces. What lies in there cannot be defined or described.
The next of the four houses is CINEGORE. Cinegore is a haunted house with an interesting backstory, which includes a non-stop viewing experience of some of the most popular horror movies in existence.
It started out as just an ordinary theater, until a dark storm cruised through. As lightning struck the cinema, a strange plasma dripped from the screens like a flood. It was soon a multi-dimensional gateway of horror. The monsters became real, becoming predators, and the audience became their prey. Fields were filled with corpses of the dead.
“Cinegore is one of the scariest houses for a reason,” Oscar said. “I personally think it’s the most creative.”
Cinemas are super cute dates and fun places to go with friends and family. Just imagine if cinemas turned into a “cinegore.”
The last of these houses, a favorite of many, is DEADWOOD ASYLUM.
“Deadwood Asylum has such a creative backstory, I think that’s why so many people love it,” Oscar said.
In 1960, Dr. Derrick Morton Wood’s grandfather’s will left instructions to develop what he had intended to be the greatest institutional facility for the mentally ill. After two years, Wood Asylum opened its doors to the world. Soon after, it became the standard of care in the south. Everything was flawless until late October of 1966, when records of the asylum disappeared, seemingly into thin air.
A violent portal began to appear, cracks, tears, and sizzles. Until it tore itself into the asylum. What had previously been a place of hope and refuge for the mentally ill was overcome by monstrous entities. The land became infected by evils that occupy the land today. Dr. Derrick Morton became Dr. Deadwood, after dying a bothersome death. The name “Wood Asylum” was changed to “Deadwood Asylum” forevermore.
Residents and staff all died and were reborn into mysterious creatures. Screams echo through the halls to this day. It is said that the blood-curdling screams of the asylum’s victims can still be heard to this day.
LASER FURY is the last of the four attractions. It is an incredible experience between a mini game and a haunted house. Laser fury is a post-apocalyptic world, where you can get a closer look with the creatures.
“Laser fury is super fun,” Oscar said.
Overall, Redrum is a fantastic place to visit for a good scare. Don’t forget to take advantage of “Slasher Sundays,” where general admission prices are only $32 and “speed freak” prices are $52. “Slasher Sundays” are on the 15th, 22nd, and 29th of October. Opening night for Redrum is September 30th. Redrum will be open every weekend in October and is open the 3rd and 4th of November.
