Thread: How to design a haunted garage???

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OK,
I know this is vague and depends on tons of factors. What I'm looking for is a haunted garage walk though. YES I have been building for many, many years. But I have always had a yard haunt.
I want to take it to the next level.
I have access to tons of pallets I thought that would be great FREE walls/dividers covered in plastic and cardboard.

THEME: torture chamber???

Some questions I have and know the answers to but looking for input from my fellow haunters

• Building materials?
• Layout?
• how many rooms? (I know it depends on the room)
• Scrim wall a must?
• How wide should the paths/rooms be?

Things I have:

• Spill your guts illusion prop
• many pneumatic props
• skeletons
• decorations
• 2-5 actors

Any other tips/pointers you want to add. I'll try to post up a diagram of dimensions.
-PB

Is this going to be a continuation of any kind of yard haunt you already have, or do you wish to make the garage become THE haunt (outside of some decorations and props in the yard)?

My thought would be: have the complicated / big illusion scenes be within the garage - only a room or two, so you can really make best use of your talents where you can control things the best, and then have an extension into the driveway / yard that leads into the "big scene"...set them up, as it were, for the big fall.

Some props in the yard for atmosphere...an entryway with a hallway leading to the garage - perhaps an actor or two in that hallway, giving a good scare as they proceed. Build the atmosphere in the hallway, either widening it, or narrowing it, to build towards your big scare in the garage.

Animitronics, and your illusions, could then be set up where you have power, cover, attachment points above, below and to the sides of your props and illusions to give better control.

Make a good exit hallway for your victims to run out of...perhaps a scare on the way out, or something...

This will also give you the luxury of time - setting up the garage early in the season, perfecting things, and then you'll be able to set up your yard and other parts of the haunt at the last minute, without worrying if your "big scare" is going to be done on time, or correctly.

Well we are closing in the carport to scare the kiddies..hopefully So I love this thread.

MAn I don't have any animatronics really. I am not great at building. I do hope you post pics a long the way

Here are a few items I have to work with NOT ALL just some I found pics of:

I do a haunted garage but it's not a walkthrough. I would say though to make it a maze and screen it off in sections with whatever screening material you are using, either keep it single file or wide enough for 2 to walk together . I would keep the top open though.

Originally Posted by mementomori

either keep it single file or wide enough for 2 to walk together . I would keep the top open though.

I was thinking 2 wide as people would hold on to each other provided I can make it scarry enough.
Why the top open??? I figured it would be darker, easier to hide things, light it the way I want to, etc....The garage is just rafters no drywall ceiling.

All good thoughts keep them coming
-PB

I am going the weed guard route for walls. Picked up a bunch of 3' X 50' rolls from big lots for $2.50 each, on clearance. I will be adding eyelets to the fabric doubled up. Twine tied to the rafters and 2 x 4's place along the bottom to hold it down.

I havn't exactly figured out how everything will go or even the pathway, other than they will end up going out the back door to continue the walk through around the house.

I will be using a big scream TV setup inside the garage. I also picked up one of those skeleton coachman from Michaels. He will make an excellent greeter at the entrance.

people will feel more secure with the top open, i was thinking that if it was all enclosed someone might freak out and tear though the walls. But if it was enclosed on top i heard you can put threads hanging down. in the dark they would feel like spiderwebs.
Hey propboy, i just noticed your spider victim picture, that pic was my inspiration for last year!

Sweet but wasn't my pic I couldn't find the pics of mine so I "borrowed" someone
but yes they are very sweet.

I was thinking of having an actor in a suspension harness wrapped in webbing hanging off the ground in a room with several other spider victims. Then when the ToT'ers walk in they see the fake then the actor gets them


-PB

I have a haunted walkthrough everyyear that goes all around my house. It has a maze and different sections to go through. The entire thing is enclosed even the top and so far I havent had any problems with people freaking out. I figure if they know its all enclosed and have some type of claustrophobia problem they probably shouldnt be going through to begin with Please post pics and you have quite a few props to start with. Very nice