[Scatterbrains]

make two walls that're about 3 1/2 to 4 ft tall outta 2x4s...then lay a short 2x4 from one wall to the other for the width of the mine...then throw a big roll of black plastic over it to complete the mine. Space out the boards and make sure they are on the inside of the plastic so that it looks like the support structure in a mine.


Try and make it so that the walls are short enough and close enough together that the black plastic encases the whole structure

 

[Scatterbrains]

Hey, Scatterbrains, did you ever make it to the haunt that was in the (actual) silver mines up in Park City years ago? ( I think the last year of operation was 12 or 13 years ago)


Anyhow. They did a lot of stuff making it seem the thing was going to collaps (essentially a drop-spreader filled with sand, making the mine look like it was going to be falling in) and with people trapped in the rock. Big bugs and stuff like that.

It was actually pretty interesting as the only lighting was the lanterns on people's heads.

Then those went out...

Never went when it was a haunt....but went a few other times. Don't get on that elevator if you're claustrophobic.

 

[Scatterbrains]

I suppose I could use chicken wire and paper machette to give it more of a solid feel and very realistic look for narrow tunnels and plastic/paper in the bigger caverns. I like the exposed timbers idea. I have some old 4x4 posts that I will run my car up onto break them, then put them in the ceiling for that about-to-cave-in look. Add some falling sand (brilliant!), creaky and rumbling sounds, dripping water, and swinging flickering lanterns.

Now, what about the actors? I usually have about 10 people. I figure 3 to manage the elevator scene, a couple of rescuers to lead the kids to safety at the end. That leaves 5 or so to be the theme actors. I know a cave is scary in it's own right, but I like to make it extra terrfying for tot teenagers.

Make a mining cart....if you have one of those garden wagons, just build a structure to rest on it... then you can have one actor dressed up as a miner pushing the cart and another one hiding inside to pop-up when the ToTs get closer