Cast and crew learn a new performance as Sugarloaf Mountain turns haunted

CHILLICOTHE — As the nights get cooler and summer turns to fall Sugarloaf Mountain turns into the Haunted Mountain featuring scary movies, an escape room and more. Get an inside look into this year's Frankenstein experience that is sure to scare and delight visitors at the same time.

See this year's summer performance: A look back at the 2023 season of the Tecumseh! Outdoor Drama

The idea of a haunted mountain originally started in the 80's said CEO of the Scioto Society Brandon Smith. At the time the plans were made the organization was unable to raise the money so they were shelved and forgotten until Smith pulled them out and took pieces of the plans and adapted them to fit into what the society could do. What started as a small production has grown each year with this year having the longest trail and biggest production of all the fall seasons.

"It has grown every year," said Smith.

This year the haunted maze will have plenty to frighten everyone with hidden actors, special effects, a corn room, a bird room and more spooky settings. Every year the production changes slightly adding new rooms and moving around attractions to keep visitors guessing what the next haunt is.

Despite the screams that will come from the mountain during the event, Smith said to his knowledge the area is not actually haunted though some cast members report seeing people and horses on trails one moment and then having them disappear the next along with other strange occerances.

Over the years cast and crew have put on zombie and vampire-themed events, this will be the first time doing Frankenstein but Smith said he is sure people will love it as the story has lasting themes that keep people talking about it years after the book was released.

Director Lee Crouse took an interesting take on Frankenstein by giving the entire set and wardrobe a steam-punk aesthetic with nuts, bolts and metal parts incorporated. This can especially be seen in the laboratory and the costume for The Creature.

Along with the set, the performance will be accompanied by a soundscape that helps bring viewers into the world of Frankenstein. Crouse said that while the play is put on in the same spot as Tecumseh this performance will be much different by using the existing stage but creating a new atmosphere to fit the story.

This year the six cast members in the performance were also all actors in the summer production. Smith said the skills actors learned over the summer are easily transferable to this new show and other productions. This time actors are also much more hands-on helping create sets and costumes while not rehearsing, which they do six days a week to prepare.

The Frankenstein Experience starts Oct. 5 with a preview night and then shows every Thursday, Friday and Saturday in October. To learn more about the Haunted Mountain and to get your tickets while they last visit the Haunted Mountain website.

Shelby Reeves is a reporter for the Chillicothe Gazette. You can email her at SReeves@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter @Shelby_Reeves_

This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: See how Sugarloaf Mountain gets transformed for Halloween