| Welcome
to Dark Works 2003...
What I thought was going to be an easier
year turned into a building nightmare right down to the wire!
Many long hours working into the dead of the night...The payoff
" the Dark Works of 2003. Enjoy.....
No changes here other
than the Scarecrow location.
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One of our gargoyles needed relocated due
to the size of the haunt building and to prevent too many
props from cluttering the outside entrance. A pedestal was
built to secure the gargoyle and inclose a fog machine and
blower.
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Looking down the
driveway which is now the que line for the haunt, you will
notice the building now covers the area we used last year
for our waiting line.
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Our hot chocolate
stand had to be converted to a wall mounted rig.
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This is the last
year for this prop duo.
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The Wall Gargoyle
is same as last year. I consolidated several rules signs into
a new one complete with corpse light holder.
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This is the area
outside the main gate room. I got tired of the blue plastic
garbage can so I through a new one together. The floor fountain
was brought outside this year. The water is tinted with black
latex paint.
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This the main gate
which leads into the holding room under the deck. This section
of deck was shortened in order for the new haunt building
not to look connected to it. Above the doorway is our new
TSP back lit sign which was built to coincide with the new
Dark Works sign.
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The new back lit
Dark Works sign is set back behind the new smoking flame towers
that seperate the entrance from the exit. Each tower
uses an Afterburner Silk flame unit. Smoke is delivered to
the towers throught two 50' 4" vinyl ducts.
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Introducing our worm
eating, maggot spewwing host for DW '03. Many hours went into
looking pretty for his late night guests.
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Here's a few more
pics outside and inside his room. A small window / door was
added into the gate for him to look out at the next group
before opening the gate.
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Once inside the main
gate and in the holding room there was a lot of eye
candy to gock at. The TSP Spider logo forms a gate that closes
off access to the control area. The double gate is built out
of 3/4" BC plywood with a luan plywood back. In past
years the final prop was placed in this doorway.
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More holding room
eye candy.
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The first pneumatic
prop shared the holding room with our zombie host. The correct
que line from the host would trigger the prop's arms that
would swing up to grab you. Two camera positions where
used in this room to keep the effect safe along with the live
actor.
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Once you where let
out of the holding room you turn the corner to the left and
start down a 40' long hallway lit by 7 skull wall sconces
used last season in the que line. In this hall you also get
to meet our second actor that terrorizes you through out half
the haunt.
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Once you get to the
end of the hall there is a doorway on the left which leads
into a small room and the Acolyte prop. Hidden in the
corner to your right waiting to go off is the Monk Prop. Shown
below. Note the above photo was taken with the house lights
on. As always the haunts I design are dark as hell...
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The Monk waiting
to strike. Around the corner of the Acolyte waits another
static prop from our collection. In this photo you can also
see some of the hot glue webs shot throught the haunt.
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Around the bend into
the next room you will find the Chair prop sitting in a bed
of bones. This is one of the areas with a slatted wood
plank ceiling.
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The above two props
are also in this room. The wall fountain was upgraded with
a mist unit with led lighting. I'm not a big fan of the changing
light colors in the fountain but most people only saw one
color change before moving on to the next room.
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Down another short
hallway to the new Coffin prop. When triggered it comes out
and up above your head.
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The middle picture shows a drop panel that
is located in front of you right past the Coffin prop. A very
effective actor triggered scare. After crapping yourself you
get a good look at a half corpse hanging around the corner.
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After walking down
a few very dark hallways laced you turn a corner and are face
to face with another one of last years static props.
Just when you think you're safe another actor controlled panel
is slid open before you get to turn the corner.
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This is the Twins
room shown with the house lights on.
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Here they are waiting
to pounce. When triggered they simultaneous raise up, out
and raise their arms.
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For a change of pace
I created an open fabric tent ceiling in this room and hung
a chandelier from the center. Another added effect
in this room is the air cannon installed under the side rail
which appears to blow the hidden door open which in fact is
pneumatic.
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Through the pneumatic door hiding in the
corner is our Barrel prop and directly in front of you a rope
bound corpse prop tied up to the wall. This year is the first
time we split the haunt into two seperate zones. The first
halve all the way up to this point has been manually controlled.
After you pass the barrel prop and the door is switched close,
the rest of the haunt is automated with sensors and event
timer controls. This allowed us to decrease the wait in line.
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Down another hallway
to meet the first auto prop. This new prop sits in a chair
looking down at a large rat being held in it's hands. When
triggered it extends the rat outward and look up at you.
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Another tried and
true haunt favorite the Jerker prop used for many years now.
Always gets them even in auto mode!!
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Around the corner
past the Jerker is a boarded up wall and a new prop. Hiding
behind the wall is the all new Ozzy prop that swings around
from the back out into the open.
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The Stork stands
just past the boarded wall. The next auto prop is tucked back
behind a curtained area.
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This prop is very
much like the Monk prop. He raises up to about 6'.
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The last indoor prop
tilts toward you allowing the arm to swing forward.
The prop was controlled with Terror by Designs Puppet Master
control and a step pad. Like most of the pneumatic props in
the haunt a light goes on to show the action. The overhead
light for this prop also lights up the exit door which the
guests have to push open. The door is then rest by an actor
waiting outside.
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This short little
guy use one of our new GraveStalkers Pointing Hand to show
the correct direction outside the haunt. He also has a air
jet inside his mouth for that unexpected effect.
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At the end of this
small courtyard sits the Beast Prop. This pneumatic
prop was manually triggered making it's head rear up at the
guests leaving the haunt.
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Before I take
you on a quick behind the scenes tour. Here's the 2003 operations
crew that helped make things run smoothly less yours truly.
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Starting top left
to right. The stripped down version of the haunt. The Main
Gate. The bare courtyard and exit doors. Looking down the
40' hallway. The emergency / loading door at the back of the
haunt.
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Last but not least
the control center of 2003 complete with access to 17 inferred
video cameras, 3 CD sound system and prop/light board. This
is the last year for this system. Details to come in the new
year...
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