29yrswithaGApass Posted September 26, 2011 Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 Click here to see the whole Spotlight! Comments and discussions are welcomed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted September 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 I am sure this is an attraction that very few of our readers have ever seen! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GAcoaster Posted September 26, 2011 Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 This was really new to us...we saw a picture and the Haunted House was off in the background. Since it was never on the maps we didn't have any info on it until we got to talk to some of the former ghouls who shared their pictures with us! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gafreak Posted September 26, 2011 Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 i had no idea about this, very cool spotlight! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaclynfett Posted September 26, 2011 Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 Thank you for this spotlight, excellent photos!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gasmspiritblue Posted September 26, 2011 Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 This is a suprize I never new this existed nice spotlight!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batmanrobinchiller Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 Great spotlight you guys! I never knew this ride existed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted September 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 Since 1980 when I bought one of my first souvenir booklets at the park I have wondered whether this picture of the Haunted House was actually taken at the park or if it was a stock photo from another park. The mystery was solved earlier this year when we were fortunate to have a former shows employee share her collection with us. Thanks Kathie! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batmanrobinchiller Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 Wow I wish Great Adventure was still themed as well as they were back when this attraction was introduced and when employees "cared" about entertaining their guests. I guess the best bet in recent years for theme was back in the 90's with Batman: The Ride's operators wearing uniforms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Csogi Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 This was staffed by the existing street characters. So, it was odd to see Mother Goose get transformed to a ghoul. The Butcher was an interesting character. He had a heart of gold, loved being a clown, and loved entertaining kids. He also played Santa at a department store in Hamilton. But, get him in the Butcher costume, and he would scare the *#@& out of you. Raggedy Ann and I would go through, and We were scared. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted September 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 Raggedy Ann and I would go through, and we were scared. Steve, any chance that you can recall the layout of the maze? You are both smiling! Are those togas? And a shot from inside the Haunted House's yard facing outwards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yankees99 Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 Just got home and got quite a big surprise finding this here. Wasn't sure if or when this spotlight would ever appear. Must say I'm glad it did because it's a big part of the park's history - for good and bad. I remember the tragedy occurred just before I left New York. I was at a YES concert on Long Island that night and found out about it from my folks when I got home. Couldn't believe it. Always went in there at least once each time I went to GA. So many memories. May those people rest in peace and may they never be forgotten. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted September 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 ^ This Spotlight is actually about the Haunted House - the predecessor of the Haunted Castle. It operated for only a few months during the end of the 1978 season for Halloween. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yankees99 Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 Oops, sorry about that. When I see Haunted I think of the castle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Csogi Posted September 28, 2011 Report Share Posted September 28, 2011 No, I was not in the house that much to remember the layout. And, yes, they were togas.That was my last day working at the park in 78. Animal House was released during that summer. That was one of the nutty things we did on the last operating day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scipiomask Posted September 29, 2011 Report Share Posted September 29, 2011 Thanks for this spotlight! Another piece of GADV that I didn't know existed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarioSonic94 Posted September 29, 2011 Report Share Posted September 29, 2011 I first heard about this in the documentary about the Haunted Castle fire. Great spotlight though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted September 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 Here are two ads from the late 1970's for Brigantine Castle and the Haunted Mansion at Long Branch. Both were very successful, especially in the early years, and were major competition for the park. It seemed only logical for Great Adventure to install a similar attraction and the Haunted House during the 1978 Halloween season proved to be just as successful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RideOfSteel Posted October 2, 2011 Report Share Posted October 2, 2011 Great little spotlight. ^Those videos were a cool find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted October 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2011 It is interesting to note that the Haunted House looked somewhat similar to the Switlik Mansion! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BMax Posted October 2, 2011 Report Share Posted October 2, 2011 Do they always decorate the Switlik Mansion? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted October 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2011 Do they always decorate the Switlik Mansion? This is the first season they have used the mansion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted December 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2012 Thanks to some information sent to us by one of our readers, we have learned that the original Haunted House (which operated in the fall of 1978) was moved to Six Flags Over Mid America where it operated from 1979 to 1982. This makes the Haunted House one of the first attractions to be part of Six Flags' ride rotation program. The Haunted House at Six Flags Over Mid America: The Spotlight has been updated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted January 31, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 I recently learned that when the original Haunted House was moved to Six Flags Over Mid America it was reconstructed on the site of what is today the Tidal Wave water ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted March 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2014 The Original Haunted House Spotlight has been updated with several additional photos of the attraction when it was relocated to Six Flags Over Mid America in St Louis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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