Calvin AlagotThis year's gory Great Horror Campout takes campers on a 12-hour, dusk-tll-dawn treasure hunt adventure across the Griffith Park Old Zoo. (Which is said to be haunted – go ahead, look it up.)
Even if you're the type to scare easily, don't let the axe-wielding homicidal maniacs chase you away. At the event, which stops in L.A. June 6 and 7 as part of a U.S. tour, you get to choose your level of involvement. Instead of navigating through the Chupacabra Hedge Maze or taking part in a ritual Witch Circle, you can just sit back and enjoy your evening, says Melissa Carbone, CEO and president of Ten Thirty One Productions.]
Justin Meyer, Ten Thirty One Productions creative director, and actors rehearse the Witch Circle set for this weekend.; Credit: Calvin Alagot
“It's as scary as you want it to be,” she says. “It is a build-your-own-adventure experience. … People who like camping and telling ghost stories around the campfire, this is for you too.”
The event is “highly-immersive,” so you might be sitting in your tent, getting ready to go to sleep and a ghoul might come to eat your soul or something. Or you might be braving the nearby haunted woods and then get kidnapped by a psycho-hillbilly. Or, if you're a wuss, you can buy tickets for a tent in the yellow (belly) section where the monsters won't bother you, you lil' chicken.
The Old Zoo in Griffith Park, seen in background, is said to be haunted.; Credit: Calvin Alagot
Participants will be emailed a “dossier” the night prior with maps and additional information to aid them in their quest to become “Hellmaster.”
Justin Meyer, Ten Thirty One's creative director, says the campout “is unlike anything you have ever seen or done. It takes the thrill and excitement off of the big screen and drops it gorily right into your lap.”
Worse-case scenario, you can yell “I WANT MY MOMMY!” and all the monsters will back off, unless, that is, you run into the spirit of Dona Petronilla – who placed a curse on the land back in 1864, according to creepyla.com.
For you thrill-seekers, the Hell Hunt is a search for 13 SCAG items (Shit Campers All Get). SCAG is currency of the campout, which you can use to barter. Collect all 13 and you earn the title of Hellmaster. This achievement earns you a sweet sash and badge that entitle you to privileges at future events, including cutsies to the front of the line, VIP snack lounges and exclusive discounts.
Carbone says that since the event's inception in June of 2013, eight campers have achieved the status of Hellmaster. And 19 have “cried for their mommies.”
Tickets for the 18-and-older event on Friday, June 6 or Saturday, June 7 are on sale at greathorrorcampout.com.
A map of the campgrounds at Old Zoo in Griffith Park.; Credit: Courtesy of Ten Thirty One Productions
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