originally posted on 11/26/2019
Photo: Dave Hahner. View full-sized image.
Was anyone ready to face Ghost Lake’s 13 Levels of Fear? The 22 members of ACE Western Pennsylvania, Dark Attractions and Funhouse Enthusiasts (DAFE) and Great Ohio Coaster Club had little time to consider that unanswerable question when they met at 7:15 p.m. at the Conneaut Lake Park sign in Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania, for the start of a test of nerves in the dark, sinister-looking park. For members of these three organizations, ACE Ghost Lake was the first of three consecutive events that the region dubbed “One Frightful Weekend.”
Ghost Lake is a popular, month-long event produced by Mid-America Events at the lakeside park. It often sells out later in the evening, so it’s best to start early since the estimated time to experience the 13 Levels of Fear is two hours. As in the past, the park generously offered the group a discounted ticket price, but unlike in the past, there was no suggestion to complete the 13 Levels of Fear in the order listed on the ticket. This meant that attendees could look for the levels that had shorter lines instead of spending time waiting in long lines for the first-listed levels. Just getting through the spinning vortex barrel at the entrance was an adventure, but as attendees stepped out, an animatronic ghoul gestured wildly to remind them of what was ahead.
Photo: Dave Hahner. View full-sized image.
Eleven of the 13 levels had chilling names, like Scaryland Forest, The Ice, Deja Vu, The Dark Circus Sideshow, The Bayou, Forget Me Not Antiques, Terror Down Under, Oblivion, Phobia, Death Row and The Zoo. Levels 12 and 13 were Devil’s Den (a dark ride) and the ACE Coaster Classic and ACE Roller Coaster Landmark Blue Streak Ghoster Coaster. Waiting in line for each level could become an adventure, because demented creatures like the bloody bunny and chainsaw man were hiding in the dark, appearing unexpectedly with axes and other weapons. The laser effects and use of strobe lights and fog in several of the structures were remarkably effective, and great creativity was shown in adapting old buildings in the park and sections of Hotel Conneaut to the themes of the levels of fear.
New this year was The Zoo, located in a currently unused area of the park, on an island that used to be circled by a jungle boat ride and is now accessible via an old wooden bridge. Animal cages that were used during a brief period in the 1990s when the island became a zoo were integrated into the new haunted attraction.
It was an appropriately chilly night for this haunted event, and most attendees managed to complete all the levels of fear before the rain started. Many said their goodbyes knowing they would meet again the following night at Kennywood for ACE-DAFE Phantom Fright Night or two days later for a daytime event at Idlewild.
— Lee Ann Draud
ACE Publications Director
@#$%&!
#ACENews