NASHVILLE, Tenn (WTVF) — This year has been pretty scary for haunted houses; owners say their attractions are designed on getting close and personal but COVID-19 is changing practices for many places.
Inside Devil’s Dungeon is frightening from the dark rooms to the scary sounds and animatronics, but it doesn’t compare to the fears many are facing outside during the pandemic.
"It’s definitely kind of hurting us in the sense we are limiting capacity, so we haven’t been able to fully staffed and fully allow customers to show up in the massive amounts they normally do," said owner Patrick Warner.
Warner who also owns Haunted Hell in Antioch says he was hoping by the Fall COVID-19 would be over.
Since it’s not, haunted houses now have to follow a series of CDC and Metro health guidelines to keep everyone safe.
"We are doing social distancing as well as cast and customers must wear mask while on site, there is hand sanitizer spread throughout," said Warner.
Warner says he had to eliminate anything guests could touch like door handles and hanging props from the ceilings.
"We typically, we stay very busy and we have to send larger groups to accommodate everyone; but this season we have to try to make it where either your household or group of friends go in by yourself so you’re not with people you normally wouldn’t be around."
Regardless of the changes, Warner says it’s still could be a successful haunted house season.
"It has been a little a logistical nightmare but it made the show a lot more personal for every group that goes through instead of being slammed in with a lot of big groups."
Because there is limited capacity, Warner is asking all guests to order tickets online.
