Est. in the back of a horror comic · Maryland
SickDarkN
Twisted
A lifelong haunter from Maryland who builds scripted dark plays, composes the soundtracks that crawl under your skin, and still runs after people with chainsaws. Most of it for charity. All of it for the scream.
Chapter I · The Origin
Where did this all start?
I remember being about 8 years old. In the back of one of my horror comic magazines, for $8.50, there was an EIGHT FOOT TALL Frankenstein! I gathered my money and sent it off. In a rather quick turnaround, I got an envelope. They neglected to state that it was a sheet of plastic with an 8 foot tall PICTURE of Franky.
Not one to lay down and die, I taped Franky to the door. When trick-or-treaters rang the bell, I dispensed the candy through the mail slot using a kitchen glove turned inside out, painted with magic markers to look like a bloody skeleton arm.
To my joy and astonishment, I still remember hearing the other kids SCREAM because they thought a monster had just given out the candy. In between groups I'd collect the two-thirds left on the porch by the faint of heart. I was hooked.
Since then, monster movies, monster models, and a bit of sci-fi have joyfully warped me.
“Don't go there — it's HAUNTED.”
— the neighborhood kids, from behind a closed door
Chapter II · 40+ Years of Haunts
A body count of very happy screamers.
Not your typical haunt where people hide behind a curtain and say boo. Scripted dark plays, engineered sound, and crews I'm honored to have worked with.
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Early years
MarylandGood Knight Haunted Kingdom
From decorating activity centers at a girlfriend's college to running the Good Knight Haunted Kingdom — the long apprenticeship in fear.
Set designOperations -
2002
HomeThe Home Haunt
My own home haunt — and the most fun I'd ever had at that point.
Home haunt -
2003 – 04
Hyattsville, MDGoatman Hollow
Two acres right outside Washington, DC. Not a 'hide behind a curtain and say boo' haunt, but a completely scripted Dark Play — Pepper's Ghosts, remote-controlled lighting, orchestrated music and more than a dozen actors a night. I played two parts myself. Head count by the end of 2003: 2,352 souls. 2004 was even better.
Pepper's GhostScripted dark play2,352 souls Visit ↗ -
2005
Baltimore & Jessup, MDKim's Krypt & Dorsey's Run
Two haunts at once. I helped build Kim's Krypt in Baltimore and worked security, while running the largest haunt I had ever done: Dorsey's Run. Over 3½ acres of haunt (plus 4 for parking and 6 for milling around). I wrote the script from the legend of local fiend Jacob Dorsey and was primary engineer, sound developer, set builder, acting coach and webmaster — all to benefit the Jessup Maryland Scout program.
3.5 acresScriptwriterCharity: Jessup Scouts Visit ↗ -
2008
Merriweather Post, Columbia, MDThe Fear Grounds
The Fear Grounds (excuse the pun) sprang to life with two haunts plus a separate area just for the kids — and those with too-weak hearts. I lost my shirt, made new friends, and learned a couple of things along the way.
Two hauntsKids zone -
Now
Across the countrySeminars, Sound & Consulting
Haunters' conventions local and national, seminars, life-size props, original music and entire sound systems for multiple buildings. Local branches of chain stores hire me as a consultant. Sound is the greatest passion — always adding the final touch.
Sound designConsultingProp building
Interlude · A word on sanity
The greatest country in the world.
Where else can one run after people with LIVE CHAINSAWS and get paid for it? I don't drink, use drugs, or have most of the vices other grown-ups have. So I keep my sanity by running after people with chainsaws. What's wrong with that?
* So my friends at Goatman don't have a cow: the Hollow is a chainsaw-free environment. I did have fun cutting down trees, at least.
Chapter III · The Garage
Several of my newest toys.
Well, there's more to come — but it's almost time to crawl in the coffin. I hear the roosters.
Chapter IV · The Crypt Archive
Monsters, graves & proof you can't keep a good man down.
Chapter V · Gothic Poetry
Verses from the dark side of the page.
A collection of sick, dark and twisted poetry gathered over the years — love, deceit, vampyres, and one very sad doll.
Every scream counts
Haunting for a cause
Virtually all of my haunts are done to support local charities — from the Jessup Maryland Scout program to kids around the world. I'd seriously appreciate it if you would give, in the spirit of the season, to UNICEF.
Give to UNICEF
Chapter VI · Séance
Summon me.
Haunt consulting, sound design, seminars, or just want to talk hearses? Leave a message from beyond.