Press Kit

Good News from Mt Washington Valley, NH – September 19, 2018

Contact:  Marti Mayne, 207-846-6331, PR@mtwashingtonvalley.org

FROM OMG-SCARY TO FAMILY-APPROPRIATE, MT WASHINGTON VALLEY’S 2018 HALLOWEEN HAUNTS

North Conway, NH – From scare-your-pants-off frights to sweet and fun, visitors to Mt Washington Valley, NH will find something for everyone’s tolerance of Halloween hilarity. While spooks are certainly part of the Halloween scene here, no need to leave the faint-of-heart at home during Halloween season in Mt Washington Valley.  The calendar is packed with fun for the whole family, so get into the spirit this Halloween with everything from giant swings to ghosts and ghouls.  Add in 15 different ways to peep a leaf in Mt Washington Valley’s gorgeous fall color, and it’s no wonder that this is one of New England’s top fall destinations.

Weekends, September 28-November 3:  Experience the Ghoullog and Haunted Playground at Cranmore Mountain Resort, North Conway: Now in its 12^th year of fear, Cranmore Mountain Resort is transformed into a hallowed haunted set, offering something for every level of tolerance for spooky. The Ghoullog is a 50- minute haunt featuring over 15,000 square feet of indoor space through a series of dark rooms, scary mazes and unknown places, plus an outdoor element which leads the unsuspecting through the dark woods with all of  sudden frights and jumps you can imagine in one haunted attraction. This haunted experience is not for the faint of heart, and is best suited for the older kids, 10 and up.  For those that need something a little tamer, the Haunted Playground (Cranmore Adventure Center transformed into a Halloween theme) offers plenty of less frightening Halloween family fun on a transformed Mountain Coaster, Giant Swing and Soaring Eagle Zip line. All the Haunted Playground rides offer a unique night-time experience with special lighting, effects and the occasional ghost or ghoul when you least expect it. Age, height and weight restrictions still apply. End the night in the Broken Skull Pub and stop by the Rotting Corpse Gift Shop for some ghastly and Ghoullog goodies. For complete information, schedules and rates, and online ticket purchasing, go to http://theghoullog.com.

October 19 & 20, 26 & 27: Murder Mystery Dinner Train: Murder and mayhem add to the Halloween spirit on these two weekends, as adults attempt to solve the crime over dinner on the train. Board the train and you’re suddenly transported to the finals of New England’s prestigious “America’s Got The Goods” show, a glamorous affair with plenty of talent on display for your enjoyment. What will the competitors do for the $1 million cash prize plus the chance to have their own headline show at the national finals in Vegas?  You’ll be a part of the answer! The Conway Scenic Railroad presents an evening of fabulous food and entertaining dinner theater aboard the train with merriment and murder mystery along the way. Passengers can participate as much or as little as they like in the tongue in cheek humor and zany antics that will keep everyone on their toes as they work the clues to determine the killer on board. The train departs promptly at 6:00.  Plan to board early and enjoy a cocktail in one of our beautiful dining cars. Reservations are required. The $125.00 fare includes First Class seating for the 3-hour train excursion, a 4-course dinner, live theatrical performance, taxes and gratuities. Beverage service is additional. This murder and mayhem is a formal affair, so dress the part and join the fun. Sorry kids, this is an adult-only affair.  This takes Halloween costumes to the next level!  In fact, several local inns and B&Bs have created packages to make this the perfect overnight getaway too. For a complete listing of B&B packages, plus menus, info and to book online, go to https://www.conwayscenic.com/blog/murder-mystery-dinner-train/.

10/20/18 & 10/27/18: Silly, Spooky Halloween Extravaganza at Santa’s Village, Jefferson, NH: Celebrating its 9th Halloween season, Santa’s Village is open from 11am to 5pm on these two Saturdays with plenty of family-friendly Halloween haunts.  Santa should be on hand to see all the children in costume, and those thinking ahead to Christmas. He’s  joined by the Silly Nilly Witch of the North stirring her own spooky brew. Santa’s Village Park will be transformed into a magical Halloween adventure for these two weekends, with  "spooky" areas for the older children and some "fun" areas for the younger goblins. Shops cater to the Trick or Treaters, especially those in costume. Even the Silly Helpers are dressed for Halloween. Admission for the entire day is $28.00 per person, and children three and under are free. Tickets include all the rides and festivities for the day. Info: https://www.santasvillage.com/park-info-tickets/special-events/.

October 20:  Halloween Town at Purity Spring Resort, East Madison, NH: On Saturday, October 20th, the rustic cabins at the Purity Spring Resort’s Camp Tohkomeupog will be theatrically transformed, each with its own theme, ranging from kid friendly to downright spooky. The cabins make up the Trick or Treat Trail, with over a half-mile of lighted pathways winding throughout the camp. Bring the kids to Halloween Town to stop at each cabin and grab a Halloween surprise (candy and souvenirs). In addition to the Trick or Treat Trail, the event also features a kid carnival, petting farm, food court, tethered hot air balloon rides, and more!  This free event is made possible by the generous sponsors throughout the area and 200 dedicated volunteers. This special event benefits The Laura Foundation for Autism and Epilepsy. Free admission, donation opportunities and food for sale throughout the way.  Complete information at http://halloweentownnh.thelaurafoundation.org/detailed-information/.

October 27:  Haunted Happenings at Settlers Green, North Conway, NH: Be sure to arrive in costume as the stores and restaurants at Settlers Green will be encouraging trick or treating a little ahead of Halloween! Kids age 12 and under are welcome to participate, accompanied by an adult. Look for the orange sign (above) door windows for participating stores or consult the list posted at Customer Service and online in late October before the event! Info: http://www.settlersgreen.com/calendar/20/358-Haunted-Happenings.

Hotels are offering Halloween themed events on weekends leading up to Halloween.  At the Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa guests can take part in fall and Halloween fun including pumpkin decorating and carving every Saturday in October. There will also be Apple Cider Pressing on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at the Mountain View Farm. On October 31st, enjoy Mountain View Grand’s Halloween-themed Harvest Tavern specials, followed by s'mores while telling spooky ghost stories around the evening campfire. At the Omni Mount Washington Resort, spend Halloween Weekend (Oct 27-29) in the Wicked Woods of the Great North. It’s a weekend of witches’ cauldrons, black cats, superstition, mischievous acts and spooky tales is fun for the entire family. Bring the spooky and cute costumes for the kids in your life; and for the adults get ready for the "Wicked" costume party in The Cave.

And for the ultimate in haunted, get ready for Casper, the Headless Horseman and Poltergeist, all rolled into one haunted experience unlike any other at the Haunted  Castle in Adventure Suites in North Conway.  While visitors to Mt Washington Valley may stay in hotels, inns and B&Bs that are purported to be haunted, there’s only one place where you can be guaranteed you’ll sleep with a ghost. Adventure Suites in North Conway, NH, named among the top ten themed hotels in the country, opened their newest addition last November– a $1 million room called the Haunted Castle.  This five-level room leaves absolutely no details behind and is the first and only simulated overnight haunted hotel experience in the world. Nothing like this has ever been created before.  It’s Disney-like and a breakthrough in hotel technology.  The special effects experienced by those who stay in the Haunted Castle are state- of-the-art. Beds will shake, ghosts will appear and disappear, cupboards will open and close, there might even be a small explosion or two, to say nothing of the audio effects being designed for this lodging experience.  Adventure Suites has implemented a sophisticated computerized system involving motion sensors, time delays, video, projection pneumatics, lights, audio and more to scare the heck out of guests. 

Guests can expect to be haunted, expect to have fun, but can’t expect to get much sleep.  Special effects will last throughout the night.  Effects can be programed for preferences from family-friendly to bachelorette, wedding, and scare-your-pants off.  Be prepared to sign a waiver before entering, and yes, there is a way out if it’s too much! And this is just the beginning of the family fun in the Valley this year.  Click here for a full run down on all the Fall Family Festivals taking place in the Valley, like the annual Pumpkin People, Corn Maizes, Oktoberfests and more.   

To plan your Halloween getaway, visit MtWashingtonValley.org.  Here you’ll find a master list of events, plus accommodations, dining, shopping, entertainment info and much more.  To talk to a vacation concierge, simply call 1-800-367-3364 (800-DO-SEE-NH).  For more information on planning to New Hampshire go to www.VisitNH.gov.

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Photos available upon request from Marti Mayne, PR@mtwashingtonvalley.org.

See the MWVCC online photo gallery on Flickr at https://www.flickr.com/photos/mwvchamber/albums.