Screams and the sound of his roaring chainsaw made it worthwhile for Nick Fava to go to work every day.
For Sara Cramer, it was the zombie makeup and pints of fake blood that made her job “enjoyable.”
Tim Waddell prefers to experience the horrors rather than work behind the scenes, and makes it a point to visit the crowd favorite maze every year.
Fava, Cramer and Waddell have each found their own reasons to enjoy the Hundred Acres Manor in Bethel Park, located just 20 minutes outside of Downtown Pittsburgh.
The attraction has established itself as a revered haunted attraction in not only the Pittsburgh region, but in the entire country. They have been reviewed by Top Haunts Magazine and were featured on the Travel Channel as “One of America’s Scariest Halloween Attractions.”
Haunt World Magazine warns their readers, “Prepare to scream! Pittsburgh Pa. has many haunted houses but there are NONE that match up to the screams of Hundred Acres Manor…”
Not only does the attraction work to scare people to the edge of their sanity, they also work to support two great local charities. Last year, the non-profit organization marked $1 million donated to Animal Friends and the Pittsburgh Homeless Children’s Fund.
Fava, a former Point Park student, has worked at Hundred Acres since middle school. During his eighth grade year, he decided to volunteer at the haunt for community service points after seeing the ad on television.
“I didn’t get paid. I did it for fun,” Fava said in regards to his continued volunteer position at Hundred Acres. “It was the best acting job there.”
While working, Fava was able to meet the haunt’s extremely talented and dedicated coordinator, Ted Sobek.
“His life is that haunted house,” Fava said.
Sobek and other co-workers begin work on next year’s haunt the day after it closes for the season.
Sara Cramer, a current junior at Point Park, worked the haunt for a couple years with fellow students in her high school drama club. Cramer also held a volunteer position at the haunt as a zombie.
“It would take forever to get this fake blood off. I got it in my hair, but it was still enjoyable,” Cramer said.
She and a dozen other drama club members get the opportunity to work at Hundred Acres every year. In addition to the 150 extras that included Cramer’s drama club, about 40 main actors played leading roles.
Cramer mentioned that one of her favorite scares was actually on accident. In the midst of the intensely frightening atmosphere, Cramer surprised two unsuspecting visitors while she was leaving her post for a bathroom break.
“I stumbled out to see if there was anyone around and actually there was someone approaching and they totally freaked when they saw me after I came out of nowhere,” Cramer said. “Seeing the people’s reactions when you scare them are the best, it’s hilarious.
Tim Waddell, also a junior, has visited the attraction since his freshman year and loves it more each time.
Hundreds of adrenaline seeking enthusiasts visit the haunt each year looking forward to the exciting new attractions. Waddell on the other hand, doesn’t feel that the haunt is too terrifying.
“I’m terrified of horror movies, so going to haunted houses allows me to partake in the stereotypical Halloween things without being terrified,” Waddell said.
Although he doesn’t find the haunt as terrifying as most, he still returns each year to weave through the infamous maze. The maze ends the course for the haunt, premiering every year as the crowd favorite.
“I’ve been used as a human shield and it was probably one of the funniest things that’s ever happened,” Waddell said.
Hundred Acres Manor is open now through Oct. 31, rain or shine from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11:30 p.m. on weekends. General admission is $18. College students can receive $8 off on Wednesdays and $3 off on Thursdays and Sundays with a valid student ID.
