Wisconsin Feargrounds Returns With New Owners And New Scares

WAUKESHA, WI — Zombies with raw flesh hanging out and bloodstained vampires are no match for the year 2020. For the owners of a haunted house in Waukesha, they still are intent on scaring the bejesus out of guests.

The Wisconsin Feargrounds, 1000 Northview Road, is back with a new look and new owners. The attraction opened Oct. 2 and will be open throughout October.

Owner Chad Franks said he and his wife Brenda decided to open this year to allow people to escape "the craziness we have had to deal with."

It was the love for all things Halloween that led Franks and his wife to invest in owning a haunted house. Franks worked as a lead builder for the previous owners for 12 years. In 2019, former owners Timmer and Ann Marie Gavinski retired.

"We love the entrainment aspect of Halloween and decided to take it on," Franks told Patch.

New attractions

There are two new attractions to terrify guests. The first place guests go is a place called "the compound."

"The monsters have taken up residence and are not going anywhere," Franks said.

The monsters have used things that were lying around to furnish and decorate their home. As a Feargrounds guest, you are intruding on their turf and have to prove worthy of being there.

The second attraction is "Sketchy's Chambers," with Sketchy being the leader of the group. Franks describes Sketchy's house as a 1970s mobile trailer.

"You will get to see all his, uh, relatives that are there," Franks laughed.

The character of Sketchy is not a typical circus clown bringing laughter and joy. He is more sinister and deranged in his interactions.

Hidden by the mask

The Feargrounds has 30 scare actors, some who have been with the company for years and some who are new.

Franks said every actor is unique, and they look for someone who has tremendous energy and stamina.

"It is usually 4 or 5 hours nightly, but when you are scaring people and in character, it takes a lot out of a person," he said.

Franks said charisma is necessary for a person to "work the crowds" and interact with people.

The great thing about being a scare actor is your identity is under wraps. Franks said no one knows who the actors are in real life.

"Someone is not going to say, 'oh, that is Jeff, he is a computer guy,' no one knows that," Franks said.

Franks and staff have found creative ways to incorporate the required masks into the haunted house.

"Some of our actors have full masks they wore in the past. The PPE is underneath it, but other actors wear the PPE integrated into their costume," Franks said.

Stress release and safety

The owner explained that acting becomes an outlet for actors to express themselves in an outlet they don't have in their daily lives.

"For both sides (actor and guest), it is a stress release," Franks said.

Franks described the adrenaline rush when a guest is scared and the laughter after they come down from that rush.

"They have a good time and can just escape the craziness (pandemic) we are going through," he said.

For the actor, they can release daily stress or any pent-up frustration and anger they might be feeling.

Franks thinks a good scare is needed in these uncertain types. He told Patch everyone is on edge right now due to the pandemic, politics and civil unrest.

"A haunted house is a perfect way to have stress relief, and the way we have it set up is safe," Franks said.

Safety is important during the pandemic. There are timed tickets that can be purchased online to avoid waiting in a line and limit the number of people in one space. The waiting line area is now 10 times bigger, which allows spaces between 8 and 16 feet apart, depending on the size of a group, Franks said.

Hand sanitizers are available throughout the grounds. Scare actors and all employees have their temperatures checked, and everyone — including guests — is required to wear a mask.

Different type of 'scare'

Guests should be at least 14-years-old or with a parent. Franks said scare actors adjust how they are performing if they see a child.

"They put their kid gloves on and give a good scare. They don't want to terrorize them or give them nightmares," Franks said.

Scare actors are not allowed to get in a guest's face, which is different from past haunted houses. Franks said some people become frightened just by seeing an actor, while others get scared when an actor "gets in their bubble and close to them."

Franks hints they have developed other ways to get in a "good scare" at a safe distance.

What if a guest is terrified beyond belief?

Franks said they have a quitting policy, and people are instructed what to do before they enter the grounds.

"If you decide you can't make it anymore, put your hands on your head and say you quit," he said.

It is a sign to scare actors a guest is serious. Franks said they have had multiple people quit before they even entered the grounds.

Franks recalled a group of six 20-somethings making their way to the compound. Two actors scared a guest so bad he immediately put his hands on his head.

"The rest of his friends kept going, and he had to sit in his car and wait," Franks said.

Wisconsin Feargrounds is open Fridays and Saturdays in October from 7 p.m. to 11:30pm. For more information visit Wisconsinfeargrounds.com.