Journey Trails begins 7th year

Journey Trails is entering its seventh year of operation and has become New Kent’s largest haunt attraction.

An original “truth-based” haunt, the creators have a talent for taking the truths of scripture, and turning them into a thrilling Halloween adventure.

Priding themselves on being able to create effective scares without the use of extreme blood and gore, they play on people’s natural, universal and social fears, engaging their imaginations to give them an over-the-top haunt experience.

Journey Trails has become so effective using this technique, they have managed to take home first place for two years in a row at the National Haunters Convention Makeup Wars competition.

Using what the judges call an “old school approach” the Journey makeup artist team, headed by Kristi St. Mary and including Elizabeth Cave and Brittany Lieder, were able to impress both the judges and the audience by their creativity and unusual approach to haunt makeup.

Despite last year’s heavy rain and a struggling economy, Journey Trails almost doubled its attendance from the previous year, and 2010 is expected to be even better. In fact, representatives of Journey Trails have already expanded their reach on a national level by attending the National Haunters Conventions in Pennsylvania, HauntCon in Florida, the West Coast Haunt Convention in Oregon and the Mid-Western Haunters Convention in Ohio where they educated fellow, haunt-professionals in the “truth-based” style of haunting, while also learning new skills and the latest techniques offered in the haunt industry.

Armed with new skills and vast array of knowledge, Journey volunteers have been working since June to create new facades, and great new scares.

Journey Trails offers a full-body haunt experience — scaring mind, body and soul. This year promises to be the most unique, spine-tingling, nerve-rattling, teeth-chattering thrilling event for all.

Journey Trails is accepting volunteer applications for the 2010 season. Visit www.JourneyTrails.com to find an application form under the “About Us” tab or e-mail Info@Journey Trails.com.

Also, Journey Trails is seeking business, organization, group, or individual sponsors for full-size scarecrows for its Scarecrow Wagon Ride Trail. Sponsor cost is $35 if you provide the scarecrow or $75 if we provide one for you.

Scarecrow sponsor applications are being accepted through Sept. 17. Go to Journey Trails.com and click on the “Attractions” tab.

Sponsor signs will be posted by each scarecrow on the trail, scarecrow photos with sponsor names will be featured on big-screen video entertainment at the event, sponsor manes will be listed on the Journey Trails web site, and a portion of proceeds go to the New Hope Food Pantry.

At the end of the ride, patrons can vote for their favorite scarecrow. The scarecrow with the most votes at season’s end receives a $100 cash prize for its sponsor.

Journey Trails is open every Friday and Saturday night in October. Call (804) 840-7937.