Haunted houses are back with all the frights this Halloween season despite social distancing

MADDY REMINGTON, ALYSON OLIVER AND RUDY MARTINEZ

Illustration by Amber Davis/The Collegian Cutting Edge is back for the 2020 haunt season serving up scares to all who dare to enter the gates.

This year, guests flocked to the longest haunted house in the world, located in an abandoned meat packing plant at the heart of Fort Worth, TX.

Cutting Edge attracts horror fanatics and those of brave hearts to endure the many screams and frights within.

“I had never been to a haunted house before so I thought it was finally time to come to one,” Brittany Escheverria said, minutes after completing her journey through the haunt.

The deeper into the haunted house guests went, the more intense the experience became. While passing through several rooms filled with jump scares, monsters, fog and eerie lighting, the horror started to become more real.

Guests reported being taunted and followed by creepy dolls, horrifying clowns and relentless pursuers wielding chainsaws that could be heard from several rooms away.

“The chainsaw guy was following me around and trying to get me,” Lisette Gonzalez said. “I was so scared.”

While there was much to be frightened by in the depths of Cutting Edge, there was still plenty of fun to be had.

“I enjoyed every part until I got to the bubble room at the very end where I couldn’t breathe,” Cartier Jordan said.

Whereas Jordan’s girlfriend said her favorite part was the fog-filled room where she couldn’t see.

One thing was guaranteed: In every room, one of the five senses would be compromised, ensuring guests would have a terrifying and disorienting experience.

Anything that one could be afraid of is included at least once in this haunt. Everyone

was on their toes throughout the one and a half-hour walk through winding passageways and dimly lit rooms.

Visitors had an overwhelmingly positive experience at Cutting Edge. Most even said they would come back as soon as next week.

Cutting Edge followed CDC guidelines in response to COVID-19 as well as anyone would think a haunted house could. Upon arrival, guests were instructed to enter a virtual queue before leaving their vehicle to enter the Cutting Edge line.

Although the people traffic was plenty, Cutting Edge sectioned off the line with batches of hay and cones 6-feet apart.

“They distanced everyone in line and made everyone wear their face masks,” Sarah Nivens said.

For those who dare to enter Cutting Edge this Halloween season, here is what to expect upon arrival: Once you find your parking spot you will be advised to enter a virtual queue. The queue will be your guide to tell you when to enter the Cutting Edge premises.

As always, you will go through security and be directed to a waiver form station to check-in.

Next, you will enter the socially distant line and wait to enter the haunted house.

Cutting Edge worked hard to perfect the socially distant haunted house by providing each party a section in line and in the haunted house itself. Although it may have seemed that there were fewer scarers in years past, the screams were just as loud.

Cutting Edge is an enticing fright fest that draws in an abundance of thrill-seekers, and it is right in the heart of north Texas. No matter the experience, you can always expect lots of screams, laughs, and a good time with friends and family.