is a haunted attraction held by volunteers that enjoy scaring during the Halloween season. It started in Oct 1995 when the creator, Russ Geminn, step out on his porch on a very quiet night on North St as a stuffed monster waiting for victims. The next 2 years he decide to challenge Trick or Treaters to get candy. Having a sign saying "take one piece of candy and don't forget to say trick or treat.
" All failed and left the porch immediately. He created home haunts for the next 15 years always challenging attendees for candy in the end and opening one night only Halloween. Over the years it grew and grew to a 20x40 maze box with 8-12 goofy friends to scare our attendees, that were admitted for free or with a can of food for the local fish panty if they remembered to bring one. Many children were left behind as Mom or Dad ran out the door leaving a trail of candy out the exit door. It became a neighborhood attraction bringing hundreds to North St on Halloween night. We did because it is more legal fun that we should be able to have. August 2009 with Santa's Village closed he went to property owners Sterling Bay and asked "if he could haunt the park in October 2009". An agreement was made 5 people 60 hours later we had a path walkable thru the land after man park. We created in a little over a month a production on little budget, barely enough places to plug into without burning the place down, staff of 60+ ,rain 8.5 days out of 12 open,it was the rainiest October in 110 years,the 2009 Haunted Hike was the most successful haunt ever held on the property. Sterling Bay happy for getting a bit of rent for empty property, East Dundee happy due to paid entertainment tax, but financially failed due to paying all guilds, goons, and security needed for the event. Fall 2010 Azoosment and Paintball moved in to the park leaving not a lot a room for the "lil guy" for that year. We build another home haunt on North St with great success on Halloween night. August 2011 with many great new changes happening all over Santa's Village the owner of Azoosment called Russ and asked if him would be interested in helping them with a haunt they were planning that fall. He happily agreed to volunteer his time to assist and successful Hay Wagon haunt was held in the old Racing Rapid area of the property. June 2012, Russ wanted to be back in the park. We came to agreement to haunt the entire park and maze the 1600 sq ft old gift shop. After many hours from 70+ dedicated volunteers, we learned this from '09,employees from Azooment that helped with marketing, we had 16 acres of theater area with a indoor building with various room and characters that messed with you senses. The volunteers name themselves the Morbid Amy. The feeling of all of Us in the park is very morbid. Entrance to the Haunt is in the Picnic grove. You are put in groups of 12 and can enjoy some of the park in that area. There is a Fun House, Antique car ride, food and beer. No waiting in line like cattle. Average wait was about an hour. We did have one Rookie line entertainer, Freddy, that had more fun with all who waited. Creating the popular "I wanna picture" time with guest, chasing and screaming some for a picture. Group numbers are on tickets and we call you to staging area when it is your time.You are guided thru the park in a group of 12 to the Theatre were you are given a bit of history of Nightmare from North St and you best not talk during the movie or ELSE! Down the chosen path past the kiddy ride, Convoy, silently running with no riders distracting you from creatures lurking the park. Sounds of screams can be heard all around. You enter a building 3 at a time to bad if there's more to your group of friends. Make new friends! We have you now in The Morbid Manor. The building has a life of it own. Dark passage leading to Jail, with the wall of surprise, to the Mechanic from the Basement greeting you, over to the Butcher shop to find bloody Children lying on the floor crying for help. In comes the Butcher to make some "fresh chuck" beating the bloody child behind the counter.Down the hall of blinding strobe light in your face to the Wall were captured adults hang around that didn't obey the Morbid Army's wants.The room of Judgment was next. This room is were we do Judge and fry the innocent, SIT if you Dare! Over to the Bride left pregnant at the alter. She creeps you with her robotic appearance coming to life chasing you away. To the Candy room, everyone wants candy. We know this all to well an another trap for you, Heads all looking at you, you reach for candy, one, two, surprise one is alive, You just met Candy man! To the final room were your guild is waiting again for you and maybe some friends. You wait for all 12 to regroup, go to leave the building when you got another experience from the Victim in the crematory screaming for help, then the Goon from the stairs forcing you to leave creating chaos in the group trying leave thru the door. Finally a breathe fresh air for you. You are guiled over towards our Cemetery. Passing by a the 8' Scare Crow that is alive with frightening life. once in the Cemetery, Death and the Grave Digger look for a victim to burry in the freshly dug grave. They stalk the group finding one attendee to be carried away and tossed into a coffin by Death. You come to quiet game alley now. A natural glow from the park lights the way, nothing here except the Crazy Clown with the chainsaw that makes you run out of your shoes well past the slide. Around Santa's Home were more Creatures of the Night await. Almost done..to the Carousel Ride were Clowns await you. They cackle and rattle the last of your senses before you leave thru the main entrance of the park. Some were chased to there cars.We had the trifecta one night, one puked, p*ed, and we smelt.. The Azoosment park is happy with the turn out this year again and a few thousand dollar profit for the park was generated. The Morbid Army volunteers where treated to a party in the park catered with food and beverage for there time in 2012. Many stories about attendees where shared. No paycheck this time, the fun was payment enough for all. Nov 1 2012 we were invited back to the Azoosment park for the Fall Harvest Fest of 2013. With the realization of what this is turning into Russ brings on a partner. Scott Schneiderwind, a volunteer that came in fall of 2012 in the last weeks of finalizing the production. The crazy time when it's just got to get done time. His creativity in those couple weeks were a huge part of the success that year. He has always wanted to be a part of a haunt and created home haunts himself in the past. He brings another dimension to the program that Russ can work with. The Morbid Army is restless all winter long. Awaiting to start on the 2013 program. March 2013 Russ and Scott head to St Louis for a Haunted Convention. Many products, ideas are seen and friendships are made. It was almost overwhelming for a couple of small haunters from East Dundee. Armed with fresh ideas The Morbid Army meet on a cold Spring Sunday in the park to create the 2013 program. We love our idea, Carnival atmosphere in picnic grove area, like '12 but better, park path haunt and the 4000sq ft. barn in the back area of the park. Azoosment loved the idea too, sort of. They want the entire park to be open with only the Barn haunted in back. Morbid Army did not like that idea, we loose the park haunting. In the end We are happy to have what we do have. Budget reason we agree to put the dollars at the building instead of building and park. After many ideas, the blue print is finalized and building starts in June. First the building has to be cleaned of 30 years of stuff stored, along with things stored from the Azoosment park. Now bring in $10,000 in material to build it with. Then comes the 100* summer spent in a barn with Morbid Army members donating there free time, sweat, and blood at times. In the next 3 months The Barn is transformed from blueprint to reality. The 16' Vortex, designed and blueprinted by Byron Altergott , a 2012 customer turned volunteer after he went thru the haunt, fabricated by longtime friend Eric Enlgehardt off a basic revised blue print of his own. The night it spun without falling off rims was amazing. As we went with the building of Barn we took pictures as it grew. Amazed at the growth of everything Russ is emotional late night when all have left, being this is all WOW ! Way bigger than he ever imagined sitting on a porch with a few leaves here, there and a simple mask. Humbled and appreciative of All he closes the building with "goodnight" see you tomorrow. In Addition to working on the barn daily, Morbid Army members work full time jobs. Russ does HVAC and with record heat he is being pushed hard at work, Scott starts at 3:00 AM but does not stop either of them or others from working both daily as much as physically possible. Sat and Sun would come with many Morbid Army member hands to build,paint, decorated lighted, fire proof, clean, whatever was needed they did it well as a group with no complaints no matter the job. October 4, 2013.. after building in a space never used in 54 years of the parks existence, TV, radio, news papers, coupon magazines, Taco bell coupons, and almost a cardboard cut out of Freddy, Nightmare from North Streets Morbid Army was ready to bring you " Your Worst Nightmare". We are open in the way back location of the park where know one ever has ever been, along with the pretty Harvest time lights in the park, rides lite up, petting zoo, food, beer, and one night Svengoolie. Once you found your way to the barn with the correct ticket to get in you were greeted by Gram who took your ticket with her aged to perfection hand that rose from her black cloak gown, you waited briefly before being let in thru our first buildings Purple door from the recently renovated gift shop in the park. Around up the ramp to ...we stop there. If you were there you seen it. It had everything we could get done by that time. We adjusted to problems that arose each night we were open, bettering before every night we opened. It happens in all haunts from what we have learned. Freddy tried to get into the park, but with little kids screaming at the site of his shadow he was pushed to the front of the Barn. During this time Freddy greeted all with his humor, freakiness, and at times warning the parents with young ones not to go in or "they'll be in your bed for the next couple nights". Some took the warning and left others dragged there kid in crying saying "face you fears kid". After being reviewed the first weekend and called a family friendly haunt Morbid Army declared war on all who came thru our Purple door no matter the age of any. We watched people come out of the Barn with no breathe and wanting to be out of the barn,but not done the experience of Nightmare from North St. We wanted more also, but it took a lot of dollars from a park in mass renovation to make it better, and sponsorship money from a local HVAC company in the middle of a heat wave to just do the Barn in 2013. Through out each weekend Morbid members showed up ready to do there thing for everyone who did come because we have Fun doing it not because we get paid. Oct 27th 11 pm we are closed. The Morbid Army is in no rank or file order awaiting to hear from the Azoosment owner if we can come back in 2014. Yes is the answer and 45 people erupted in celebration for what is yet to come. The Morbid Army is treated to a catered party at the Chubby Bullfrog. Those who attended we had a great night n we leave the rest at the frog. January 2014 Russ and Scott go to Hauntcon in Houston Texas for a week of 15 lights on/ lights off haunted houses, seminars, exhibits of scenes, professional in the industry, mask makers ,prop makers, a huge haunted convention. They are ready to start on the 2014 season. First meeting in February the Morbid Army finds out we have the Barn as well as all 16 acres back to haunt in 2014 season. The park has also handed over all operation of running, marketing, designing, lighting, propping of the event to be held weekends starting Friday October 3rd.- Nov 1st at Santa's' Village Azoosment Park after the park has closed from its family Harvest Fest held during the daytime. We are in the process of putting a team to get all those things done and it's only April. We are always looking for new team members, sponsors, or donations to the Morbid Army. We have a plan, We hope to scare you so bad you loose bodily control. That is a standing ovation in our theatre and it will be fun no matter what! Many things to come in 2014 keep your eye on Us.
