It’s a real, decommissioned mine with a real, rickety bridge that crosses a real underground lake. There are even guys in wetsuits hiding in the lake, grabbing you when the lights go out. It’ll scare you even though you know it’s coming. The Cave is huge and includes many blackout sequences, laser and strobe trickery and a ton of surprises.  

The winding drive through the dark woods only intensifies the mood for this haunted venue that is supposed to really be haunted. The scare starts via a video with the house’s history of carnage by owner Robert Haverford who, legend says, slew a houseful of guests. After entering through the upstairs window, you wind your way though a series of dark tunnels and rooms.  

Like any field, environmentalism has its own jargon that's easily understood by advocates but can be incomprehensible to the average person. That dichotomy can be a major challenge for newspapers, television programs, radio stations and Web sites that want to broaden the public's knowledge about green issues. The topic was discussed among five panelists (including myself) who took part in a media roundtable Oct. 16 on coverage of the environmental movement and related issues.   

A blackout maze, original characters and props make the Mount Healthy Haunted Hall a terrifically fun, old-school haunted house. There are no animatronics or high-tech tricks. Instead, the Hall is filled with an enthusiastic troop of volunteer spooks who chase, cajole and surprise the screams out of their guests. $10 per person with a $2 discount for a canned good donation.  

The Schoolhouse is one hell of a haunt. Josh, Bud and Chuck (owner operators/Board of Deaducation) have assembled a slick horror-movie-style production. Period antiques, authentic materials such as a lunch counter and overhead projector and fine attention to detail make the experience immersive. It’s a real schoolhouse, and it really feels like a trip to the Twilight Zone.  

As the all-you-can-eat buffet of Halloween experiences, there are both advantages and drawbacks to the Halloween Haunt. In terms of overall value, especially for season pass holders (buy a 2011 season pass and you get one free admission to the Haunt), you can’t beat it. It has a dozen haunted attractions, free midget wrestling, and even a sexy vampire burlesque show.  

This haunted theme park combines five individual, full-sized haunts with a large courtyard complete with a bonfire, snack bar and the Club Zombie dance party. Club Zombie — the new teen-focused rave among the cornfields — is mostly a spectacle if you’re over 25 but looked to be great fun for the high school kids.  

The Hall is my favorite charity haunt, combining old-school DIY haunted house design with an awesome volunteer cast. The actors have a lot of heart and inspire plenty of screams. Unique features include an extra-long backwards-spinning vortex tunnel and a turntable floor that almost knocks you off your feet.  

When peering into the cold, starry sky from the Sandyland wagon, you really feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere or, more specifically, somewhere you shouldn’t be. Trespassers are treated to a slow-moving creepmobile trip through a haunted cornfield and woods. Not that you’d want to get off.  

Many board the Captain’s boat, and few leave unchanged. The USS Nightmare stands out as the region’s most original and bizarre attraction. A godawful crew of scum fill this antique tub, and every one of them is out for your blood. This haunt is elaborate and authentic.