Jennifro

MHF:

Men Hoo Frighten

I have never had a more difficult time with a post. I mean I can hardly bear to write this, it's like system overload in my brain. I could take it in so many directions that I'm just going to succumb to a stream-of-consciousness style and barrel through. The thing is I have so much to say, so many experiences and memories of this little haunt, that I could go on for days. So maybe I will. As I remember things, I'm going to post them because sadly I've written nothing, nada about MHF in the sixteen years we've been doing it--and that depresses me. I can't believe how much of my life is just floating around in my subconscious, probably never to be retreived again. BUT, I have a blog now and things are starting to be remembered.

During my last year at BYU Nick and I, along with some of our closest college cronies went to the "Haunted Woods" in American Fork, Utah. It was an awesome night full of chain saws, screams and the usual hysteria you find at events like this. Later that night Nick called his brother Alex, in Maryland, and said "I found a way we can start our camp." So, Alex, allowing no moss to grow under his club feet, proceeded to "deck out" an old school bus, that he and Nick used to live in in college, (a sweet story for another time) for the upcoming fall. Markoff's Haunted Forest started in a bus and as a fundraiser to get our outdoor camping business off the ground. That first year Alex, with friends in tow, drove the bus from place to place enticing students, kids and neighborhoods to "Enter if you dare..." The following summer Nick and his disgruntled bride (see that story here) moved east and the MHF bus drove to it's NEW location--Mom and Dad's backyard. For the first three or four years the HF did a big old loop around Mary and Nick's property (5 acres) and did very well. I will never forget those days of sitting upstairs in Nellie (our first home--charming garage next door to Nick's parents) counting the loot in costume. You've never seen so many ones in your life! It was like we struck gold. Every night afterwards my parents would call, giddy, "so what'd you make tonight!" "Who knows?" we'd tell them..."Chief's still countin!" The early years were seriously some of the best days of my life. The memories are to die for....(MHF lingo).

When we moved to our current location in Poolesville the business really exploded. We have 180 acres with unlimited parking and more woods than you ever care to get lost in...so needless to say, it's gotten a little out of control. The brothers, their dad (and many others) work their tails off to make it a success each year. I joke with my sister-in-law that we're "October widows" because we barely lay eyes on our husbands all month! It comes and then goes again so it's not that bad.

It's been fun to get notoriety for such a unique business. We've had some really awesome write ups in the Washington Post, radio and news spotlights and AOL named us in the top ten nationwide a few years back. Not bragging just trying to show how it's grown over the years. For as awesome as it is now, I will always miss the early days (pre-kids) when it was smaller and run by every single family member, kind friend, and church kid we could round up. Those were such great times--such amazing memories. I hope I can capture a few in subsequent posts.

Onto a few pictures....

My very favorite picture of Nick. It truly captures the love (not nearly a strong enough word) he has for his baby. He hearts the Haunted Forest, always has, and pretty much builds every single scene each year. I remember when he first got the "vision" to have people enter through the skulls mouth. He made it out of chicken wire and paper mache. Eventually the rain would destroy it and he'd have to start all over....(what a cutie!)

One of the best improvements in the history of the MHF was Nick's mom's BRILLIANT, let me say it again, BRILLIANT idea to have a center area where people can mingle. Up until about five years ago, people would come and just wait in line. Not always a peaceable scene. Standing in a line for three hours plus...the situation had to be remedied and now it is unbelievably fun! Everyone gets a number when they come in and are called to come to the entrance when it's their turn. It's still can be a super long wait but...they can hang out by the bonfires, get their face painted,visit the fortune teller, eat funnel cakes and caramel apples, go on a haunted hayride, ride the zip-line, rock climb, jump from the trapeze, shoot a paint ball gun etc. to kill time. This did more for the business than anything. The front is now such a fabulous atmosphere with music (hence,what's playing) party lights and sort of an edgy, eery circus feel.

The WRAITH--a pretty recent acquisition. Every year Nick and a few of his "October friends" go to the Haunt Convention. They found this one and a really cool tree costume. Here is brother John down in Georgetown doing a little PR.

It's seriously amazing how tall it is. John loves it. He wears it every night of the HF--it's probably doing some serious wear and tear on his bod, though.

Nick, at the office, with the company car.

The HF has such a following of freaks (staff) now--they have to turn people away. They are a breed all their own (trust me on this one).

One of the entrances...we now have two trails. This helps cut down on the wait, and is also an incentive to come back again to walk the other one. Each trail is about a 20-25 minute walk through the woods with paths lit by candlelight suspended in the trees. Every so often there is a unique scene that provides a scare--and people all along the trails to getcha!

Brother Al. Those who know him can appreciate the irony of this photo.

This is funny. Everyone this side of the Mississippi gives their junk to our family. And trust me, they (the MEN) welcome it with open arms. Somewhere along the way they acquired an ambulance. I will say it makes for an amazing little "half time" show, during the course of the night when the crowds are huge. They (staff dressed as EMT's) drive the ambulance right through the crowd with it's lights and sirens on. Then they drive over to the entrance and walk into the woods with a gurney. By now EVERYONE is riveted and freaked out and Matt on the loud speaker is announcing there's been a bad accident. The fake EMT's come back out with someone on the gurney under a sheet--and right before they load them into the ambulance they drop the person to the ground--the crowd gasps! And then before they know what's happened the person who is under the sheet jumps out from under with a chain-saw, fires it up, and runs head-long into the crowd...it's a SCREAM!!

Something cool Brother Matt made for all the activities in the front circle.

Staff. Waiting for their nightly assignment.

I took the kids out opening night. The bonfires they light are truly unreal! They are so massive it's something to behold. They burn bright all night then smolder for about 2 days.

Kid heaven! They are begging to work by age 3. Camille was proof of this the other night. "But where's MY scary costume?" They have two Haunted Busses in the front area. They are also a huge hit and surprisingly VERY good and scary.

One of the guys out there, his name's Finnyfrock, carved all this oversized furniture this year with a chainsaw. It sits around the bonfires to provide just the right place for all the teenage smoochin that goes on...

Haunted Hayride. I wrote the story for this year's ride. Maybe I'll share it if I get desperate one day for a post.

Fortune Teller Tent--my old stomping grounds. I used to be the fortune teller and will brag for a moment to say that I was the BEST! No joke it came naturally to me and I miss it like crazy. I have to post about that sometime. Also, the climbing wall and zipline up top.

The whole fam dam last year at the HF after trick or treating. We're trying to make this picture a tradition since that's the only time they see Nick on Halloween. Nick has never been trick or treating with his kids. But according to them, they are ready to skip the candy altogether and go to work with their dad....

What are your MHF memories?

Do you like to be scared?