By Tara Adams
Haunt Hunters App
JACKSON TOWNSHIP, NJ – Nearly three weeks after its planned launch, three of the nine haunted mazes advertised at Six Flags Great Adventure's Fright Fest Extreme remain on hold, including a maze based on the show, “Stranger Things.”
LIsa M. Ryan, of the Office of Communications for the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, which oversees park inspections, said six of the mazes have passed inspections and are operating.
“Review and approvals for the remaining three attractions are currently in process,” Ryan said.
Fright Fest Extreme was initially set to open at Great Adventure on Sept. 13. But with only two mazes ready to go, Six Flags announced that the event would operate as a “preview weekend.”
The park's Facebook page stated two mazes would be open during the preview - Big Top Terror and The Witches Reflections - as well scare zones, rides, and shows.
The preview continued the following weekend.
Six Flags did not give a reason for the delays, only stating it was a result of “unforseen circumstances.”
Park officials also did not respond to Haunt Hunters App when asked about the reason for the delays or when the full event would open.
The stalled opening and lack of communication from park officials about the reason for the delays irked haunt fans and people who already bought tickets, many of whom took to social media to blast the park.
“At this point, you guys should consider being transparent,” one person wrote under a Great Adventure social media post. “Weekend 3 of this, and you try to keep glazing over it like nothing is happening. The event is more than (one-third) over after this weekend.”
Another commenter wrote, “Lmfao. Just close the event. Almost out of time at this point.”
“Ridiculous! I bought an annual pass to keep getting preview weekends?” said another commenter.
Several ticket holders wrote they would be asking for refunds.
“What is going on? I will be requesting a refund for my membership I paid for for the added bonus of getting Fright Fest with the membership,” one ticket holder wrote.
“So I bought the ticket to Fright Fest Extreme Saturday. Is it gonna be a preview and I'll get my money back, or is it actually gonna happen?” another ticket holder asked.
Three weeks after the initial start date, Six Flags announced that entry to Fright Fest Extreme would now be included with general admission tickets, but a “maze pass” would be needed for access to the park's newest haunts, according to a social media post made by the park.
Fright Fest Extreme also includes five scare zones, four shows, and rides.
The haunted mazes that are now open are:
The Conjuring Universe
SAW 20th Anniversary
Army of the Dead
The Asylum
The Witches Reflections
Big Top Terror
Stranger Things, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Trick ‘r Treat have not yet opened. The park's website lists these mazes as “coming soon.”
Ryan said that the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs’ (DCA) Amusement Ride Safety Unit is working in cooperation with DCA’s Southern Regional Office to coordinate the inspections of these Six Flags attractions.
Inspections of the park’s haunted attractions involve plan review and issuing permits as buildings within a specified use group and as amusement attractions. Both categories involve different inspection requirements, Ryan explained.
Buildings with a specified use group include inspection approvals for relevant building, electrical, and fire codes. Amusement attractions require a separate engineering plan review and permit issuance, Ryan said.
The amount of time it takes to inspect each attraction varies, Ryan said. The goal is to ensure attractions are as safe as possible for the general public.
“These inspections entail scheduling and coordination with the multiple parties involved in creating the amusement attraction. These parties include fire alarm contractors, fire sprinkler contractors, building and electrical contractors and, of course, the contractors and designers of the buildings and the ride/attractions,” Ryan said. “As stated previously, the inspections cover the completed building, electrical, and fire components, as well as review, approval, and independent inspection of the amusement ride design and installation. These reviews vary in time based on things such as building square footage, layout complexity, third party vendor/installer completion, and certifications, etc.”
