THE HISTORY OF A LOCAL LEGEND Mark Hoover
2008 serves as the 10th anniversary of MISERY MANOR. Yep, that's right, MISERY MANOR is actually only 10 years old. The greenfactory haunted house however, is over 20 years old. I'm often asked how it all got started? Who started it? Why did you all decide to do a haunted house? Why do we still do them? Well, let me explain.
The Haunted House didn't start out as a traditional haunt. It started in 1984 as more-less a scene that was inspired by the box-office hit, "A Nightmare on Elm Street." It took place at my childhood home's front yard, 165 Pinehurst Drive (Westgate) The scene consisted of two characters and a referee. Will Harrod played a corpse in the flower bed. I played Freddy Krueger. We had black plastic, a mixed soundtrack (cassette), two strobe lights, masks, costumes, a spray painted striped sweatshirt, and a pot of hot chili waiting for us. 1.5 scenes…..we had it all!
My mother, Patricia Goodman, played the referee. Her job was to protect all the Trick or Treaters from Will and me. We put people on the ground even back then! There's nothing like scaring the hell out of the neighbor's kids. Mom was always scared we were going to upset the neighbors. They loved every minute of it! Some still do!
The name greenfactory came that same year because the newspaper would not blurb an event that was held by a group with out a name. We came up with greenfactory by listening to a bootlegged Prince song titled, "Dream Factory". Prince's title was a bit on the sissy side. We chose "green" to represent money. We chose to link all letters as one word to symbolize team work (staying together) and we chose all small letters because it would never be an official organization with by-laws, officers, members…..all that stuff. We just wanted to scare people.
"The Haunted Grave Yard" successfully scared body fluids out of kids during our 11 years in Mom's front yard. With hundreds and hundreds of Trick or Treaters, we also killed the lawn. Year-by-year, the attendance would increase. We began collected canned foods for local charity kitchens. By this time, the event turned into a family affair. There was Mom (still referee), my big brother, Scott Hoover (Jason), cousin Will Harrod (he promoted himself to "the corpse in the back of the funeral coach") high school-friend, Chris Martin (Michael Myers) neighbor, Jerry Grimes (Pinhead) Sister-in-law, Kristi Hoover (tour guide) Father, Lawrence Hoover (Bat Man on a motorcycle) brother, Patrick Goodman (Leatherface) and cousin, Newt Tyson inherited the roll of the corpse in the flower bed.
For the final 3 years on Pinehurst, the haunt would be called the "Halloween Experience" HE had a 15 X 35 space of total darkness provided by tarps, black plastic, 2 X 2s, and rope. A large funeral tent also held two other scenes. For the simple reason of us out-growing the yard….. Mom stopped making chili and kick us out in 1995.
1996 found the cast and crew in my father's workshop/barn. Will and Patrick still regard this haunt as greenfactory's break-out year. With the original greenfactory mostly intact, additional cast members were added. George "Willie" Harrod often says that the 1996 Halloween Experience on Devils Hollow Road was absolutely the scariest HH to date. When Willie is asked why, he says, "They were all idiots." That statement cannot be denied. The '96 effort built the cat shelter at the Franklin County Humane Society.
1997 was the year that changed everything. Dad kicked our butts out of his barn and we landed in the old State Journal Building on West Main Street in downtown Frankfort. There was never a haunted house constructed in Frankfort that large and there still hasn't been. The estimated time of "walk through" was 40+ minutes.
We started building "the last Halloween Experience" just minutes after receiving the keys to the place. Most of the original greenfactory staff had either moved out of Frankfort, or just lost interest. Seth Larson, Will Harrod, Jake Larson, Keith Ratliff, Eric Rogers, Patrick, Will, and I were all that was left. Early construction fell in the hands of Will, Patrick, and me. There was simply no way that we could build an attraction that would utilize all that space with just a 3 man construction crew.
What can I say…..Halloween Experience '97 was meant to be. Willie, Shaun, Jake, Brandon, Creech, Stella, Stephanie, Scotty, Chunky, Nathan, Derek, Matt, Chaka, Brad, Michael, Erin, Beth, David, Martin, Mike, Flynn, Scott, Melinda, Pam, Ryan, Vince, Newt, Jonathon, the other Brad, and 30 or forty names I can't remember all showed up to scare some people!
To say the least, the "Journal was a success." My grandmother, Doris Harrod made sure that we had the materials and items needed to facilitate a cast of over 50 people. Attendance was huge! Crowds that size had never flocked to a haunted house like they did in '97. It shortened the life span of the other local haunt. I guess people thought they got everything they needed from us.
People still refuse to believe that it was built in only 8 days and was sponsored by only 2 organizations. Us doing another haunt was very questionable when we closed down the Journal on November 2nd. We felt like we had nothing more to prove. All proceeds went to Hospice of the Bluegrass in memory of my stepmother, Ann C. Hoover.
In Summer of 1998, Will and I started getting the fever again. We knew that we could not top what we had done before by making 98's larger. We knew we had to find a house; it had to be old; it had to be small; we had to have permission to destroy it; and it had to come cheap. We also knew that the Halloween Experience era was over.
Family friend, Frank Shelton donated the old house on Springhill. He also donated all building materials, generators, and heavy equipment. It was an extensive build that took place over an entire (very hot) Summer.
Several Frankfort Commissioners and the then Mayor graced us with a visit just a day or two before opening night. They said that with our electrical status being substandard….we were shut down until costly improvements were made and inspected. THIS WAS THE HAUNT THAT WASN'T MEANT TO BE.
My uncle, Mike Harrod told the city government that we WOULD open (as scheduled) and gave them all an address to send the fines. –WE OPENED! (Mike did modify our electrical situation. He ran our wire through the tops of the trees surrounding the very unstable and structurally weak house.)
Will and I had such a tough time coming up with a name for our new creation. Will was dead set on using Manor as a tribute to the old Moldy Manors held by the Jaycees. I wanted to use a classic name from classic horror. One night it just clicked. "Stephen Kings "Misery" was playing on HBO, and we both got to use our ideas.
During those eighteen nights, we gave our customers free hearse rides (free (mandatory) strolls through the woods, an 8 feet tall grim reaper, and the introduction of Zaggy. Large crowds witnessed a flawless show by a very experienced greenfactory crew.
Brandon Wainscott told me during construction that it would never work due to location. Wainscott WAS WRONG! Kim Palmer constructed the classic signs that directed people to the front door. We turned in $5000.00 the Frankfort City D.A.R.E. program and another $5000.00 to the Franklin County D.A.R.E. program. Fortunately, 1998 only claimed one fatality. We accidently murdered the Jaycees Haunted House. Oops! At the conclusion of the original MISERY MANOR, I retired for the first time.
Around April of 1999, I started coming up with some ideas. I knew that greenfactory was in their primes, and I knew that it would be the wrong time to quit. Heck…we were the only haunted house within 50 miles.
I was sure that I wanted to bring it back as MISERY MANOR -just based on the success we had with the original. I also knew that I wanted to do the next one in a totally different setting….but I wanted to return to downtown Frankfort. Will had officially quit after '98. All that was left from the original line-up was Patrick, Mom, and me.
I did not want that haunt publicized like the Journal and MM '08. I wanted to dedicate this one to the good people that had supported it for the last 15 or so years. I wanted a reduced staff, a reduced budget, no sponsors, and complete darkness.
Mom found what came to known as the Underground. It was a 5000 square feet bunker that sat 12 feet underneath the St. Clair Mall. It was an interesting year to say the least. Patrick quit just a few days into construction because he and I were not getting along. We had multiple staff injuries; resulting in a few trips to the hospital. We allowed a couple of Jaycees to help out. Despite it all….we scored huge crowds and made a lot of money for charity. We donated the proceeds to the Gift of Sight program. I retired again. It just wasn't the same without Will and Patrick.
2000 was the year I took off. I got married. I think everybody really thought it was over. The greenfactory crew did everything in their power to trick me into throwing together a show. I just didn't have it in me. They stuck pretty close that October…..they wouldn't leave my house. I did promise them that I would return in 2001 with an outstanding plan. They still didn't accept it well. ---Brats!
2001 proved how a group could stay together. It also proved that the group could grow. George, Shaun, and Willie Harrod pretty much funded and produced the entire event which took place at the Lakeview Barn. Aaron Hackett, Chester Priest, Brian Sudduth, and Jason Ailliff were additions that the doctor ordered.
I had originally feared greenfactory would come out missing a step or two. Instead, they came out harder and meaner than ever. My mother postponed (what was suppose to be) a small-routine surgery on her lungs- so that she could participate in our annual scare festival. We turned over $8000.00 for the Franklin County Fire Department Burn Fund. Mom's condition turned out to be much worse than expected.
I didn't retire that year. I knew we had to schedule another haunt immediately after the conclusion of MM '01. I was certain that it (among many other things) would inspire my mother to fight her way back to good health. She loved the greenfactory kids just like her own!
2002 started where '01 left off. We were right back in the Lakeview Barn. All of our gear was pretty much in the same place we left it. We started construction in Mid-August and built the most propped and cosmetically impressive haunt to date. We marketed the haunted house as the "FINAL MISERY MANOR". We all knew that it was all coming to an end. The group was still together as strong as ever….they were just losing interest in the event. They disliked the partnership with the Firefighters. The event was billed as if they were the group performing the attraction…..it just didn't sit well.
Mom recovered enough to effectively run the front and give it one more go. She was scheduled for another surgery on November 5th.
We all knew that we had lost the fire. The desire was gone. It rained the entire month of October, we broke our own $5.00 admission rule, and raised admission to $8.00. The gate receipts were not only disappointing….they were dismal. None of us wanted MISERY MANOR to end on such a sour note. But we all wanted it to end. I retired for good this time.
I left the barn on October 31st, 2002, knowing that I would never work another haunt with that greenfactory crew again. It was a very sad moment. What hurt most is that the entire staff and I knew that Mom would not ever work the front again. I remember looking at a firefighter and saying, …"PANIC….if there is ever a haunted house called PANIC……you'll know it's me…..and you'll know that it will be the best that has ever been."
The Summer of 2003 began casual talks with friends that had chartered a new Jaycees Chapter in Frankfort. I spoke with Susan Peyton, Amy Bogart, Jeff and Erica Handcock, and Scott Blackburn about offering some support if they decided to bring back the Jaycees Haunted House. Our talks became more frequent and more serious as the summer progressed. They said that I was the best at doing haunts that has ever been. They had me at hello.
Brian Sudduth and I attended a meeting with Handcock wanting us to justify doing a haunt. I wasn't there to justify….I was there to offer support. Later, the chapter approved a $3000.00 budget. Bobbie Hellard, the "Haunted House enthusiast" said she would find a venue by week's end. She did…….11 miles out of town…..in the middle of no where.
Brian and I got introduced to the old Peaksmill School. Correction….the basement of the old Peaksmill School. I must admit. It wasn't bad. I had to be very up-front about not being able to throw myself into the project due to my mother's declining health. I was skeptical about the location. At best, I thought they could break even. I attribute the success of 2003 to the dedication and hard work of Susan, Amy, Bobbie, Scotty, Doug, Paula and Brian.
Creatively, I was off….big time. As every other year, Gram Doris provided us with the items needed to impact and scare people. I just couldn't develop the characters the way I usually could. There was just too much going on in my personal life. People stepped up. They worked together. They worked hard. And out of nowhere, Bethie, Jake, Shaun, Willie, Jason Sudduth, Kristi, Hayden, Chet, and the Hacketts appeared. Hey, MISERY MANOR was dead, but the heart of greenfactory was still very much alive.
Construction was scheduled to begin on the evening of September 25th. I know….but better late than never. Mom passed away that morning. Just hours before she passed, she asked me to make sure that we kept our promise to the Jaycees, and that Alyssa, my niece, be included in the cast.
I thought her request would be more difficult than it actually was. That group of Jaycees inspired me to move forward. Scotty B. (in particular) had a way of getting the best out of people. Alyssa and I were in Peaksmill for the opening night of construction and we both felt good about. We knew we were doing what we were supposed to be doing.
My room designs were sub-standard. I just didn't get it done. Gate receipts did not reflect my poor production/direction. The Haunted House brought in more than $9000.00. It made money—11 miles out in the middle of nowhere. That made Bobbie and genius. $3000.00 of the proceeds were donated to Hospice of the Bluegrass in Patricia Ann Goodman's name.
With not feeling too victorious about the '03 effort. I immediately started work on PANIC. PANIC had been in light development for a year or so. Most of the drafts were very abstract and there was little substance to many of the original ideas. |
