In the 45 year history of the Niles Scream Park destination attraction, never have they seen as many visitors as turned out this fall…with records being shattered multiple times allowing the amazing Berrien County showcase to raise more than $132,000 for local groups including the largest single donation in the 45 year run, but that doesn’t begin to tell the story of the biggest year on record.
When organizers met recently to host their annual pizza party which is also check delivery night, the fundraising records were all smashed and the top dollar donations included the largest single pay out to one group ever, when Boy Scout Troop 541 earned a check for more than $24-grand.
Here are the top 5 groups this year and the amount earned by each:
- Boy Scout Troop 541 — $24,250.00
- Make A Wish Foundation — $13,800.00
- Pets Connect — $11,100.00
- Niles Drama Club (Four Flags Players) — $7,900.00
- Lakeshore High School Stage Crew — $4,600.00
Each of those groups logged the most hours and subsequently raised the most money for their chosen organization.
This year there were a total of 80 active groups working on the project, with more than 565 volunteers who donated more than 22,000 hours before and during the 22 nights of operations for the Scream Park performances.
The Park awarded 7 scholarships to local high school seniors going on to higher education, and in addition to volunteers who donate their hours to charitable organizations, many volunteers work to support the Niles Haunted House scholarship fund.
On top of all of the cash donations, the Niles Scream Park supported many local causes, auctions and benefits with ticket donations totaling more than $2,800.00
It was also a year or awards and accolades for the park itself including these:
- Voted #1 Haunted Attraction in the nation by voters on the Coaster Nation polls…
- Voted #11 on Haunted House Chicago’s 2018 Top 13 attractions…
- Chosen “Must See Haunt 2018” by the Haunted House Indy Review Team for the 5th consecutive year…
- Named Top 31 “Must See Haunt” by Haunted Attractions Magazine…
- Named “Best of the Best” by Leader Publications…
- Named “Best Halloween Activity” by South Bend Tribune for 6th consecutive year…
The year also included the milestone 2-millionth interior visitor, Yessica Renteria of Plymouth, Indiana, who received a gift pack when she visited the Scream Park on Sunday, October 14, 2018 with her friends George Barragan of Plymouth, Brenda Huizar of Michigan City, Indiana and Alejandro Huizar of Lafayette, Indiana.
The Niles Scream Park broke several attendance records this year, including:
- All time record for a September night on Saturday, September 29th welcoming 6,405 interior attraction visitors…
- All time record for a Friday night on Friday, October 26th welcoming 8,353 interior attraction visitors…
- All time record for any single night on Saturday, October 13th welcoming 14,823 interior attraction visitors…
- Best season on record, welcoming 116,954 interior attraction visitors to the Park…
The Niles Scream Park includes seven main attractions — three interior haunted houses, the outdoor Field of Screams and a Haunted Hayride — plus a midway with games and food concessions. “Hooded” — an intense, adult-only attraction — and the “Speed”escape rooms were added in 2017, comprising a complete package designed to be truly a “Frightful Nightful.”
The project has been compared to the United Way in that it collects money and then donates it to many charity organizations. The volunteers donate their time for more than 50 local and national charities, which shared in more than $132,000 in 2018 alone.
The 2019 show is officially slated to begin, appropriately enough, on Friday, September 13th, 2019. Yep…on Friday the Thirteenth! Stay tuned.
