When it comes to finding the "ULTIMATE" Haunted Attraction, then look no further than Field of Screams(Pa.). Their website boasts it, and so do we, they are "The #1 Haunted Attraction in America" and they are miles ahead of the competition! Last season they easily took the top prize. Rooms are designed better than some Hollywood horror sets. Actors are very energetic. And most importantly, the atmosphere is perfect. This is the "Walt Disney World of Haunted Attractions". I recently has the chance to interview Jim Schopf again this year, without further due, here is his interview....
Haunted House News: My review group was blown away last year, when we visited your Field of Screams(Pa.). We named it the "Best Haunted Attraction in America" and it was clearly the most fun I had all last year. I had a chance to quickly talk to 2 other media members(one of them a haunt website) before I entered your 2 haunted houses and haunted hayride, and they both told me off the bat"this is the best haunt you will ever see". I almost felt like I was in a horror movie inside your haunted houses. I admit, I jumped too many times to remember, and I DONT jump inside other haunted houses, etc. Did you and your brother design the Field of Scream haunts, and if you had to pick "one reason" for the success to Field of Screams, what would it be?
Jim Schopf: Well, first off Tim, I appreciate all the good things that you have to say about Field of Screams. It’s just not an event that we throw together at the last minute or start working on over the summer. Each year the Field of Screams event is a result of a full year’s worth of effort put forth by our entire 6 person design team along with numerous other cast members who volunteer their time to make the show and set design the best it can be. Success is a result of a lot of blood, sweat, tears, and hard work. We put our time in to Field of Screams. You can tell when you go to a haunt that is just thrown together and whoever puts it on is just out there to try to make a quick buck. We take pride in our product and we are glad to hear from people like you that it shows. To answer your question, my brother Gene and I designed much of the original Field of Screams, and each haunt. After a few years of success we were fortunate to hire our lead set designer and control specialist Jeremy Spickler. He Is now a major contributor to the overall set design, scare tactics, scenes, costuming, and make up.
Haunted House News: I seen the Channel Travel Show they did on your Field of Screams. If I am correct, I think you said, somebody told you at a picnic or family and friends get together, you and your brother should turn your farm into a haunted attraction. Before Field of Screams, what type of work were you doing, and the person who recomended that to you, was that the best advice you ever recieved?
Jim Schopf: You are correct. The idea for Field of Screams was created a family picnic. A friend suggested that since we have a farm, we should put on a haunted hayride. At first we thought it might be the worst advice we ever received but we soon realized differently. When Field of Screams began in 1993, I was a student at Millersville University and my brother was a high school school teacher. My brother and I were also operating a produce farming business that we began 10 years before that. I finished my college education and also began teaching high school. Gene and I both went on to earn our Master’s Degrees in Education. We were also still farming at that time and continue to farm until this very day. We eventually needed to quit our teaching jobs in order to focus on Field of Screams and our farming business.
Haunted House News: I allways say, Field of Screams is more than a haunt. You have a huge following. On your facebook fan page, there are several people who have Field of Screams tattoos. When you started Field of Screams did you ever think it would be this big?
Jim Schopf: Field of Screams is much more than just a haunt. We have a HUGE following of fans and dedicated actors that love to be a part of what we do. Aside from the haunt there are special events that happen every weekend at Field of Screams. Like I said earlier, the only reason we began Field of Screams was because a friend of ours coaxed us into doing it. But we don’t do anything without putting our heart and soul into it. So even though we didn’t imagine Field of Screams would become as big as it is today, I’m not surprised that people love it as much as they do. I believe in what we are doing and I am passionate that Field of Screams is “America’s #1 Haunted Attraction”. As far as the tattoos, that is never something I imagined would happen. I never thought in a million years that so many people would be walking around with Field of Screams tattoos. Just a few days ago, one of my Haunted Hayride Tractor Drivers came up to me and showed me his back. He has his entire back filled with Field of Screams. It is awesome. It’s not up on Facebook yet but keep looking. They are also getting posted on our website.
Haunted House News: I know every year you try to change up the theme in your haunted houses, and haunted hayride. What can fans expect for this upcoming season?
Jim Schopf: Everyone knows that we change things up at Field of Screams. The entire atmosFEAR of the Entertainment Area has changed and undergone vast improvements with theming and décor. There is a new Cemetery in the Hayride as well as a completely new Clown Fear House in the Hayride. The buildings have had rooms gutted and redone as well. Due to the fact that our entire haunt is set up year round, we have tons of detail put into each room and set. Customers can go through the same building twice in a row and see tons of new things that they didn’t see the first time because there is so much going on.
Haunted House News: Is there anything you would like to add? It can be on any subject or topic.
Jim Schopf: Check out our new website, www.fieldofscreams.com. We hope you like it and find it better than the old site. Be sure to come out and visit Field of Screams this year. Many people didn’t get a chance to come out last year due to the bad weather in October. Due to popular demand we added an extra weekend to our season this year. This season we will be open Friday and Saturday November 6 and 7. Also, Eddie Munster will be out at FOS to sign autographs on Sept 18th and Oct 22nd.
Haunted House News: My review group was blown away last year, when we visited your Field of Screams(Pa.). We named it the "Best Haunted Attraction in America" and it was clearly the most fun I had all last year. I had a chance to quickly talk to 2 other media members(one of them a haunt website) before I entered your 2 haunted houses and haunted hayride, and they both told me off the bat"this is the best haunt you will ever see". I almost felt like I was in a horror movie inside your haunted houses. I admit, I jumped too many times to remember, and I DONT jump inside other haunted houses, etc. Did you and your brother design the Field of Scream haunts, and if you had to pick "one reason" for the success to Field of Screams, what would it be?
Jim Schopf: Well, first off Tim, I appreciate all the good things that you have to say about Field of Screams. It’s just not an event that we throw together at the last minute or start working on over the summer. Each year the Field of Screams event is a result of a full year’s worth of effort put forth by our entire 6 person design team along with numerous other cast members who volunteer their time to make the show and set design the best it can be. Success is a result of a lot of blood, sweat, tears, and hard work. We put our time in to Field of Screams. You can tell when you go to a haunt that is just thrown together and whoever puts it on is just out there to try to make a quick buck. We take pride in our product and we are glad to hear from people like you that it shows. To answer your question, my brother Gene and I designed much of the original Field of Screams, and each haunt. After a few years of success we were fortunate to hire our lead set designer and control specialist Jeremy Spickler. He Is now a major contributor to the overall set design, scare tactics, scenes, costuming, and make up.
Haunted House News: I seen the Channel Travel Show they did on your Field of Screams. If I am correct, I think you said, somebody told you at a picnic or family and friends get together, you and your brother should turn your farm into a haunted attraction. Before Field of Screams, what type of work were you doing, and the person who recomended that to you, was that the best advice you ever recieved?
Jim Schopf: You are correct. The idea for Field of Screams was created a family picnic. A friend suggested that since we have a farm, we should put on a haunted hayride. At first we thought it might be the worst advice we ever received but we soon realized differently. When Field of Screams began in 1993, I was a student at Millersville University and my brother was a high school school teacher. My brother and I were also operating a produce farming business that we began 10 years before that. I finished my college education and also began teaching high school. Gene and I both went on to earn our Master’s Degrees in Education. We were also still farming at that time and continue to farm until this very day. We eventually needed to quit our teaching jobs in order to focus on Field of Screams and our farming business.
Haunted House News: I allways say, Field of Screams is more than a haunt. You have a huge following. On your facebook fan page, there are several people who have Field of Screams tattoos. When you started Field of Screams did you ever think it would be this big?
Jim Schopf: Field of Screams is much more than just a haunt. We have a HUGE following of fans and dedicated actors that love to be a part of what we do. Aside from the haunt there are special events that happen every weekend at Field of Screams. Like I said earlier, the only reason we began Field of Screams was because a friend of ours coaxed us into doing it. But we don’t do anything without putting our heart and soul into it. So even though we didn’t imagine Field of Screams would become as big as it is today, I’m not surprised that people love it as much as they do. I believe in what we are doing and I am passionate that Field of Screams is “America’s #1 Haunted Attraction”. As far as the tattoos, that is never something I imagined would happen. I never thought in a million years that so many people would be walking around with Field of Screams tattoos. Just a few days ago, one of my Haunted Hayride Tractor Drivers came up to me and showed me his back. He has his entire back filled with Field of Screams. It is awesome. It’s not up on Facebook yet but keep looking. They are also getting posted on our website.
Haunted House News: I know every year you try to change up the theme in your haunted houses, and haunted hayride. What can fans expect for this upcoming season?
Jim Schopf: Everyone knows that we change things up at Field of Screams. The entire atmosFEAR of the Entertainment Area has changed and undergone vast improvements with theming and décor. There is a new Cemetery in the Hayride as well as a completely new Clown Fear House in the Hayride. The buildings have had rooms gutted and redone as well. Due to the fact that our entire haunt is set up year round, we have tons of detail put into each room and set. Customers can go through the same building twice in a row and see tons of new things that they didn’t see the first time because there is so much going on.
Haunted House News: Is there anything you would like to add? It can be on any subject or topic.
Jim Schopf: Check out our new website, www.fieldofscreams.com. We hope you like it and find it better than the old site. Be sure to come out and visit Field of Screams this year. Many people didn’t get a chance to come out last year due to the bad weather in October. Due to popular demand we added an extra weekend to our season this year. This season we will be open Friday and Saturday November 6 and 7. Also, Eddie Munster will be out at FOS to sign autographs on Sept 18th and Oct 22nd.
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