Nightmare on Princess Street

Created by film, TV, theater and entertainment professionals, Port City Fear Factory’s Chapel of Horrors in Wilmington is the premiere haunted attraction in the region.

“Be afraid. Be very afraid.” Step into a horror movie and get seriously spooked by the pros at Port City Fear Factory, an original haunted attraction run solely by those in the film, television, theater and entertainment industry.

A collaboration between make-up effects studio Bearded Skulls MUFX Group (with seasoned special effects makeup artists Rick Pour, Jason Willis, Tony Rosen, Jeff Goodwin and Matt Barrett) and Opera House Theater Company’s artistic director Jason Smith, the idea developed amid conversations about the actor strikes and a current standstill in the industry. With those in the industry in need of work — and extra time on their hands — Chapel of Horrors was born. Now, the haunted attraction is set to induce chills and thrills this Halloween season at the former Coca-Cola building in the Soda Pop District.

“This is something we have talked about for years,” Pour explains. “We want to tap into the talents of folks in the film industry and make it a bit more extra than the average haunted house.”

Chapel of Horrors will be open for visitors through October 31. It offers the more immersive experience of feeling like you are actually in the horror movie.

“You can get really into the story,” Barrett says of the theme. “Basically, a mysterious cult takes over a church and bad things start happening.” And rumor has it that death and darkness are afoot at the century-old chapel.

True to the producers’ profession, each aspect of the attraction’s preparation has been treated similarly to a film production, from the casting/auditioning process to production efforts. Talented actors are funneling into the project from Opera House Theater Company.

The excitement does not end when you exit the haunted house. Stick around after the scares for a spooky block party experience featuring a lineup of local businesses such as Bowstring Burgers and Brewyard, Cugino Forno’s and Hi-Wire Brewing for an entire evening of fall fun.

Looking ahead, the masterminds at the helm have plans to expand the spooks into holidays such as Christmas and Valentines Day. And so far, it i setting the bar high as the best (and only) haunted house in Wilmington.

Ready to see the terrors that await?
Port City Fear Factory’s Chapel of Horrors
September 29 through October 31
921 Princess Street, Wilmington
Tickets cost $25 to $45
portcityfearfactory.com
IG: @portcityfearfactory