T’Spookhuys Restaurant
St. Lucia Hattem, Belgium
'This Belgium restaurant had a theme meant to creep people out and was abandoned in 2008. T’Spookhuys Restaurant/Bar is also known as House of 1,000 Ghosts and an occult bar. This bizarrely spooky restaurant had a menu to make you shiver as well as a mummy’s lounge. It had served “mud pie” to be eaten out of a skull, featured rattling chandeliers, smoke pumped down from the ceiling and moving paintings. Entertainment had performances from transvestite Draculas and cameos with illusionists and devil-worshiping dancers. People dined in hell and had drinks at the occult bar. It’s rumored that there were satanic rituals held upstairs, leaving angry spirits to roam the premises. This is Spookhuis in Belgium, rarely photographed as there are few urban explorers who are brave enough to enter the haunted restaurant.'-- Trigger Pit
Monsterland Bar & Grill
Mesa, Arizona
'Monsterland was originally conceived of as a horror museum and not a restaurant. The restaurant/museum’s owner, Kevin Wynn, first opened the two-story, 15,000-square-foot space to the public as a haunted attraction last Halloween. Following the Halloween season, the plan was to reopen Monsterland as the area’s first year-round horror attraction and museum. However, after considering the venture’s potential, Wynn did not believe a horror museum could make it on its own. Instead of abandoning the idea altogether, he decided to transform the space into a one-of-a-kind themed restaurant.
'Guests at Monsterland are actually dining in a professional-quality haunted house. The sets throughout the dining area and downstairs haunted house attraction were designed by Wynn’s daughter and boyfriend, who he has admitted to Fox Phoenix are really the ones that are “into this stuff.” For Wynn’s daughter and her boyfriend, terrifying creations are not just a hobby. The sets are Hollywood caliber and the figures frighteningly realistic.
'The dinning area is home to over 50 animatronic figures and props, guaranteeing that everyone in the restaurant will be getting a first-rate show; that is, if you don’t mind being stared down by grimacing werewolves, blood-thirsty vampires, and disemboweled zombies while you dine on Batwings or a Bleeding Heart steak. Naturally, this isn’t going to be everyone’s ideal dining environment and Wynn is the first to admit it: “Even if you’re not into it though, you’ve got a lot of eye candy here to look at. It’s not going to scare you out of your mind.”
'On the other hand, the 8,000-squre-foot haunted house downstairs may do just that. It is closed off to the public for now, but come the haunting season, the doors will be thrown open. If getting spooked is not your thing, or you are afraid of losing your meal, there are TV monitors set up in the bar and restaurant on which you can watch other guests screaming and jumping in the haunted house.'-- Entertainment Designer
Stabbed Lovers Haunted Restaurant
Mesilla, New Mexico
The spirits of two tragic teenage lovers complement the menu in this restaurant in Old Mesilla. They were stabbed to death with sewing shears, and reportedly like to sit in the chairs. Once a night customers are "treated" to the unearthly sight of a petite transparent young woman, dressed in a maid`s black and white uniform of the 1840s, moving about from room to room. The restaurant's owner, C.W. "Buddy" Ritter, swears the sightings are real and are not an illusion perpetrated by the restaurant. The bravest diners are invited to eat in the "death room", as it's called, although they have to sign a waiver agreeing that the restaurant bears no responsibility for what happens. According to Ritter's estimate, 50% of the customers who eat in the "death room" flee screaming from the premises before their meals are finished.'-- collaged
Homer Mill
Calhoun County, Michigan
'The owner of the Homer Mill wanted to be back in business by this Halloween, his attorney said Tuesday. The historic mill, owned in part by Lance Cuffle, burned to the ground on May 15. “His plan all along has been to rebuild,” said Kenneth Hotchkiss, attorney for Lance Cuffle. “He wanted to get a structure up, especially by this time of year.”
'The haunted house and restaurant would typically open on weekends in mid-September and stay in operation through Halloween. Cuffle also owns and operates Jackson’s Underworld, a haunted house inside what was Shaw's Furniture Galleries on Wildwood Avenue, northeast of Westwood Mall. Jackson’s Underworld is open on Fridays and Saturdays in September and Thursdays through Sundays in October.
'Cuffle would not comment recently. In May he said he was “looking into seeing what we can rebuild.” Hotchkiss said the haunted house, bar and restaurant did well, calling it his client’s “golden goose.” “It does not make any sense for him to have set it,” Hotchkiss said, referring to the early morning fire.
'According to police reports, Cuffle was inside the mill when the fire started and called 911. Cuffle told to Hotchkiss he was upset the Homer Fire Department and other responding departments did not do more to save the mill, his attorney said. Firefighters instead focused on protecting neighboring homes, Hotchkiss said.'-- mlive.com
The Crypt Café
New York City
'Times Scare, a new New York City gore extravaganza, was, for its brief two year lifespan, aimed at attracting much more than just the zombie apocalypse obsessed set. The venue featured a restaurant called The Crypt Café — entrees included the “Bloody Good Tomato Soup” and “Graveyard Nachos” — and operated a haunted house in which the cafe is the entrance. It was an icy cafe with clinical white seats and a frosty bar that featured a display of frightening surgical instruments. There were also nightly performances by a creepy magician whose act involved “using razor blades, buzz saws, broken glass, blunt objects, blood, mutilated babies … and candy to create a whimsically entertaining non-stop roller coaster ride of pure mayhem.”'-- Digital Dying
The Haunted House Restaurant
Oklahoma City
'Marian Thibault's query is a trademark at the Haunted House Restaurant, where she said she's worked as hostess, cocktail waitress, bartender and/or Girl Friday from 6 p.m. to close most Monday through Saturday evenings for 48 years. For the past 18 years — since the death of her husband Arthur Thibault — she's also served as sole proprietor.
'"I've never been scared," says Thibault, "never felt vibrations and, even so, am not afraid of dead people. But there are some customers, especially women, who won't go upstairs by themselves. Years ago, there was a psychics convention in town and about a dozen came for dinner. They said they saw an old woman in the big room upstairs, sitting by the window and crying. Art bought the former private home, which was built in 1935, in a sheriff's sale, following the deaths of the three previous residents. Martin Carriker, a 74-year-old automobile dealer, allegedly was shot in the head by his stepdaughter and two handymen here. Before his stepdaughter was tried for the murder, her mother died and then she, after her acquittal, died here of an apparent drug overdose."'-- NewsOK
Horror Bar
Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic
'Entrance to the bar and restaurant is down a narrow staircase from the street into a cavernous stone cellar that is actually a 500 year old cave. If you look up as you enter, you’ll see the first of the many ghouls who will be your drinking partners for the next few hours. The bar itself is at the far end of this cavern, but take a seat at one of the benches along the right and a witch or zombie will be along to take your order as promptly as can be expected from the undead.
'Horror bar offers a little bit of halloween all year round; with blood red drinks (vodka and cranberry juice?) served in test-tubes, plenty of human bones lying around and a scary-as-hell bar manager who is actually quite nice if you’re not too scared to get to know her. Tunnels lead off to back rooms and up to the toilets, and it’s just mazelike enough to be interesting.'-- outsideprague.com
Spookers
Karaka, New Zealand
'Have you ever had the feeling that you are being watched? The feeling of being in danger? Your heart starts pounding… a cold and clammy sweat builds and your hair stands on ends. Your surroundings are unfamiliar and you feel lost. You can hear screams in the distance and it is clear that you are definitely in danger. Your heart pounds. Your breaths are short and fast. Your gut sinks. The feeling of fear has set in… Welcome to Spookers Haunted Restaurant, New Zealand's only scary restaurant attraction. And now... NEW FOR 2-14 ... Spotters is PITCH BLACK! 50 Spookers spooks will be dressed up and waiting for the you in total pitch black darkness as you make your way into the Haunted Restaurant with only the light of one glow stick per group! What will you eat? You will NEVER KNOW!!!!'-- Spookers
LHOTEL54
Quebec City
'LHOTEL54 is a one-of-a-kind place. Located in Sabrevois, in the Montérégie region of Quebec, Canada, the restaurant can welcome 170 people and features dinner shows where scares await. If you are feeling brave enough, you can tour the restaurant's thematic hallways haunted by welcoming zombies. LHOTEL54 is the largest haunted house restaurant in Canada with a menu of frightening items, breathtaking décors and 18 rooms to tour. It is also possible to rent the restaurant for 100 or more people for weddings, private evenings or other events. Don’t miss the Festival du fantastique et de l’horreur. LHOTEL54 is a must-see, one-of-a-kind experience!'-- collaged
Jekyll & Hyde Club
New York City
'D.R. Finley is the proprietor and creator of this unique entertainment and culinary experience. He opened the first Jekyll and Hyde at 91 7th avenue in 1991. With the success of this pub as well as The Slaughtered Lamb, and Night Gallery, D.R. made the move uptown. In 1995, just four years later, the Jekyll and Hyde Club opened on the Avenue of the Americas. Every detail in the club is carefully planned. Only the highest quality props, animatronics and scenic elements have been chosen. New animatronics from Life Formations have been installed on the various floors.
'The careful design makes it so that no matter where you sit in the restaurant you can experience at least three events close by. Other shows including the main show on the grand salon level can be seen via monitors placed appropriately around the seating areas. The idea here is that " Its always fun and always different". Walt Disney once told his team working on the Haunted Mansion that he wanted so much for the audience to look at that they would have to come back again and again to see it all. That is true here at Jekyll and Hyde’s. The walls are filled with interesting artifacts, heads, antiques, and science gone wrong. It would take you at least four visits to see each of the floors!
One of my favorite shows is in the attic. It is a little doll that stands quietly in her display box. Delilah is her name. Suddenly the box opens and slides off and she starts to speak. I love you. I love you she says... suddenly she begins to speak and tells us about her uncle needles. He is the psychotic clown in the cage on the other side of the room. She tells us she would like us to meet her friend Mr. Pointy. Suddenly her head spins and her hands raise and turn into claws as a rendition of the Psycho music blares at us. Then as suddenly as she turns evil, she turns back to the delightful little doll again. Very well done. There are other new animations on the attic level including a creature in a crate that sounds like golem. He wants out of his captivity but changes his mind when he sees what’s... I mean who’s for lunch.'-- hauntworld.com
La Maison Hantée
Montreal
'La Maison Hantée was an Icon in Montreal. For years locals and tourists crowded the premises for a spooky theatrical experience. Guests were greeted by spirits who escorted them to their tables through a spooky maze of unpredictability. Ghosts waited on tables and served food cooked by more ghosts in the kitchen. Once the presentation was over, guests had the chance to relax with an after dinner drink as they enjoyed a Tarot reading. Once a month a lunch hour show was presented for a younger audience.
'The Haunted House Restaurant has been closed for over three years. The building was rated as unsafe and forced a permanent closure of the establishment. The building was originally erected in the 19th century as a fur trade counter for the Hudson Bay Company. It later served for commercial boutiques and was even used as a residential property prior to the opening of the Theatrical-Restaurant. If rumors hold true, the property has since been sold and an eighteen story tower building is slated for construction in this very same site.'-- Steve Troletti
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p.s. Hey. An early-ish heads up that, starting on Thursday and lasting through September 5th, I'll be very preoccupied rehearsing and shooting the last two scenes in Zac's and my film. I should be able to do the p.s. during that time except on the actual shooting days. You're pretty much guaranteed to see quite a number of rerun posts during that period because I'm already behind my usual pace re: my post construction duties, and, as of now, I have no guest-posts in the pipe, but I'll do my best, and apologies for the likelihood of so many pre-viewed posts in advance. ** Thomas Moronic, Hey monsieur. It is, isn't it? Yeah, he's cool, and he seems very cool as a guy too. I really hope to meet him and get to talk lit and stuff someday. Wow, nice unearthed treasure trove of Dameer stuff. Cool. I feel a scrapbook coming on. I remember when he called himself Snow White everywhere. I remember when he was based in Ukraine. I remember when he charged $1000 an hour. What a curiosity. Thank you for stoking the fires! And, obviously, big congrats on finishing your novel's draft! And I'm keeping my envy and longing for the same victoire as under wraps as I can. But, yes, awesome! Anything you can say about it? ** Sypha, Yeah, he really super hated me back then. I don't know what happened. Maybe he still does, and he's just diplomatic now. Whatev'. ** David Ehrenstein, I can imagine that Evenson's eyes have taken a stroll through 'Two Serious Ladies', yes. ** Hyemin Kim, Hi. I'll try re: the 'Pyre' booklet. I'll ask Gisele when she gets back from vacation. Happy to. And, yes, feel free to remind me. My memory is weird. It's like 3/4 really sharp, but there's a very hazy 1/4 too. 'Fugue State' is very good. Everything I've read by him has been really good. I've never read Bernanos, strangely. I think I don't want to have anything interfere with my imagination's grip on Bresson's films, but everyone I know who has read the Brenanos books that Bresson adapted says lovely things about them. Very beautiful pre-windchimes materials! They're so shiny in just right way. Generally, my neck and wrists are empty, I guess, yeah, it's true. Have a fine day. ** Steevee, Hi. I haven't read Evenson's Zombie film adaptation books, but I've really, really wanted to for quite a while. I need to spring for them. The idea fascinates me. I'm not surprised to hear that the new St. Marks is not up to speed yet re: their inventory. I know from friends who do or have worked at bookstores that that's the hardest thing to do since the guarantees on sales are so iffy. I hope they get the money to restock, but, yeah, that's no surprise and it's no doubt as hard for them as it is for shoppers. ** Jeffrey Coleman, Hi, Jeff! Oh, cool, I don't know French well enough to read that book or any serious French fiction in French, but let me pass along your very kind offer. Everyone, the honorable Jeffrey Coleman has a really great and kind offer for you, so listen up and take advantage if you like. Here he is: 'Yesterday I got a copy of Brian Evenson's 'Baby Leg' in the mail. Unfortunately for me, it's in French, which I don't speak. If anyone here would like it, speak up, and I'll mail it to the first person who asks for it, free of charge. A pretty good deal if you know French and like Evenson, I'd say.' Thank, Jeff. Hope you're doing really well. ** Kier, Hi, K. Don't you just hate when your bank account is a sad affair? I get stressed even thinking about mine. So I avoid checking it as much as I can -- sort of like avoiding going to the doctor -- and then my ATM card bounces and yikes. Bad plan. Oh, wow, cool about the Black Metal Museum. Stephen went by the place, which, as you probably know, is also an apparently very cool Black Metal record store, and he said the guy was hoping to relaunch it, and maybe he did. Yeah, it's very nice to have the entire cast now. Now we have to finesse a whole bunch of details in the next three days, which won't be easy, but we will. Wednesday ... try to be more psyched than nervous, even though the two often go hand in hand. You've got the serious goods, and he'd be a pumpkin head not to know that and get greedy. I still haven't listened to the new Swans. I must have a block or something, although I don't know why I would. Very nice book scoring there obviously. Impeccable, I'd say. My weekend was not too weekend-y. I was mostly home working. I did manage to restart working on my novel, which was exciting. Made some blog posts. Mostly it was film prep stuff: writing/getting emails to/from performers and co-workers, phone calls, conferring with Zac about what was being done and what needed to be done. Important stuff, but too detail-oriented to be interesting to anyone who's not head long into the project. Read a little, listened to music a little, got a very long needed haircut. Blah blah. Not so exciting, but good. Oh, those photos of Kongeparken are great! Beautiful! I miss that place. I love that ride where you sit in a little boat and then it slides down a ramp and gets propelled across and into that little lake. And that ride next to it where you do kind of the same thing but in a little gondola thing suspended in the air. Did you do those? Scary dream. I'm glad I hardly ever remember mine 'cos, when I do, they're always pure terror. How was Monday for you? ** Keaton, Buddy! New writing, sweet! I think I should be free to read that at either around 3 pm today or else after 7 pm today. Yes! Everyone, a rare treat for the d.l.s and looky-loos: new fiction of an undoubtedly high, exciting, challenging quality by the one and only Keaton is at your fingertips so please tap them in that blue spot a few words back from these words. ** Bill, Howdy, Bill-ster. It's such a fine, fine book, right? Cool and thanks for the alert on the new Evenson story. He seems to have just released a new graphic novel, which I'm very curious to read. My weekend also involved getting some work done (sigh) but with no visiting cousins to distract me, fortunately or unfortunately. Do you like your cousins? What are they like? ** Etc etc etc, You're here! Holy shit! Yeah, I want to see you obviously. Friday might be possible, but things go into very high gear for me re: the film starting on Thursday. Any chance of you being free tomorrow or Wednesday? If not, we'll sort something for Friday. It would have to be later in the day/evening because we have all day rehearsals that day. Let me know what's good, and welcome! ** _Black_Acrylic, Hi, Ben! ** Chilly Jay Chill, Hi, Jeff. 'FS' is real good, no surprise. 'The Wavering Knife' is really wonderful too, I think. Thanks re: the Harrington post. And thanks for suggesting a Craig Baldwin post. I made one, and you'll see it in the new few days. I do read books in that abandoning fashion a lot. Mm, maybe I'll pick up the new Gibson in a store and see what's what. Really long books are so hard for me to get an appetite for. ** Torn porter, Hi, man! Good to see you! Very good news on the ready-to-go status of your film. We're three days away from being in the same position, I hope. One of the performers in the scene we're shooting first is being flown in from Vilnius, Lithuania on Wednesday. Excited to share film-in-progress news with you, if you're so inclined. Here things are good just crazy busy and a combination of highly stressed and excited about the imminent start of the final phase of our film. It doesn't feel like anything else is happening right now, although I suppose even my world is bigger than that, logically speaking. Take care! ** Right. What's today? Oh, haunted house themed restaurants. Don't ask me how the blog ended up in such an odd place because I honestly don't remember. See you tomorrow.