FALLSBURG FEARPLEX…Scare of your lives!
By Susan Salyer
“…This year I finally got the chance to go to the Fallsburg Fearplex with my daughter Alison for the first time. Let me begin by saying, ‘Scary and Creepy’. In every twist and turn and hallway there is something to make your heart beat faster. Monsters beating on their cages, hydraulic floors that make you walk very uneven, and at one point we almost got hit by a “Zombie Car.” As one Monster said, “Welcome to you Appalachian Nightmare!” and chased us down a path of chainsaws and leaf blowers. You will not be disappointed by attending the Fallsburg Fearplex.”
We spoke to Fallsburg Fearplex creator Brian Cassady about the impact his venue has on the local economy.
“…My mother (Wanda Cassady) started it (Fallsburg Haunted House) for the Fallsburg PTA in 1987. I opened it commercially with paid employees in 2011,” Brian Cassady said today of his mucho-successful public attraction, Fallsburg Fearplex.
The Fearplex began as the ‘Fallsburg Haunted House’ open for business back in 2011, Cassady said.
The ultra-popular venue brings in thousands of visitors each season to the Louisa-Fallsburg area and the entire county benefits with increased sales during event night which are on weekends mostly.
“I honestly wouldn’t know where to start on the impact it’s had with the local economy,” Cassady said. “I do know that several fast food and gas stations in Louisa have changed their hours and had extra employees on hand for our open nights.”
Started as a PTA project back in 1987 by his mom, Wanda Cassady, he says it has grown beyond all expectations.
“I’ve heard stories of 20 to 30 cars in drive thrus after midnight. I’ve also witnessed the Falllsburg store being sold out of most Pepsi products one Saturday night when we started the show at the Fallsburg Community Center,” Cassady added.
“As for a dollar amount I’m just not sure. We’ve definitely had 3,000 ppl here in one night and multiple nights over 2,500. Half the nights hit the 1000 mark as well. Generally we are open 16 nights total.”
Never been there…live too far away…. jealous of those who are close enough to experience the scare.
Between the time when it was a fund raiser for the PTA and it’s current status, Tim Stevens re-opened the Fallsburg Haurnted House and allowed local organizations to help work the house in order to raise money for their team or organization. He ran it for several years before Brian Cassady, owner of the property, took it over. Tim assisted Brian until his death in 2014.
Hats off to any local, creative endeavor!
But is there an award for worst pun in a headline?
I wanna make a nomination.
Did you mean economic ”Boo”m?
Good one!