'Spooky' gives city world-class scare

Though the weekend's drop in temperature reminded area residents autumn has indeed arrived, a distinct chill unrelated to the cool air tingled the spines of thrill seekers as they stepped off the calm Boston streets and straight into a scene from a horror movie.

Hundreds of people searching for a scare flocked to the opening of Spooky World -- which bills itself as the world's largest haunted house - for its annual opening this weekend at the Bay State Expo Center.

The scary attraction features a variety of thrills and chills in the form of games, scary shows and six themed haunted houses -- including Dracula's Dungeon and The Catacombs.

"It's a spooky world complete with a monster museum, vortex, magic show and tarot card readings. There is something for everyone," said employee Al Rubin.

Spooky World fans even enjoy brushes with some of the most famous names in all things spooky, as celebrity "haunters" -- including Linda Blair of The Exorcist -- to shock customers.

During the off-season, employees relocate to off-site locations in Manchester, N.H. and Salem to prepare and perfect the popular Halloween attraction, Rubin added.

"We have haunters who are professional in what they do, including people from the original Spooky World and actors who come from all over the country," he said. "We revamp every house every year to create the scariest angles possible. . . Our actors are trained and re-trained."

Rubin said the tradition is important because it attracts a diverse group of people with at least one thing in common -- the hope for a good fright.

"I get to see all different types of people who all come for the same reason," he said. "Everyone loves Halloween. Everyone loves being scared."

Spooky World employee Bil Withonel, who has played roles ranging from old hags to grim reapers since 2000, said he was inspired to work at the attraction after his first visit to the event.

"I went to Spooky World in 1999 ,and I was absolutely blown away," Withonel said. "I said, 'I don't care how far away I live. . . I'm working there.'"

Employee Taj Porter said she began working at Spooky World because she enjoys watching people become scared, adding she has developed a knack for gauging whether a person scares easily.

While Salem may feature more notorious haunted houses and a creepy ambience replete with the graves of alleged witches, Salem native and Spooky World guest Kaitlin Harrington said the haunted houses at the Bayside Expo Center were much more frightening, especially Jekyll's Mansion.

"[The actors] followed me and whispered in my ear," she said.