Spookers Haunted House Attraction - Part 1

This post is about Spookers, a haunted house attraction in Auckland. 

About Spookers (Auckland)

Spookers is a ‘Haunted House Attraction’ located in Kingseat, near Papakura, Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand. Spookers is also involved in several other attractions around New Zealand such as franchised Amazing Maze ‘n Maize attractions in The Bay of Plenty and Hastings. Attractions at Spookers (Auckland) vary according to the season, are aimed at children and at adults, and are regularly refreshed. Main attractions are:

Adult and R16 attractions:

• Spookers Haunted House, populated by 34 live and very scary actors, with sound and lighting effects
• The Freaky Forest of Fear, featuring 18 live actors. The Freaky Forest of Fear is a shadowy enclave surrounding the Haunted House, in a live forest (entry to Spookers Haunted House and Freaky Forest of Fear is restricted to people aged 16 years and older - these attractions are open Thursday (seasonal), Friday and Saturday nights from 8pm, with the last entry at 10.30pm)

• CornEvil - features 25 live actors, in a huge and dark cornfield, where you can be both lost and stalked (seasonal)
• The 3D Manic Maze with Vortex Tunnel – a maze/labyrinth in 3D.

Children’s attractions:

• The Amazing Maze n’ Maize - no age restriction (seasonal)
• Creepers Haunted House (R8) - open on the first and third Thursday every month http://www.creepers.co.nz/ 
• Shiver and Shake Experience (R8) – a lights on tour around the Spookers Haunted House, with no live actors (spook free)

As well as scary experiences, Spookers (Auckland) offers a range of other services, including corporate functions, restaurant services, a café, and children’s parties. The 3D Vortex, The Amazing Maze ‘n Maize, a Haunted Woolshed (Shearer’s Revenge), and other experiences are available in sites in other NZ locations as well.

How Spookers Started

Eight years ago Beth Watson owned a Plant, Fruit and Vegetable shop near Marton, a small rural town in the lower part of the North Island. She had recently completed a Post-Graduate Diploma in Tourism through Massey University and was looking for a new challenge that suited her lifestyle. An email from a friend in the USA arrived, asking her if she had seen the Maize Maze in the US. Beth, intrigued, responded by creating a maze in their back paddock, advertised it, and was delighted when over twelve thousand people went through the maze from December to April. The maze was essentially a personal ‘hobby’ maze, but local people got involved as well, ‘scaring’ visitors. From this initial ‘toe-dip’ into the world of Haunted House Attractions, Beth realised that Haunted Attractions were popular, and that there was no other similar attractions in NZ. In the eight years since then Beth has developed, with the help and support of her family and many enthusiastic and able staff, a business that employs over 200 people and is located in the Bay of Plenty, Hawkes Bay and Marton, as well as the main site in Kingseat. 

Narrative about Haunted House Attraction, R 16 experience, downloaded on 29 June 2007.

In 1998 the Government purchased all the land surrounding their top secret research station known only as “Compound K”. The government scientists had been conducting secret experiments to find an antidote to counter any possible nuclear contamination. Coincidentally a group of extreme anti nuclear activists known only as the “Rainbow Warriors” had been working close by on a method to stop the use of nuclear power to replace oil and thereby turn New Zealand into a nuclear society. In the laboratory of “Compound K” something went tragically wrong, resulting in an uncontrollable chain reaction. The top-secret anti-nuclear gas, still at the experimental stage leaked into the building leaving the staff and visitors mutated and had horrifying effects on their minds and bodies. As the gas was absorbed through their pores, each workers most recent nightmare became their reality. These nightmarish thoughts involving insane clowns, dark dank holes, giant mutating creatures, and many more began tormenting them along with a frenzy of pulsating sound and hideous chaos.

The Government wanted everyone to believe that nothing had gone wrong, and “Compound K” was locked down. Secret Service Forces were called in to take down the band of out of control freaks and destroy the thousands of mutated vermin that appeared overnight but they were overcome themselves, and now they also walk among the living dead.

With the situation spiralling out of control and the possibility of an escape into the wider Auckland area the Government had no option but to send a team of health workers into “Compound K” to administer an experimental anti nuclear vaccine. Fascinated with the mutations caused by the toxic gases, a group of renegade doctors began a series of unauthorized investigative operations to explain the changes.

The “Rainbow Warriors” unaware of these rebel doctors, and believing the situation was under control, started to celebrate the end of the disaster. In the ballroom they began their frenzy of wild dancing and celebration, ignorant of the many mutated staff members evading the health workers and finding their way into the surrounding forest.

Be prepared to confront toxic mutated zombies around every corner, as you meet the green fog of the nuclear antidote gas head on. Your only escape route will be through a series of seemingly endless pitch black hallways of tragedy and horror. As you feel your way along the walls, which sometimes close claustrophobically together, you feel helpless in the complete darkness. What lies ahead? There is no telling what is lurking in the dark corners, as you manoeuvre through by touch alone. Your plan to infiltrate this toxic nightmare, experience proof of the giant government cover up and discover what unspeakable secrets are locked deep inside “Compound K” is suddenly looking like a really bad idea. Finally as you stagger towards the end you are faced with one further challenge. You are forced to declare your nuclear beliefs. Are you with the “Rainbow Warriors” or with the secret Government agents? An odious judge demands a choice, will it be acquittal and a fast and furious trip to hell or a guilty verdict and an even worse slow descent to government anarchy?

Thanks to Julia Watson, Manager of Spookers (Auckland), for generously giving her time to be interviewed for this case study. The case has been written up by Janet Sayers.

Please reference this entry as:

Sayers, J. (2019). Spookers Case Study Part 1: Description of Spookers and its origins.  Downloaded from www.blogger/service-thlinking/ on day/month/year.  First published 2007 and last updated 4/09/2019.