Nightmare on Q Street AWS
2
Halloween
10 • 31 • 2014
Here’s the scoop on Pumpkin Day Interesting facts that you probably did not know about Halloween
3.
Jordan Newsom Business Manager
Trick-or-Treating. The tradition of trick-or-treating stems off of the belief of how ancient ghosts and lost souls would roam around on Halloween. The Halloween, in the 21st century, is a night full of costumes, parties, free candy from people offered up offerings (“treats”) to the dead in hopes that they would strangers, spooks, treats, and tricks. Every year, people of all ages occupy themselves with not be harmed (“tricked”) by them. They would leave the offerings in front of carving pumpkins, buying and distributing treats, decorating (either frighteningly or not), their houses for the evil spirits to take. and dressing up in costumes that are only acceptable to wear once a year. Children go trick- FUN FACT: Candy apples were originally among the only things given to trick-or-treaters, or-treating; young adults join each other for parties; parents pass out candy. Everyone can but that practice was halted with rumors of pins and razor blades stuck in the apples to find their preferred way to participate in this annual holiday; but not everyone is aware of harm kids. the specific roots and origins of this all-inclusive holiday.
1.
4.
Costumes. Ancient folklore claims that on Halloween, the dead came out to play tricks on humans. Therefore, humans would wear scary masks and/or costumes for several reasons. It was believed that the costumes would conHalloween Itself. Halloween originated in ancient Britain and Ireland in fuse the spirits so much that they didn’t know who they were tricking. Also, paganism. It started out as the Celtic Festival of Samhain and celebrated the the humans were hopeful that the costumes would scare away the ghosts. changing of seasons. On this holiday, the souls of the dead were said to pay Costumes were also worn to hide the identity of one to others when attending events such visits to their homes, family, and friends as their only night to be able to do so. as Pagan festivals and other ceremonies that weren’t really popular in the public eye.
Here is your Halloween Fast Facts List:*
2.
5.
Jack-o-Lanterns. There are two theories as to how jack-o-lanterns came to be. Candy. Candy corn, or chicken feed as it used to be called, was only chosen Some say that they stemmed off of the witch skulls with candles inside used as the traditional ‘Halloween Candy’ after World War II when advertisers to light the way to coven meetings. Others argue that the tale of “Irish Jack” sold it because of its color and small size. Each year, the candy industry in explains the jack-o-lantern tradition. The legend says that a dead drunkard America sells over $2,000,000,000 thanks to Halloween. Overall, Americans named Jack was refused entry into Heaven and also, as a result of a time that spend over $6,000,000,000 on Halloween candy, decorations, and costumes Jack tricked the devil into never taking his soul, was refused entry into Hell. Beannually. cause he had nowhere else to go, he was forced to wander the earth. As he was leaving the gates of Hell, he was eating a turnip and the devil threw a live coal into the turnip. Since the *facts compiled from information from The Business Insider, The Christian Broadcasting beginning of this story, people have burned candles inside turnips, which eventually turned Network, and The History Channel into pumpkins, to symbolize that of “Irish Jack.”
Nightmare on Q Street
Backyard haunt turns into long-term jaunt Matt Kirkle Staff Reporter
When people want to experience the thrill of a haunted house, they look for an excitement that will push their adrenaline to the limit, something that takes their personal fears and tests how far they are willing to go before their mind can’t take it anymore. In Omaha, the first haunts that pop in their minds are the ones that have been around the longest (Scary Acres, The Shadow’s Edge, etc.) Why not step out of your comfort zone? Why not try a haunt that gives you your money back if you successfully complete a list of tasks? Former Millard South student Josh Miller is trying to revolutionize the art of scares and haunts with new attractions at his haunted house Nightmare on Q Street. “I’ve always loved horror in general, since I can remember,” Miller said. “I love giving people an experience that leaves a mark on them.” For Miller, scaring people has been his passion since he was a child. Family members even recall him not asking for toys on Christmas Day like the usual kid, instead asking for things like gory body parts and effects such as lights and speakers. It seems that Miller has always had a unique talent in scaring people. In fact, when Miller was in elementary school, he created a miniature haunted house in his basement where family and friends could witness his gift of scaring. He later stepped up his haunt by running it along the side and back of his house. It was constructed simply of wood, tarp, and a whole lot of creativity. In the beginning, Miller’s haunted house was mainly attended by just neighborhood friends and his family. But after a couple of years, it had become a popular attraction for people all over Omaha. He was even able to advertise for it, placing signs all over Millard. “The haunted house in my backyard was more to get some basics out of haunting,” Miller said. “I still needed some place permanent to see what I could really do.” He ran his neighborhood haunted house for five years. Then, in 2009, he con-
tacted the manager of Fun-Plex, to whom he pitched an idea of running his own haunted house on the Fun-Plex property. In 2010, after lots of planning and negotiating, the creation of Nightmare on Q Street was complete. It was a success right from the get-go, even being featured on the front page of The Omaha World Herald’s living section. “Backyard haunting and haunting at a pro level are in no way, shape or form the same thing,” Miller said. “Nightmare on Q Street’s takes way more planning, labor, and has many more restrictions than backyard haunting” At Nightmare on Q Street, there are lots of things for people to do, such as ‘Raven’s Nightmare’ which is an original thrill. It’s a haunted house designed to test your limits going beyond imagination with pop-outs and scares around every corner. Another attraction is ‘Phobia’. It has received a lot of publicity due to its concept. It’s similar to the old TV show Fear Factor in that you have to accomplish a series of stomach-turning tasks to win. You have to eat something, drink something, and do something…sounds easy right? Yet only a handful of people successfully take down the challenge every year. The prize is worth all the excitement, because if you complete the tasks, you get all your money back! Another element of Nightmare on Q Street is “The Last Ride Coffin Simulator’. This allows you to experience the thrill of being loaded into an actual coffin and being preyed upon by the demons. It’s a stationary ride but it gives you the sense of being lowered into the ground and buried alive! There is also a brand new attraction this year called ‘Side Show Freaks’. It’s a maze challenge that you must complete while creepy clowns chase you around. Nightmare on Q Street is the only ‘money back haunt’ in the entire Midwest. If a guest either attempts all four attractions or successfully completes ‘Phobia’, they are given a refund of their entrance and attraction fees. The popularity, and success of this haunted attraction have increased with e
Josh Miller, owner of Nightmare on Q Street, expresses excitement about this year’s success. Nightmare on Q Street was rated the fifth most viewed haunted house in Nebraska by Haunted House Magazine. Miller said he hopes for continued success in the future. Photo by Matt Kirkle
each year. Nightmare on Q Street is the only ‘money back haunt’ in the entire Midwest. “We’ve been really busy lately, but we’ll just have to see how this year turns out as it goes,” Miller said.
Nightmare on Q Street will challenge your deepest fears, but you must be able to control your fears in order to face them. Are you ready to face your worst nightmare?
Halloween
10 • 31 • 2014
Here’s the scoop on Pumpkin Day Interesting facts that you probably did not know about Halloween
3.
Jordan Newsom Business Manager
Trick-or-Treating. The tradition of trick-or-treating stems off of the belief of how ancient ghosts and lost souls would roam around on Halloween. The Halloween, in the 21st century, is a night full of costumes, parties, free candy from people offered up offerings (“treats”) to the dead in hopes that they would strangers, spooks, treats, and tricks. Every year, people of all ages occupy themselves with not be harmed (“tricked”) by them. They would leave the offerings in front of carving pumpkins, buying and distributing treats, decorating (either frighteningly or not), their houses for the evil spirits to take. and dressing up in costumes that are only acceptable to wear once a year. Children go trick- FUN FACT: Candy apples were originally among the only things given to trick-or-treaters, or-treating; young adults join each other for parties; parents pass out candy. Everyone can but that practice was halted with rumors of pins and razor blades stuck in the apples to find their preferred way to participate in this annual holiday; but not everyone is aware of harm kids. the specific roots and origins of this all-inclusive holiday.
1.
4.
Costumes. Ancient folklore claims that on Halloween, the dead came out to play tricks on humans. Therefore, humans would wear scary masks and/or costumes for several reasons. It was believed that the costumes would conHalloween Itself. Halloween originated in ancient Britain and Ireland in fuse the spirits so much that they didn’t know who they were tricking. Also, paganism. It started out as the Celtic Festival of Samhain and celebrated the the humans were hopeful that the costumes would scare away the ghosts. changing of seasons. On this holiday, the souls of the dead were said to pay Costumes were also worn to hide the identity of one to others when attending events such visits to their homes, family, and friends as their only night to be able to do so. as Pagan festivals and other ceremonies that weren’t really popular in the public eye.
Here is your Halloween Fast Facts List:*
2.
5.
Jack-o-Lanterns. There are two theories as to how jack-o-lanterns came to be. Candy. Candy corn, or chicken feed as it used to be called, was only chosen Some say that they stemmed off of the witch skulls with candles inside used as the traditional ‘Halloween Candy’ after World War II when advertisers to light the way to coven meetings. Others argue that the tale of “Irish Jack” sold it because of its color and small size. Each year, the candy industry in explains the jack-o-lantern tradition. The legend says that a dead drunkard America sells over $2,000,000,000 thanks to Halloween. Overall, Americans named Jack was refused entry into Heaven and also, as a result of a time that spend over $6,000,000,000 on Halloween candy, decorations, and costumes Jack tricked the devil into never taking his soul, was refused entry into Hell. Beannually. cause he had nowhere else to go, he was forced to wander the earth. As he was leaving the gates of Hell, he was eating a turnip and the devil threw a live coal into the turnip. Since the *facts compiled from information from The Business Insider, The Christian Broadcasting beginning of this story, people have burned candles inside turnips, which eventually turned Network, and The History Channel into pumpkins, to symbolize that of “Irish Jack.”
Nightmare on Q Street
Backyard haunt turns into long-term jaunt Matt Kirkle Staff Reporter
When people want to experience the thrill of a haunted house, they look for an excitement that will push their adrenaline to the limit, something that takes their personal fears and tests how far they are willing to go before their mind can’t take it anymore. In Omaha, the first haunts that pop in their minds are the ones that have been around the longest (Scary Acres, The Shadow’s Edge, etc.) Why not step out of your comfort zone? Why not try a haunt that gives you your money back if you successfully complete a list of tasks? Former Millard South student Josh Miller is trying to revolutionize the art of scares and haunts with new attractions at his haunted house Nightmare on Q Street. “I’ve always loved horror in general, since I can remember,” Miller said. “I love giving people an experience that leaves a mark on them.” For Miller, scaring people has been his passion since he was a child. Family members even recall him not asking for toys on Christmas Day like the usual kid, instead asking for things like gory body parts and effects such as lights and speakers. It seems that Miller has always had a unique talent in scaring people. In fact, when Miller was in elementary school, he created a miniature haunted house in his basement where family and friends could witness his gift of scaring. He later stepped up his haunt by running it along the side and back of his house. It was constructed simply of wood, tarp, and a whole lot of creativity. In the beginning, Miller’s haunted house was mainly attended by just neighborhood friends and his family. But after a couple of years, it had become a popular attraction for people all over Omaha. He was even able to advertise for it, placing signs all over Millard. “The haunted house in my backyard was more to get some basics out of haunting,” Miller said. “I still needed some place permanent to see what I could really do.” He ran his neighborhood haunted house for five years. Then, in 2009, he con-
tacted the manager of Fun-Plex, to whom he pitched an idea of running his own haunted house on the Fun-Plex property. In 2010, after lots of planning and negotiating, the creation of Nightmare on Q Street was complete. It was a success right from the get-go, even being featured on the front page of The Omaha World Herald’s living section. “Backyard haunting and haunting at a pro level are in no way, shape or form the same thing,” Miller said. “Nightmare on Q Street’s takes way more planning, labor, and has many more restrictions than backyard haunting” At Nightmare on Q Street, there are lots of things for people to do, such as ‘Raven’s Nightmare’ which is an original thrill. It’s a haunted house designed to test your limits going beyond imagination with pop-outs and scares around every corner. Another attraction is ‘Phobia’. It has received a lot of publicity due to its concept. It’s similar to the old TV show Fear Factor in that you have to accomplish a series of stomach-turning tasks to win. You have to eat something, drink something, and do something…sounds easy right? Yet only a handful of people successfully take down the challenge every year. The prize is worth all the excitement, because if you complete the tasks, you get all your money back! Another element of Nightmare on Q Street is “The Last Ride Coffin Simulator’. This allows you to experience the thrill of being loaded into an actual coffin and being preyed upon by the demons. It’s a stationary ride but it gives you the sense of being lowered into the ground and buried alive! There is also a brand new attraction this year called ‘Side Show Freaks’. It’s a maze challenge that you must complete while creepy clowns chase you around. Nightmare on Q Street is the only ‘money back haunt’ in the entire Midwest. If a guest either attempts all four attractions or successfully completes ‘Phobia’, they are given a refund of their entrance and attraction fees. The popularity, and success of this haunted attraction have increased with e
Josh Miller, owner of Nightmare on Q Street, expresses excitement about this year’s success. Nightmare on Q Street was rated the fifth most viewed haunted house in Nebraska by Haunted House Magazine. Miller said he hopes for continued success in the future. Photo by Matt Kirkle
each year. Nightmare on Q Street is the only ‘money back haunt’ in the entire Midwest. “We’ve been really busy lately, but we’ll just have to see how this year turns out as it goes,” Miller said.
Nightmare on Q Street will challenge your deepest fears, but you must be able to control your fears in order to face them. Are you ready to face your worst nightmare?
