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Land of Illusion starts its 12th season

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Staff photo by Pat Auckerman This year's Land of Illusion opens Friday Sept. 4, 2009.

Haunted attraction now open.

By Eric Robinette, Staff Writer Updated 5:41 PM Friday, September 4, 2009

MADISON TWP. — The Land of Illusion, the Middletown area’s haunted theme park, hasn’t quite arrived at its 13th birthday, but there are still plenty of scares and other misfortunes to go around when the park opens today, Sept. 4.

Dozens of ghouls, clowns and other terrors gathered at the attraction on Thomas Road on Thursday for a dress rehearsal for the 12th season. Some applied spooky makeup while other people headed toward the trail in shredded military fatigues, bloody clothes and the like.

The Land of Illusion consists of the Haunted Trail, plus the Temple of Terror, Dr. Psycho’s Haunted Estate and 3-D Killer Klowns. All the attractions, especially the trail, have new additions this year.

“About half of the trail is new. We have a new graveyard and school buses sticking up out of the ground ... there’s more detail, with more props,” said Derek Marcum, who oversees the trail.

And in this context, “props” mean things like dismembered body parts, fake of course.

“There’s more things to look at and less dead spots,” Marcum said.

Another addition this year is live music every Saturday. The band Barfly plays Saturday, Sept. 6.

Derron Oakley, one of the supervisors of the Land of Illusion, didn’t have exact attendance figures but said last year saw a decline, which he said may have been due to high gas prices and the economy. However, he promised that this year “all four shows will be the scariest we’ve ever had.”

Andy Rasnic of Dayton, who has worked at the attraction for 12 years, takes devilish pleasure in unnerving people. “There’s nothing better than someone curled up in a corner screaming and crying,” he said.

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The Land Of Illusion's,is a very good place to be if your wanting to get scared.the workers on the trail go through alot to get the customers scared.they all work hard out there,Brett is an awesome person to get to know.we absolutly cant wait till next year keep it up.my favorite part is the slaughter house they make everything different and wickedly amazing.keep it up land of illsions employees!see u nextyear!

danielle
8:54 AM, 11/6/2009

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Horrible time out there, too much lighting and the people aren't even scary. Don't waste 30 dollars on this place. Maybe if they actors tried to scare you, not poke their head around the corner whenever you're about to come around. Waste of time!

wheels4312
8:39 PM, 10/14/2009

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Why do all the people in Middletown support oakley getting rich off of everyone. He paid over a million bucks for the land of illusion, the real illusion is he paid it off the first year..........my last comment was removed, this one may be too.

Amazed
11:30 AM, 9/16/2009

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YEA OBAMA ROCKS SO DOES LAND OF ILLUSION

J
1:35 PM, 9/13/2009

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halloween,what a fun time. i don't like the real creepy stuff but for those who do,do you,all day and night.gov't worker,you need a life. everything is ot about politics so if you have something to say,use it where and when it is appropriate. you are just a head with actually no thought to anyone other than yourself..get over it. OBAMA is president,we,yeah you to,elected him,so honor that.let him try to clean up the mess your boy bush left,that includes you.GROW UP,and get over it.OBAMA rocks...

woman
12:03 AM, 9/13/2009

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