'Be ready to jump,' says organizer of Calgary's Tunnel of Terror car wash
Sudsy scares offer a pandemic-friendly twist on the traditional Halloween haunted house
Lauren Hanney wants people to have some good, clean fun this Halloween.
Walking through a haunted house and getting mauled by costumed fiends probably isn't the safest activity during a global pandemic — so how about a haunted car wash instead?
That's the idea behind the "Tunnel of Terror" at Great White Car and Truck Wash in Calgary.
"Before you get into the scary part, we have the entire place decked out, from 12-foot skeletons to coffins," Hanney, who's organizing the sudsy scares, told As It Happens host Carol Off.
"We have enough decorations to pack the entire place."
The Tunnel of Terror is just one of many innovative ways cities, businesses and organizations are finding to celebrate Halloween this year while maintaining physical distancing.
Several other "haunted" car washes are operating the Calgary this year, and in other cities as well, but Hanney says Great White has the advantage of experience.
This is the car wash's second year providing a shine and a scare to their customers on Halloween — and this year's event purports to be even bigger and spookier.
Once you get past the decorated entrance and pay your fee, you drive through the car wash in the dark, Hanney said.
"As you go through, you're going to have scarers that are going to basically be at your windows on each side. You're not going to expect them, but they're definitely going be there. So be ready to jump," she said.
"You could be driving along, just kind of like thinking everything is cool, nobody's going to touch you, and you can have massive hand prints come like right next to you against the window. Or you may also have a scary clown come right against your window."
But if that's all too much for you, or you have small children on board, Hanney says you can give the workers a head's up and they'll tone it down.
"So there's no need to worry," she said. "We won't go over the top if you don't want us to."
The Tunnel of Terror is open from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Oct. 29-31.
Written by Sheena Goodyear. Interview produced by Chris Harbord.
