Pandemic can’t stop the haunts

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This article was published 16/10/2020 (2099 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The COVID-19 pandemic isn’t stopping people from getting their Halloween fix this October.

Heebie Jeebies, a seasonal attraction with four outdoor mazes, is set to break its attendance records this year. Owner Tim Muys said he expects ticket sales will have surpassed last year’s come Halloween.

 “It seems clear to me that people are very anxious to get out and do something before winter sets in,” Muys said.

 This is the haunted attraction’s second year of operation. Thousands of people passed through its mazes over the weekend of Oct. 9. Heebie Jeebies opened on Thurs., Oct. 8.

 Muys said the seasonal attraction has adopted numerous safety precautions and changes to ensure the safety of attendees and staff. Ticket sales  have been limited to control capacity, and people must book and pay for time slots online. Online payment reduces interactions with staff, Muys said.

With the code orange restrictions put in place Oct. 16, Heebie Jeebies will only allow groups of five or fewer people.  Otherwise, their operations remain the same from the beginning of October.

There’s 70,000-square-feet of space, which is ample room to spread out, Muys said.

He ordered 30,000 reusable masks with Heebie Jeebies logos on them; visitors receive a mask upon entering the site,  and those who don’t wear them will be asked to leave.

“We’ve actually kicked a couple people out for not complying with the mask order,” Muys said.

Actors wear masks underneath their costumes, and they stay within a smaller group of actors instead of mingling with all staff.

Two different health inspectors visited Heebie Jeebies in their opening week, and both were happy with what they saw, Muys said.

“(It’s about) maintaining a safe experience for everybody so that everyone can enjoy a little bit of fun before we head into winter,” he said.

There’s hand sanitizer, more service windows to reduce lineups, and fewer fire pits and tables to encourage people to keep moving. Groups aren’t mixed with others. Only after a group is 50 feet into a maze can the next group enter.

There’s extra security, Plexiglas screens, and signs and markings reminding people to physically distance. Actors do not touch visitors.

“There is absolutely no reason whatsoever — from pulling into the parking lot until the time you leave — for you to come within less than six feet (of) anybody here,” Muys said.

Halloween is the last day Heebie Jeebies is scheduled to be open. Muys said he doesn’t think the province will force haunted attractions to close due to the pandemic before then.

He noted that on Oct. 13, Canada’s top doctor said there is no need to cancel Halloween.

Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam told a briefing in Ottawa that trick-or-treaters should maintain physical distancing and follow their local health guidelines.

This is a positive sign for Muys.

“Coming to Heebie Jeebies, and even other haunts in Manitoba … Quite frankly, our events are safer than going for groceries,” he said.