Life & Work with Joe Ritchie of Kalkaska, Michigan

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joe Ritchie.

Hi Joe , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started doing small haunted houses in my house, and friends basements – sometimes even when it wasn’t around Halloween. I was also a fan of special effects, and horror movies from a young age. As I got older Halloween, Haunted Houses, Monsters, etc. were my passion, and things just grew from there.

We opened our first “Public” haunted house back in the early 90’s in Kalkaska – We were lucky if we got 20 people a night at that time. Each year our attendance, and quality of show improved and eventually we moved our attraction. From then until around 2011, we would set up in whatever spot we could find that we could afford – each year getting a little better, and a little bigger. In 2011 we set up our first “Multi Attraction” haunt at the Northwestern Michigan Fairgrounds, and that became our home for 11 seasons. During that time we saved up enough to finally purchase a permanent location – 43 acres in Kalkaska where we could finally build all the things we couldn’t do in a temporary location. And that brings us to today – We were just recently voted one of the top 10 Haunted Attractions in Michigan by thescarefactor.com. We plan to keep growing for years to come.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
In the haunt industry it is never a smooth road. When your entire livelihood/business hinges on just 12-15 days a year to make all of it’s money to operate for the next season, it can be very stressful. With our attraction being both indoors, and outdoors the weather can be our biggest issue. The first year on our new property in Kalkaska, we had non stop rain almost the whole season, it turned our parking lot into a mud pit, people were getting stuck…..we barely scraped by that year. We face the same issues as most businesses – Reliable staff, problem customers, etc. but in a more condensed setting.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Aside from the building and designing of the attractions each year I have always been an artistic person. Once I found out about special effects makeup I buried myself in learning how to make masks, props, and prosthetic makeup. When I am not building things for the haunts I am known for building elaborate costume for cosplay/comicons – everything from Ironman, Predator, Alien, to the Skesis from “The Dark Crystal”. I also do commission work for those wanting costume parts. I have even been lucky enough to do special effects makeup for movies.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
The best way to support us is word of mouth, we love hearing peoples stories about the memories they have of us over the years. We love knowing we helped make memories for a family, or couple. Anyone interested it becoming part of our twisted little family can reach out to us on social media, or email us through our website.

Pricing:

• General Admission – $20
• Fast Pass Admission – $35
• Souvenir Store – Varies

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.screamsinthedark.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/screams_in_the_dark_haunt/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/screamsinthedarkhaunt
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@screamsinthedarkhaunts