Every October, for the past two decades, it returns to haunt the woods near Harrisonburg. Its name is whispered in hushed excitement as the leaves turn in the cool autumn — Fear Forest.
The haunted forest pops up every year, offering thrills and chills, along with a hayride, bonfire, food truck, and DJ. Tickets are available for purchase at the entrance.
The haunt has become a tradition for natives of Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, and beyond. Created by Brandy and Chad Nesselrodt, the duo started with some costumes and smaller structures in a forest on their property, with family and friends to help them scare anyone who came by.
“It’s been a long 20 years,” Chad Nesselrodt said. “The very first night we were open, it was a Friday night. We hadn’t advertised much at all; it was just kind of this amateur, fun, thrown-together thing. We’d decided, Sept. 1, 2006, that we were going to do a haunted forest, and we’d put it together in just a couple of weeks. The very first night we were open, we had 400 people.”
Now, 20 years later, the seasonal attraction has been joined by two smaller haunts. As well as the titular Fear Forest, anyone brave enough can also venture through Fear Factory and Fear Crops. Brandy Nesselrodt said that, between performers for all three haunts, actors to entertain guests waiting in line, makeup artists, food vendors, and more, it takes over 80 people to make Fear Forest happen.
Emma Rion returned to Fear Forest for her eighth year as an actor. Having played roles as frightening as a witch in a forest hut, or as unconventional as a skunk on a stick, she said she likes the variety the haunt allows her.
“I don’t like to do the same role over and over,” Rion said. “I like to switch things up. Any position I get, I can just come up with a character and be whoever I need to be to fit that role. I’m in the forest [this year], and I’ll just say that I get to act a little crazy.”
Rion said scaring guests is her favorite part of Fear Forest because she gets to help people forget their day-to-day lives as they enjoy an evening of thrills and horror.
Natasha Pence has been an actor at Fear Forest since it began 20 years ago. A cousin of Brandy Nesselrodt said the event is a big part of her yearly plans.
“It really doesn’t feel like it’s been 20 years,” Pence said. “Time flies. It’s just become part of my yearly routine. September and October, I’ve already got it mapped out that that’s what I’m going to be doing. That’s what I’ve been doing since high school.”
Pence said she has been part of the cast in Fear Factory and Fear Forest, taking roles such as Samara, the main antagonist from “The Ring” films, a twisted tooth fairy, and a spider queen. However, her most popular character, a clown named Boom, has an online following. Most often seen keeping guests on their toes outside the entrance to Fear Forest, Pence said she’s spent the past few years shaping her alter ego.
“I’ve spent about the last eight years as a clown,” Pence said. “Her name is Boom. I’ve been developing her over the past several years. People have really liked her. She’s the only character out front that speaks. I’ve gained quite a following with her, actually.”
Veronica Hinkle said that, over her 10 years at Fear Forest, people who aren’t easily scared are just as fun as those who are.
“The acting part is fun,” Hinkle said. “Some people don’t get scared, so then you just act with them. You get them to laugh and go along with it. I’d say the best ones are when they get so scared they fall to the ground. That’s when you know you’ve done your job.”
While some of the actors have stayed for years, other aspects of Fear Forest have evolved, Brandy Nesselrodt said. The animatronics — some of which cost more than $10,000 — have grown in both size and number. The most recent addition, Nesselrodt said, was a 16-foot-long dragon, which calls the forest’s castle its home.
As spooky season continues, Brandy Nesselrodt warned anyone wanting to experience Fear Forest to come sooner rather than later, if they want to avoid crowds – with one exception.
“Come prepared to have a good time,” Brandy Nesselrodt said. “A lot of people are afraid to come on Halloween because they think we’d be swamped, but Halloween is actually not such a busy night.”