Michigan Haunted House Addresses ‘Sexually Charged’ Abuse Of Visitor

Michigan’s Niles Scream Park has issued a response after a visitor complained of experiencing “sexually charged” abuse by actors in their newest attraction — Hooded on Sept. 23.

Visitor Archer Pina gave the park a one-star rating on its official Facebook page. In an extensive review, he wrote how he had to endure verbal abuse and experience getting poked with “simulated male parts” as he made his way through the facility with a hood on — a mandated costume which is supposed to enhance the experience.

“I am all about interactive horror and intense settings and scary things,” Pina wrote in the post. “Hooded should not be branded as an intense horror experience. It’s all branded as some sort of execution horror experience. I honestly don’t know where half of the sexually charged abuse came from out of that. Half of the experience is having simulated male parts rubbed against you and having them tell you all the places they would like to put them.”

Pina went on to state that the park is open for children and adults alike which makes the environment not only inappropriate but also illegal. “I think the worst part about the whole thing is they allow children to go through. CHILDREN. I’m not a tall person with a hood over my head for all they know I could be 13-15 and they just spout off all this rapey nonsense,” he wrote.

However, in a response, park manager Pete Karlowicz on Monday corrected Pina saying that the attraction was for “adults-only.” Children who are are at least 16 years of age have to sign a waiver by an accompanying adult in order to gain entry into Hooded. However, the manager told South Bend Tribune that even though the person collecting the waiver keeps a close eye on the age of children, sometimes kids too young for the experience can sneak past.

"I can't card people," Karlowicz said. "This is not a bar." He goes on to explain that the haunted house was designed to be a “sensory” experience and not a “sexual” one, CBS Detroit reported.

“By requiring the hood and taking away your ability to see, your other senses are more sensitive. The plan was, is and will continue to be a sensory overloaded experience. The attraction has been open for four nights and there were no complaints the first three nights. We are not sure what happened on the fourth night, but we are investigating that situation and will handle it appropriately.”

It is also interesting to note that while there have been complaints about the behavior of the actors inside the haunted house, the terms and conditions of the facility explicitly warns the visitors regarding the use of foul language against their staff.

“Inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated,” reads their Assumption Of Risk And Release From Liability. “This includes a physical or verbal assault on attraction staff or other patrons, loud or obnoxious behavior that may ruin the experience for others, using a light source or anything else deemed inappropriate by the attraction staff.”

Karlowicz told SBT that over 500 horror-lovers have visited Hooded when it opened for the season in September and there have been very few complaints till date.

"The Niles Haunted House has been in existence for over 40 years. It's a family-oriented atmosphere," Karlowicz said. "We're not about sex. We're about having fun and trying to scare you."