As the Halloween season descends, the world seems to shift into a realm of mystery and thrill. Shadows seem to stretch a little longer, and the full moon, glowing like a watchful eye, bathes the town in an eerie silver light. At the heart of this chilling transformation stands, creepy costumes, candy, and spooky fun haunted house attractions. Where floorboards creak with every hesitant step and laughter, along with some shrieks, make a fun night for thrill-seekers. At Fort Lauderdale’s Xtreme Action Park, thrill-seekers can now visit the parks Halloween attraction, Nightmare Village.
South Florida Digest’s Nile Fortner sat down with Kevin Munoz of the We Seen’t It Podcast and Nightmare Village to discuss Nightmare Village and what goes beyond South Florida’s two haunted house experiences.
Nile Fortner: How long have you been here, and what is your role at Xtreme Action Park?
Kevin Munoz: I am the Director of Team Engagement at Xtreme Action Park, and I’ve been with Xtreme Action Park for over 8 years. I oversee all Recruiting and Training and Development.
NF: What inspired you to create Nightmare Village, and how does it compare to other local Halloween attractions?
KM: Since our inception, we have always been committed to delivering an unforgettable experience to all of our guests. For the halloween season, we wanted our guests to experience something terrifying and immersive. We partnered with one of the best production teams in the world of haunted houses, Sixth Sight Productions. Sixth Sight Productions covered all bases: story writing, house construction, set design, and actor training. What makes Nightmare Village stand out is that we only allow small groups at a time through the haunted house to intensify the experience. Our actors are carefully trained to interact with each group, which helps deliver an eerie feeling to our guests.
NF: How long does it take to create Nightmare Village, and what goes into creating one of the houses?
KM: Sixth Sight Productions began the construction of the houses in late May. However, the stories and themes for each house were written and finalized months prior. The trick is designing creative ways to bring the stories to life in a way that’s innovative and immersive.
NF: What are some things that go into creating a haunted house that most people may not know or realize?
KM: In addition to the attention to detail that goes into building the haunted houses, there are numerous safety measures that are meticulously embedded throughout Nightmare Village. Safety is one of our core values.
NF: How has Nightmare Village changed over the years, and what makes 2024s Nightmare Village the best so far?
KM: Nightmare Village has evolved since 2022. We have pushed the envelope every year to make the houses larger and deliver scares in the most innovative ways. The scare actor team has increased immensely, which consists of a diverse team of veteran and first-time actors. This year, our haunted houses are much larger, and there are new surprises that will heighten all of your senses!
NF: Can you tell us about some of the characters of Nightmare Village?
KM: There are main characters traveling throughout Nightmare Village that you may interact with as you wait in line: Molly, Trixx, Skippy the Clown, Hadmit Hacks, Lichen the Shovel Lord, the Caretaker, Dr. Patches, and Chains. This demented family is led by a monstrous ringleader: Matches.
NF: What’s the process like getting them ready, such as doing the makeup, the acting preparation, and more?
KM: Before the haunt season began, the actors went through weeks of training that consisted of safety protocols, learning and mastering the different styles of scaring guests, and improv training. Throughout that time, the actors were able to discover which area in the haunted house would allow them to utilize their strengths. Actors usually arrive hours before we open to the public for costume and makeup preparation.
NF: Where and how do you find the actors?
KM: Our newer scare actors were discovered during our open auditions. They were led and trained by both the Actor Managers, as well as our Veteran Actors
NF: What’s on the drink menu for Nightmare Village, and which one would you recommend or one you think is the most popular?
KM: Our Nightmare Village Cocktails consist of:
a. Zombini (Vodka Cocktail)
b. Carrie’s Blood Margarita (Tequila Cocktail)
c. Redrum (Rum Cocktail)
d. The Shining Peach (Whiskey Cocktail)
e. Exorcist Elixir (Gin Cocktail)
My personal favorite is the Blood Margarita!
NF: What would you all like to try for next year’s Nightmare Village?
KM: Discussions for next year’s Nightmare Village will officially begin on November 3rd. Right now, we are laser focused on giving the best haunted house experience in South Florida.
