The East Tennessee haunted attraction, operating since 1999, is running a no-actor walkthrough Friday, July 10 and a final full show Saturday, July 11, with a moving fund to support relocation.
FrightWorks, the East Tennessee haunted attraction that has been operating since 1999, announced on Facebook that it will vacate its longtime location by July 31 after the building was sold. The attraction is running two final events at the current location on July 10 and 11, and its future beyond that date is uncertain.
The building’s new owner needs the property delivered tenant-free, according to the announcement. FrightWorks reached an agreement with the current landlord to remain long enough to host one final weekend of shows before moving out.
“After many years of scares, screams, laughter, and unforgettable memories, FrightWorks is preparing for a major move,” the attraction wrote in the announcement. “While this is not the timing we would have chosen, especially so close to October, we have reached an agreement to move out by July 31.”
The final two events
The final weekend at the current location includes two ticketed shows.
Friday, July 10, 6 PM to 9 PM is FrightWorks Unmasked: A Final Walkthrough, a no-actor lights-on tour of the haunt described by the operator as an “exclusive ‘NO SCARE’ tour” that lets guests “get up close and personal with our scenes and special effects.” Tickets are $18.31. An add-on guide is available for groups of up to six guests for an additional $59.99.
Saturday, July 11, 7 PM to 11 PM is One Last Scare: The Final Full Show, described as the attraction’s normal Halloween-season operation with actors and full show programming. Tickets are $25.63.
Season pass holders can use their passes for either event. FrightWorks noted in a website FAQ that “any additional support is deeply appreciated, but not required” for pass holders who want to attend.
The Moving Fund
For supporters who cannot attend, FrightWorks has launched a Support FrightWorks Moving Fund donation option starting at $10. The attraction says the funds will go toward the cost of dismantling, moving, and storing the haunt as it looks for a new home.
The donation is a supporter contribution to FrightWorks / EscapeWorks LLC and is not tax-deductible, according to the fund page. It does not include admission, merchandise, or other goods and services.
Whether October is possible
FrightWorks is actively looking for a new location and has not ruled out opening this October, but the announcement was direct about the odds.
“Opening this October would be amazing, but things would need to fall into place very quickly,” the operator wrote. “It would be amazing to find a new home and reopen this October, but for that to happen, the right location, funding, approvals, and timing would all need to fall into place very quickly.”
The FAQ describes what a suitable space would need: “enough space for a haunted attraction, parking, guest flow, storage, and the necessary approvals to operate safely.” The attraction is asking the community for leads on facilities that could host a haunted house or similarly themed attraction.
If reopening in October is not possible, FrightWorks says the goal is to “protect as much of FrightWorks as possible while we search for the next path forward.”
Community response
Fans swarmed FrightWork’s social media in an outpouring of support. One long-time fan wrote that FrightWorks “hold a special place in our hearts” and shared that the haunt was her and her husband’s first date, where they made friends in line who told them they were meant for each other. “Here we are, married and happier than ever,” she wrote.
Others echoed the sentiment. “This is heartbreaking. They could have let you open for October at least to raise funds to move. I am so sorry,” wrote another commenter. A former makeup artist wrote from overseas that “being one of your makeup artists was one of the biggest highlight of my life.”
About FrightWorks
FrightWorks has operated in East Tennessee for more than 25 years, since 1999. Its parent operator is EscapeWorks LLC. In addition to its signature fall Halloween event, Factory of Fear, the attraction runs off-season events including Haunted Holidays in December and Valentine’s Fate in February.
The attraction serves the Knoxville, Knox County, and Smoky Mountains region.
FrightWorks says it will share updates on the search for a new location through its website and social media as they are available. Tickets for the final two events are on sale now at frightworks.com.
Related coverage
FrightWorks is one of three independent-haunt setbacks HAN has covered this month. The Nightmare Realm left Ireland after 16 years when it could not secure a permanent building, and Field of Horrors in upstate New York lost three uninsured haunted houses to an electrical fire in July.
