Disney artist brings 3-D scares to Kane County Scaregrounds
If you've been to Disney World, you may recognize some of artist R.J. Ogren's work as you scream your head off running through a new haunted house in the Fox Valley this month.
Ogren, a St. Charles native who did work on such attractions at Disney as the Haunted Mansion and Splash Mountain, is now designing a 3-D haunted house making its debut this weekend at the Kane County Fairgrounds, nicknamed the Scaregrounds for this spooky season.
The 4,000-square-foot haunted house, which opens today, is a fundraiser for the Steel Beam Theatre in St. Charles.
After Ogren moved back to Illinois seven years ago, he got involved in a local theater in Wheaton. One of his colleagues there also was involved with Steel Beam and hooked Ogren up with theater officials, who decided to hire him to design their sets this year, as well as the haunted house for the fundraiser.
While he has a Disney background, this haunted house will be anything but cute and sweet.
Ogren is a specialist in 3-D black light painting, which he did at Disney World in the 1970s and 1980s on rides such as the Haunted Mansion and Peter Pan.
But unlike Disney, you'll probably want to run from the creations in this dirt-floored haunted house.
"It's all scary," Ogren said. "This is more ghoulish and bloody. It's what everyone wants in a haunted house now."
With your special 3-D glasses on, it will look as if Ogren's ghoulish paintings are jumping out at you and dripping blood everywhere. And with the glasses, they will appear to be following you throughout the room.
The objects and ghouls can look as if they are either jumping out or sinking in up to 1½ feet.
This effect, enhanced by the glasses, also makes it easier for live people to hide unseen in the room so they can jump out and scare you, Ogren said.
Ogren not only painted the walls in the house, but he also collaborated on the layout and on what creepy items to have in each room.
This is not Ogren's first haunted house. He's also designed others, including the famed houses at the Queen Mary Shipwreck and Del Mar Fairgrounds in California.
"I have a ball doing these," he said. "I have an unusual life between painting haunted houses and everything else. Haunted houses are a lot of fun."
When he's not designing haunted houses, he works as an artist doing murals and other artwork for clients.
The haunted house opens Friday, Oct. 7, and runs weekends through Sunday, Oct, 30. It runs from 7 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 7 to 10 p.m. on Sundays. It is closed Oct. 22.
Tickets are $13, or $15 for a fast pass, which means you'll have no wait in line before you're scared. You can purchase tickets at [/URL]KCScaregrounds.com;http://KCScaregrounds.com[URL] or at the door.
The haunted house is recommended for ages 13 and older, but younger children will be admitted with an adult.
"I'm sure some 10- and 11-year-olds will be fine, but it is scary and not for young children," Ogren said. "There is blood and ghoul."
Parking is free at the fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road (at Route 38), St. Charles.[/URL]
Kane County Scaregrounds
What: The Kane County Scaregrounds, a 4,000-square-foot, 3D haunted house. It is a fundraiser for the Steel Beam Theatre.
When: Weekends, Oct. 7 - 30. Hours are 7 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 7 to 10 p.m. Sundays. Closed Oct. 22.
Scare level: Recommended for ages 13 and older, but younger children will be admitted with an adult.
Tickets: $13, or $15 for a fast pass
Details: KCScaregrounds.com