McKamey Manor: An Extreme Experience
Gabriella Sandoval, Staff Writer
Haunted houses across the world vary in design, visuals, execution, and levels of scariness. Although, there are some far more intricate than they initially seem. Known as the “scariest haunted house in America” is the notorious McKamey Manor. It has gained national recognition for its over-the-top model of a haunted house. Commonly referred to as a “torture chamber” due to the disturbing scenery and physical interactions, the Mckamey Manor offers a $20,000 cash prize for any attendee that completes the full attraction. This mission has yet to be accomplished.
Gabriella Sandoval, Staff Writer
Haunted houses across the world vary in design, visuals, execution, and levels of scariness. Although, there are some far more intricate than they initially seem. Known as the “scariest haunted house in America” is the notorious McKamey Manor. It has gained national recognition for its over-the-top model of a haunted house. Commonly referred to as a “torture chamber” due to the disturbing scenery and physical interactions, the Mckamey Manor offers a $20,000 cash prize for any attendee that completes the full attraction. This mission has yet to be accomplished.
The McKamey Manor calls for multiple requirements in order to participate in this extreme experience. These requirements include a completed sports physical, a doctor's letter stating physical and mental clarity, and the successful passing of a background check. Participants must also show proof of medical insurance, and sign a detailed 40 page waiver that includes the possible risks of entering the house. These risks include having teeth removed, being tattooed, and having fingernails extracted.
The McKamey Manor advises participants to be in excellent health due to the physically, mentally, and even psychologically demanding environments that participants are prone to endure. Additionally, participants are screened through phone prior to visiting the haunted house, and information is gathered about participants so that the haunted house is tailored to each individual, based on personal fears and phobias. What makes this haunted house unique is how the experience is based on audience participation, where the attendees live out their own horror movie, by being tested to their core.
While average haunted houses prohibit actors to touch and confront participants, the McKamey Manor allows actors to come in contact with participants to deliver brutal and potentially traumatizing interactions. So, unless you can contain your words, this might not be an attraction suitable for you because foul language is not allowed during the whole tour.
It’s no surprise that the McKamey Manor has and still does face harsh criticism and legal scrutiny over safety concerns, the ethics of its scare tactics, and the extremity of its challenges. Despite all of this, there are currently 24,000 people waiting in line to potentially complete the haunted house and claim the prize offer.
When choosing a haunted house to visit this year, take your own fears and phobias into account, and enter at your own risk. If you're not a huge fan of bugs, snakes, being buried alive, or being lowered into a tank full of eels, visiting the McKamey Manor isn't in your best interest.
Ghosts in the Garden
By Austin Price, Editor in Chief
Alright everyone, it’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for. Well, it’s the moment I’ve been waiting for anyways. After a month of our special Spooky Series, it’s time for the grand finale. And after a month of crime reporting and storytelling, of legend seeking and secret exposing, and of tradition telling and origin exploring, it’s time to review an actual, haunted, thrilling, and completely creepy event that happened here in our very own, Denver Colorado. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you an honest, raw, and intense review of the Denver Botanical Gardens Halloween Event, Ghosts in the Garden.
By Austin Price, Editor in Chief
Alright everyone, it’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for. Well, it’s the moment I’ve been waiting for anyways. After a month of our special Spooky Series, it’s time for the grand finale. And after a month of crime reporting and storytelling, of legend seeking and secret exposing, and of tradition telling and origin exploring, it’s time to review an actual, haunted, thrilling, and completely creepy event that happened here in our very own, Denver Colorado. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you an honest, raw, and intense review of the Denver Botanical Gardens Halloween Event, Ghosts in the Garden.
As a Colorado native, visiting the Denver Botanical Gardens has been on my Denver to-do list for quite a long time. A few weeks ago, I went for the first time to celebrate my birthday. I loved it. Before we get into the review of Ghosts in the Garden, it’s important to acknowledge that the Gardens look much different in early September than they do in late October. When I went in September, the sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and the Garden was packed to the max with visitors. This was a very different atmosphere from that of Ghosts in the Garden.
On Sunday, October 28th, I attended Ghosts in the Garden in the early hours of the evening. As you may have noticed, it was freezing this past weekend as Colorado experienced its first official snowfall of the season. However, just as the ghostbusters ain’t afraid of no ghosts, I ain’t afraid of no cold, and chose to continue with my plans to attend this event. To be entirely honest, I was shaking from the cold and my hands were purple and I felt borderline sick after the experience, but it was worth it.
The Denver Botanical Gardens annual October event, Ghosts in the Garden, is a storytelling, interactive experience centered around the haunted history of the Gardens and the sinister sins that occurred in this now beautiful tourist attraction. Our evening began with a meeting outside at the edge of the Water Gardens with a twisted tale of the history behind the geography and former use of the Botanical Gardens property.
The edge of the Water Gardens in the Denver Botanical Gardens. Photo by Austin Price
Bodies Under the Botany
As with all good, haunted locations, the initial use of the land was for a cemetery. The Denver Botanic Gardens, along with nearby Cheesman Park and Congress Park, sit atop what used to be Prospect Hill Cemetery. Although the majority of bodies were removed in 1893, they continued to be discovered and removed as late as the 1950s. It’s important to know that the remaining bodies left in Prospect Hill Cemetery were those of people that were considered outcasts. These people were oftentimes labeled as “insane” or those who were homeless and abandoned in their death, with no families to claim or honor their bodies. Because of this, the outcasts were left in the cemetery until enough complaints prompted the city to carelessly and callously remove them.
Because of the neglectful process of human remains elimination, the bodies would rot and decompose without proper attention, leaving piles of bones in the ground. These piles are still being discovered. As recently as 2010, graves were uncovered during renovation of the park's irrigation and sprinkler systems. So next time you’re walking through the gardens, just remember, you're walking on dead people. Have fun!
Spooky Spirits
Our next story was that of reported apparitions. These reports are still occurring to this day, oftentimes by the Botanical Gardens stall members, specifically by their security guards and gardeners. While these reports vary in specificity and in detail, they all follow the standard structure. Apparitions and ghostly figures will float down the main pathway, heading directly for the Water Gardens, and consequently, the emergency exit gates.
Our guide informed us of a multitude of spooky spirit encounters with ghosts of all forms, varying in age, race, and sex. However, my personal favorite story is that of a beautiful woman, sitting on the edge of the lake. The story goes that one day, a security guard was making his rounds to ensure all guests had vacated the premises before the gates were locked for the night. As he walked down the main pathway, towards the Water Gardens, he noticed a slim, pale figure sitting on the edge of the lake. With the distance closing between himself and this phantom, he realized it was a beautiful woman, dressed in a lace nightgown, with long, gray hair flowing behind her back, and her feet, dangling in the cold water of the lake.
Because of closing time and the impending lockdown of the Gardens, the guard called out to the woman, saying it was time for her to leave. She made no response. Thinking that the woman couldn’t hear him, the guard increased his pace and called out to her again. He offered to escort her to the exit to ensure she had a safe departure. Still, the woman gave no response.
At this point, the guard began to feel frustrated. It had been a long day of surveillance for him, and he was ready to go home. Again, he called out to the woman telling her to leave with an aggravated tone. Once more, the woman did not move an inch. The guard began to round the outskirts of the lake, getting him to the same side she was on. As he approached her, the woman stood, passed by the guard, and confidently and calmly walked through the closed back gate. The guard, obviously in shock, stood at the lake for quite some time processing what he had just witnessed. Eventually, his shock wore off and he ran to the security office to check the cameras. No figure appeared on any of the tapes. But, to this day, the security guard swears up and down on the validity of this interaction.
The bank of the water gardens where the mysterious woman was reportedly seen, soaking her feet in the water. Photo by Austin Price
A Haunted House
As the tour continued and more and more stories were told, we made our way to the final stop of the evening, The Waring House. Named after its donor, Ruth Waring, the Waring house sits on the southeast edge of the Gardens, next to the Chihuly sculpture in the Ellipse Garden. This gorgeous mansion was built in the early 20th century, by a wealthy family consisting of Richard Campbell, his wife, and their servants. While this picture perfect, mansion, designed by Jules Jacques Benois Benedict to reflect Norman/Romantic Revival influences and offers Beaux-Arts style, it was filled with much more horror than ever expected.
Reportedly, three people died in this house. The first was Jack, a child of one of the servants. Jack often accompanied his mother when she worked in the Campbell’s home and would be left to play unattended in the mansion. One day, while running around the house, Jack fell down a large staircase and died from his injuries.
The staircase where young Jack met his untimely and tragic death. Photo by Austin Price
The second person to die in the Waring House was Richard Campbell’s wife. Mrs. Waring died at a young age due to a horrific diagnosis of cancer. While more specific details are unknown, Mrs. Campbell died a slow and painful death, leaving behind her devastated husband.
The foyer of the home, featuring the grand staircase that led to the Campbell’s master bedroom, the place of Mrs. Campbell’s death. Photo by Austin Price
Upon the tragic death of his beloved wife, Richard Campbell was left alone in his grief. As he struggled to accept the loss of his partner and soulmate, grief overtook Richard. Legend has it that he died of a broken heart, unable to cope with the loss of his wife.
An iron made; custom chandelier illuminates the dark hallway that leads to the Campbell’s master bedroom. Photo by Austin Price
On that happy note, our tour concluded. After a night of getting the heebie-jeebies and feeling mesmerized by the haunted history of the seemingly charming and innocent Denver Botanical Gardens, Ghosts in the Garden came to an end. Personally, I don’t think I will ever be able to visit the Gardens again without replaying these stories in my head. But, as a haunted historian and supernatural fanatic, I loved the tour and recommend it to anyone who loves a good old classic, scary story.
And that my friends, concludes our Spooky Series. To all of you who have stuck with me throughout my favorite month of the year, thank you. I appreciate you taking this journey into everything scary and surreal with me as your guide. While I’m sad our series has come to an end, I look forward to once again exposing the histories, legends, and spooky greatness of October with you all next year, in a continuation of Spooky Series, volume 2. Until then, thank you, stay spooky, and Happy Halloween.
The Origins of Witchcraft
By Austin Price, Editor-In-Chief
Warning: This article contains mentions of torture, death, sexual misconduct, and abuse. Please read at your own discretion.
Hocus Pocus. Double, double toil and trouble. Abracadabra. Expeliarmus. Bippity Boppity Boo. I’m sure you’ve all heard one or more of these phrases before. The above phrases are in connection to witchcraft and sorcery seen in different forms of media including books, movies, television, and entertainment industries. What are now known as common, everyday phrases that are populated throughout the year, primarily in the time of Halloween, the origins of these phrases all lead to the Holy Bible.
By Austin Price, Editor-In-Chief
Warning: This article contains mentions of torture, death, sexual misconduct, and abuse. Please read at your own discretion.
Hocus Pocus. Double, double toil and trouble. Abracadabra. Expeliarmus. Bippity Boppity Boo. I’m sure you’ve all heard one or more of these phrases before. The above phrases are in connection to witchcraft and sorcery seen in different forms of media including books, movies, television, and entertainment industries. What are now known as common, everyday phrases that are populated throughout the year, primarily in the time of Halloween, the origins of these phrases all lead to the Holy Bible.
King Saul Seeks a Witch
The term, witch, comes from the Bible in the book of 1 Samuel, thought to be written between 931 B.C. and 721 B.C. It tells the story of when King Saul sought the Witch of Endor to summon the dead prophet Samuel's spirit. This dawn of a fascination of witches and sorcery is tainted with evil connotations and demonic roots.
According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word witch is defined as “a woman supposed to have dealings with the devil or evil spirits and to be able by their cooperation to perform supernatural acts.” With this assigned label and universal understanding of witches as humans in cahoots with the devil, their exile from society was inevitable. Human beings have always struggled with feelings of inferiority to their peers. Despite their prime features of apparent connections with the devil, witches were envied by and threatening to the rest of society.
With these magical powers and accusations of close contact with the devil, witches were targets of ridicule, violence, and mockery. This outside behavior from their communities often lead to the beating, torture, and ultimate death of many witches. Witchcraft, sorcery, and execution of people with unnatural abilities originated in Europe. The English Heritage reports that in the entire span of witch hunts and persecutions, “About 30,000–60,000 people were executed in the whole of the main era of witchcraft persecutions, from the 1427–36 witch-hunts in Savoy (in the western Alps) to the execution of Anna Goldi in the Swiss canton of Glarus in 1782. These figures include estimates for cases where no records exist.”
The First Witch, Alice Kyteler
The origins of witchcraft and sorcery begin with a seemingly normal woman, Alice Kyteler. Dame Alice Kyteler was the first recorded person condemned for witchcraft in Ireland. Alice began her life as a seemingly normal young woman. She carried on the traditional practice of marrying young and giving children to her husband. Ronan Mackay of the Royal Irish Academy writes that Alice was probably from a Kilkenny family, though nothing is known of her life prior to marriage
Between 1280 and 1285, Alice married her first husband, William Outlaw, a successful moneylender and merchant of Kilkenny. William died from unknown circumstances and Alice went on to marry 3 more men. Mackay reports that by 1303 Alice had married a second time, to Adam le Blunda of Callan, and by 1309 she had married her third husband, Richard de Valle, and between 1316 and 1324 she married her fourth husband, Sir John le Poer. With a total of 4 husbands throughout her life, it’s easy to conclude that these continuous deaths were not a coincidence due to misfortune or bad luck. Rather, accusations of murder point to Alice.
By the year 1302, Alice had been accused (and acquitted) of murder and other crimes. Alice’s plethora of stepchildren from her multitude of marriages suspected her of being the cause of the loss of their fathers. They became convinced that she had access to supernatural powers and had used these powers first to beguile, and then to dispose of, her husbands. They labeled these powers as maleficium, meaning the ability to harm one's neighbors through occult powers supplied by the devil. With these accusations, Alice’s stepchildren reported her and her suspicious, countless marriages to the zealous Franciscan bishop of Ossory, Richard Ledrede, in 1324. According to History Ireland, Ledrede was an infamous opponent of witches and sorcery. In 1324, Richard Ledrede, bishop of Ossory, declared that his diocese was a hotbed of devil worshippers.
This venomous belief of Richard was emphasized and fueled by the accusations against Alice. The news publication, History Ireland, says, “It was the first witchcraft trial to treat the accused as heretics and the first to accuse a woman of having acquired the power of sorcery through sexual intercourse with a demon, features which later became common in the famous witchcraft trials of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries,”. As the trial concluded, History Ireland reports, “This outlandish theory became a major confrontation between secular and ecclesiastical authority. Seven charges were brought against Alice Kyteler and her associates: that they were denying Christ and the church; that they cut up living animals and scattered the pieces at cross roads as offerings to a demon called the son of Art in return for his help; that they stole the keys of the church and held meetings there at night; that in the skull of a robber they placed the intestines and internal organs of cocks, worms, nails cut from dead bodies, hairs from the buttocks and clothes from boys who had died before being baptized; that, from this brew, they made potions to incite people to love, hate, kill and afflict Christians; that Alice herself had a certain demon as incubus by whom she permitted herself to be known carnally and that he appeared to her either as a cat, a shaggy black dog or as a black man, aethiopis, from whom she received her wealth; and that Alice had used sorcery to murder some of her husbands and to infatuate others, with the result that they gave all their possessions to her and her son, William Outlaw, thus impoverishing her stepchildren.” Upon these convictions and the impending doom of death and destruction, Alice fled the country to either England or Flanders, and there is no record of her after her escape from persecution.
The Amplified Hysteria of Witchcraft and Sorcery
After this initial demise of Alice and upon her disappearance, the fuel behind the fire of witchcraft grew and expanded. According to The History Channel, “Witch hysteria really took hold in Europe during the mid-1400s, when many accused witches confessed, often under torture, to a variety of wicked behaviors. Within a century, witch hunts were common and most of the accused were executed by burning at the stake or hanging. Single women, widows and other women on the margins of society were especially targeted,”.
With these minority female figures being targeted and ruined by a vengeful and ignorant society, the torture and unending harassment of witches was fueled by religious figures. The publication of “Malleus Maleficarum” a book written by two well-respected German Dominicans in 1486, usually translated as “The Hammer of Witches,” was essentially a guide on how to identify, hunt and interrogate witches. It quickly became the authority for Protestants and Catholics trying to flush out witches living among them.
Devil Worshippers and Demon Carriers
As witches became more and more popular throughout society, suspicions and possible explanations surrounded the reasoning behind the power of witches. Demonic possession and devil worshiping became the prime theory behind the immense, supernatural power of witches. According to the English Heritage, “leaps of logic concluded that demons wanted to produce offspring. So, they haunted monastic dormitories to steal human seed to impregnate women with demon children... this is when the Roman idea of the witch and her manifestation as the embodiment of winter in Alpine regions catastrophically came together to allow the first generation of demonologists to formulate an exact identity for the recipients of the seed,”.
The Witches’ Sabbath
These demonic ties began to produce the Witches’ Sabbath. Witches’ Sabbath was a nocturnal, communal gathering of witches. These sabbaths could be as small as groups of 3, or as large of groups as 10,000. Popular locations for these gatherings include the Harz Mountains, Germany; the Bald Mountain, near Kiev, Russia; the Blocula, Sweden; and the Département du Puy-de-Dôme, Auvergne, France.
According to Briticanna, “Witches reputedly traveled to the sabbath by smearing themselves with special ointment that enabled them to fly through the air, or they rode on a goat, ram, or dog supplied by the devil.” These blasphemous practices were furthered by occurrences at the sabbath including were represented by inquisitors as including obeisance to the devil by kissing him under his tail, dancing, feasting, and indiscriminate intercourse,”.
Witchcraft continued to develop and expand, eventually blending into Satanism, but that’s a story for another time. Through the collaboration of the occult, animals, rituals, minerals, nature, gatherings, sex, murder, and unexplained, paranormal experiences, witchcraft and sorcery were once a dangerous label and talents, but have now become a unique and fascinating history that combines violence, beauty, and magic.
To learn more about the origins of witchcraft and sorcery, visit the following sources: