Howl-O-Scream (Tampa Bay)

Howl-O-Scream is an annual Halloween event which takes place at Busch Gardens Africa in Tampa Bay, Florida.

The event takes place overnight, during select nights in October (typically on the weekends). The event places focus on Haunted Houses, Scare Zones, and Shows. Haunted Houses are enclosed areas with specific storylines and highly themed decor; typically, they lead guests through a somewhat claustrophobic maze with various features designed to startle, confuse, or disquiet those who enter. Scare zones are similar to Haunted Houses, however, they are outdoor areas set in the main paths. The shows are similar in structure to the standard stage shows shown at Busch Gardens, however, they have a halloween setting, and feature dark humor and grotesque scenery.

1999: Spooky Safari

1999: Spooky Safari

Howl-O-Scream was not the first Halloween event at Busch Gardens. Rather, one year prior to Howl-O-Scream's debut (in 2000), the park featured a family-friendly Halloween attraction called Spooky Safari. It had such attractions as a pumpkin patch, hayrides, and face-painting for the children.

2000

The year 2000 saw the debut of Howl-O-Scream. The event replaced a smaller event called "Spooky Safari," expanding an event oriented primarily toward younger children into one that offered Halloween-themed attractions, shows, and events for younger children, teens, and adults.

Haunted Houses

• Labyrinth of Lost Souls (Employee Parking Lot)

A prison-like maze was home to trapped spirits who preyed on the living guests

• Dark Caverns (Curiosity Caverns)

This Haunted House featured nocturnal animals, including bats and other creepy creatures of the night, combined with special effects and a surprise twist that blurred the lines between nightmare and reality

• Haunted Jungle Trail (Myombie Reserve)

A tribal outdoor walkthrough, including encounters with the evil Dr. Livingsdoom.

• Evening Sarengeti Safari Tours (Edge of Africa)

A creepy and entertaining Safari ride designed for all ages.

Shows

• Butch Patrick Live Appearance (Marakesh Theater)

Featured a live appearance from Butch Patrick of the TV series The Munsters.

• The World's Foremost Mentalist (Das Festhaus)

A mind-reading show starring "The Amazing Kreskin".

• 1961 Cadallac Hease (Hospitality House Stage)

An appearance of the 1961 Cadallace Hease from TV's Dr. Paul Bearer's game shows.

Scare Zones

• Creatures of the Night (parkwide)

A monster themed scare zone including encounters with Warewolves, Vampires and Mummies.

• Monster Free Zone (Land of the Dragons)

A safe child area with Face Painting, Arts and Crafts and Hay Rides.

Event Icon

Dr. Livingsdoom - A mad scientist character.

2001: Horror Has a Home (This Time, Terror Takes Control!)

In 2001, Howl-O-Scream added new haunted mazes, "scare zones," and shows; the new features repositioned the event toward an older teen and younger adult demographic, though the park's "Land of the Dragons" children's area still offered fare for younger children.

Haunted Houses

• Escape from Insanity (Crown Coloney Skyride Station)

Welcome to Sunny Meadows Asylum, where we take pride in our innovative approach to rehabilitation.

• Screaming Reality (Bird Gardens Pavilion)

A journey inside the television, with everybody's favorite reality TV shows portrayed horifically.

• Night Stalkers in 3-D (Akbar's Adventure Tours)

An alternate realm in a 3-D setting.

• Creeper's Crypt (Curiosity Caverns)

A dark and solemn crypt.

• The Curse of King Tut's Tomb (Tut's Tomb)

A vividly Egyptian Haunted House set in King Tut's Tomb.

Scare Zones

• Jungle of Terror (Myombie Reserve)

A Jungle themed scare zone replacing the outdoor Haunted House from the prior year.

• Inferno Express (Nairobi Train Station)

Based on an evil train yard.

• Grisly Gardens (Congo)

The gardens have come alive to take revenge for being long-forgotten.

Shows

• RIP TV (Das Festhaus)

Join the Evil Gor E. Decay as he brings together a load of blood and gore along with freakish performers, all being broadcast live on RIP TV.

• Fiends (Stanleyville Theater)

Join Dr. Freakenstein and his mischievous nurses as they prepare to bring Frankenstein's Monster to life

Event Icons

Torment, Mangler, and Pernicia Gloom

Controversies

The original slogan, "This time, terror takes control!" was changed to "Horror Has a Home" early in the publicity campaign mostly due to the September 11 Attacks. The character icon of Pernicia Gloom was originally deemed too sexual for the event, and was given a slight change in costume design for approval.

2002: Face Your Fear

In 2002, Howl-O-Scream replaced most, if not all, of the previous year's activities, but kept the same overall concept and demographic target.

Haunted Houses:

• Escape From Insanity (Crown Coloney Skyride Station)

The staff at the Sunny Meadows Asylum is ready to welcome you into their grisly accommodations.

• Bloody Bayou (Bird Gardens Pavilion)

The Bayou Clan, an evil group of filmmakers, put guests in more graphic versions of classic horror movie related scares.

• Tortured (Ubanga Banga Bumper Cars)

Set at the Halloween party of the season, guests were "trapped" inside the building, heightening the effect of various party-related scares.

• Ripper Row (Nairobi Pavilion)

This attraction purported to retrace the steps of Jack the Ripper.

• The Mortuary (Employee Parking Lot)

The Mortuary centered on the fear of being buried alive, with appropriate attention paid to funeral-home theming.

• Demented Dimensions (Akbar's Adventure Tours)

This attraction featured prominent 3-D elements centered around an archaeological expedition that uncovered a terrifying past.

Scare Zones

• Grisly Gardens (Congo)

Evil roots have taken over these once peaceful gardens. the statues in it have now come alive to spread terror and horror.

• Cursed (Timbuktu)

An evil queen and her henchmen wait to curse anyone who wanders through their private grounds.

• Agony Express (Nairobi Train Station)

In this train yard you have two choices; to board the train and get killed by the passengers on it or to not board the train and get killed by the freaks at the train station.

• X-Ecutioners (Bird Gardens)

Cross their path, and it will be the last mistake you ever make.

Shows

• RIP TV 2 (Das Festhaus)

Join the Evil Gor E. as he brings together a load of blood and gore along with freakish performers, all being broadcast live on RIP TV 2.

• Fiends (Stanleyville Theatre)

Join Dr. Freakenstein and his mischievous nurses as they prepare to bring Frankenstein's Monster to life.

Even Icon

Death Spirit- A walking zombie with African voodoo roots and the power to bring deceased spirits back to life as animals.

2003: Fear Has a New Face

The park further refined their formula for 2003. Many of the Haunted Houses from the previous year returned, with a focus on furthering their storylines

Haunted Houses

• Escape From Insanity: Residents' Revenge (Crown Coloney Skyride Station)

The residents at the Sunny Meadows Asylum have taken over. The inmates are now OUTmates: out for your blood.

• Darkheart's Fear Fair (Bird Gardens Pavilion)

At this fair, the demented Darkheart and his clowns will thrill you, chill you, and most importantly, painfully kill you. Darkheart's Fear Fair was a revolutionary Haunted House, in that it featured 2 separate forks in the path, which made 4 separate experiences possible. It was also set outdoors.

• The Mortuary (Employee Parking Lot)

A house returning from the prior year.

• Ripper Row (Nairobi Pavilion)

This attraction purported to retrace the steps of Jack the Ripper.

• Demented Dimensions (Akbar's Adventure Tours)

This attraction featured prominent 3-D elements centered around an archaeological expedition that uncovered a terrifying past.

• Tortured (Ubanga Banga Bumper Cars)

Set at the Halloween party of the season, guests were "trapped" inside the building, heightening the effect of various party-related scares.

Scare Zones

• Grisly Gardens (Congo)

Evil roots have taken over these once peaceful gardens. the statues in it have now come alive to spread terror and horror.

• Cursed (Timbuktu)

An evil queen and her henchmen wait to curse anyone who wanders through their private grounds.

• Agony Express (Nairobi Train Station)

In this train yard you have two choices; to board the train and get killed by the passengers on it or to not board the train and get killed by the freaks at the train station.

• Whiplash (Bridge to Stanleyville)

You'll never know when these quick demons will strike. Watch out.

• Speed (Stanleyville)

Stay away from these monsters, or it will be the last thing you ever do.

Shows

• Fiends (Stanleyville Theatre)

Join Dr. Freakenstein and his mischievous nurses as they prepare to bring Frankenstein's Monster to life.

• Eternal Reward (Desert Grill)

The audience took part in this show, while the monsters who ran it decided weather to give them tricks or treats.

Event Icon

F.E.A.R., The maniacle controller of terror.

2004: No Escape. No Mercy. Nowhere Else

Haunted Houses

• Escape From Insanity: Lockdown (Crown Coloney Skyride Station)

Order has returned, after a fashion, to the Sunny Meadows Asylum in the form of the Department of Asylum Detainment.

• Darkheart's Fear Fair (Bird Gardens Pavilion)

At this fair, the demented Darkheart and his clowns will thrill you, chill you, and most importantly, painfully kill you.

• Till Death Do Us Part (Ubanga Banga Bumper Cars)

After a wedding day gone bad, the Honeymoon suite is still haunted by the ghosts of the bride, the groom, and the slain wedding guests.

• Corporate Nightmare (Tut's Tomb)

After 5 o' clock, the evil that fills this demented office starts working overtime.

• The Mortuary (Employee Parking Lot)

A house returning from the prior years.

• Chaos! (Akbar's Adventure Tours)

In this chaotic 3-D world, portraits come alive and block your path, thinking your the person who should take their place.

Scare Zones

• Garden Of The Cursed (Congo)

The evil and queen and her henchmen from "Cursed" have set up their new terror in the "Grisly Gardens" for anyone who strolls past them.

• Beware! (Bird Gardens)

The fairy tale freaks hiding in these trees won't let you live Happily Ever After.

• Agony Express (Nairobi Train Station)

In this train yard you have two choices; to board the train and get killed by the passengers on it or to not board the train and get killed by the freaks at the train station.

• Sliderz (Timbktu)

Around here, you'll have to stay on your toes if you want to live.

Shows

• Fiends (Stanleyville Theater)

Join Dr. Freakenstein and his mischievous nurses as they prepare to bring Frankenstein's Monster to life.

• Depraved Reality (Desert Grill)

You've come here to put some famous faces on Depraved TV to punish them for ruining Television as you know it. this show changes each night.

Event Icon

Hack, an evil taxicab driver who wouldn't let his passengers leave his cab.

Controversies

In late summer, Hurricane Jeanne caused a possible EF1 tornado touchdown on the original building for the Corporate Nightmare haunted house, destroying it. The hurricane itself also caused moderate damage to the props in the Garden of the Cursed and Agony Express scare zones. Corporate Nightmare was then moved to Tut's Tomb on the second night of the event, and the props in the two scare zones were rebuilt.

2005: Your Childhood Fears Don't Go Away. They Just Get Worse

Haunted Houses

• After Hours: Dead Of Night (Crown Coloney Skyride Station)

In Club Muse, whoever enters will definitely not exit thanks to a horde of insane monster artists, who try their best to imitate life.

• Freaked! (Bird Gardens Pavilion)

The evil Mistress Macabre has taken over Darkheart's fear fair, creating even more grisly clowns and freaks to kill you.

• Deathly Departed (Ubanga Banga Bumper Cars)

Just when everyone thought that the honeymoon suite was free of the wedding ghosts, the bride returned to seek revenge for the soul of her would be husband.

• The Hunted (Nairobi Pavilion)

This Hunting lodge was burned down to cover a killer's tracks. now, it's clear that no-one will hear the screams when you become the prey.

• The Mortuary: The Mourning After (Employee Parking Lot)

This revision centered on the idea that before departing the Earth, you'll have to relive the mourning after your dying day.

• The 3rd Dementia (Akbar's Adventure Tours)

Visions of 3-D color and light will twist together a horrible hallucination that shall deceive your eyes and torment your mind.

Scare Zones

• Bone Grinders (Bridge to Stanleyville)

These evil skeletons are eager to strip your flesh and add your bones to their grisly collection.

• Restless Death (Stanleyville)

The forgotten residents of this Graveyard have risen to torment anyone who's foolish enough to roam through the night.

• Wicked Woods (Bird Gardens)

The fairy tale creatures from "Beware!" have now moved to the haunted Wicked Woods, continuing to make sure that no-one lives Happily Ever After.

• Widows Walk (Timbuktu)

The ghosts of these would be wives still pace their Widows Walk waiting for sailors who were long ago killed by the sea.

• Root Of All Evil (Nairobi Train Station)

Adults infested with immature evilness hide in an old playground, waiting to kill anyone who walks past it.

Shows

• Fiends (Stanleyville Theater)

Join Dr. Freakenstein and his mischievous nurses as they prepare to bring Frankenstein's Monster to life.

• Haunt Me Baby One More Time (Desert Grill)

Rock and Roll's most famous dead singers return to the stage for one last performance.

Event Icon

An evil jack-in-the-box in a child's bedroom.

2006: NO ONE 2 TRUST (I'm Closer Than You Think)

Haunted Houses

• Freaked! (Bird Gardens Pavilion)

The evil Mistress Macabre has taken over Darkheart's fear fair, creating even more grisly clowns and freaks to kill you.

• After Hours: Club Muse (Crown Coloney Skyride Station)

After Club Muse was thought to be free of its wickedness, it once again became overrun with angry monsters and ghouls.

• Deathly Departed (Ubanga Banga Bumper Cars)

Just when everyone thought that the honeymoon suite was free of the wedding ghosts, the bride returned to seek revenge for the soul of her would be husband.

• The 3rd Dementia (Akbar's Adventure Tours)

Visions of 3-D color and light will twist together a horrible hallucination that shall deceive your eyes and torment your mind.

• Trapped In The Walls (Timbuktu Building)

The gruesome death of an innocent family made newspaper headlines when it happened. now, the dark demons that murdered the family still lurk in the walls of their old house.

• The Hunted (Nairobi Pavilion)

This Hunting lodge was burned down to cover a killer's tracks. now, it's clear that no-one will hear the screams when you become the prey.

Scare Zones

• Bone Grinders (Bridge to Stanleyville)

Evil skeletons hide behind dead bones in a haunted tunnel, eager to strip your flesh and add your bones to their grisley collection.

• Pharaoh's Revenge (Timbuktu)

These unwilling victims have been mummified alive as the evil Pharaoh Osiris gives his workers the order to give the victims their journey to the Egyptian underworld.

• Restless Death (Congo)

The forgotten residents of this Graveyard have risen to torment anyone who's foolish enough to roam through the night.

• Zombie Junction (Nairobi)

A horde of flesh eating zombies prey upon anyone that comes through Corncob Junction.

• Wicked Woods (Bird Gardens)

The fairy tale creatures from "Beware!" have now moved to the haunted Wicked Woods, continuing to make sure that no-one lives Happily Ever After.

Shows

• Fiends (Stanleyville Theatere)

Join Dr. Freakenstein and his mischievous nurses as they prepare to bring Frankenstein's Monster to life.

• Control-Alt-Deceased (Desert Grill)

When a computer nerd frames Pop-Cultures most famous faces for a murder, he finds himself stuck starring in his own show.

• The Awakening (Sultan's Tent)

Themed around the awakening of zombies from the grave.

Event Icon

There was no event icon for this year. Instead, there was a victim lying on the ground, dead, covered in blood and holding a cell phone with a grisly text message on it.

2007: A New Spin On Horror

Haunted Houses

• Catch Your Breath (Gwazi Field)

An evil motorcycle gang choses a different way to murder 13 victims each year. This year is the year of suffocation, and they have already suffocated 12 of their victims, and they have chosen you as number 13. This haunted house takes place in an old, decrepit gas station.

• Trapped In The Walls (Timbuktu Building)

The gruesome death of an innocent family made newspaper headlines when it happened. Now, the dark demons that murdered the family still lurk in the walls of their old house.

• The Hunted (Nairobi Pavilion)

This hunting lodge was burned down to cover a killer's tracks. Now, it's clear that no one will hear the screams when you become the prey.

• Radiation Alert 3-D (Former Akbar's Adventure Tours)

At a radioactive power plant, a terrible accident has caused a huge leakage in the pipes that hold the radioactive waste. You are trapped inside the building, and must use 3-D glasses to escape before getting exposed to the radioactive waste.

• Taste Of Blood (Ubanga Banga Bumper Cars)

Vampires hide in the subways and sewers, waiting to find unsuspecting victims to kill for blood.

• After Hours: Club Muse (Crown Colony Skyride Station)

Club Muse is back once again to make brand new artwork out of it's unsuspecting patrons.

Scare Zones

• Zombie Junction (Nairobi)

A horde of flesh eating zombies prey upon anyone that comes through Corncob Junction.

• Eternal Midnight (Stanleyville)

Evil spirits still roam this haunted hill, waiting for an unsuspecting person to take their place.

• Masters And Monsters (Stanleyville)

Tribal masters pit huge, killer monsters against each other in fights to the death. this game is death for anyone who gets caught in it.

• Pharaoh's Revenge (Timbuktu)

These unwilling victims have been mummified alive as the evil Pharaoh Osiris gives his workers the order to give the victims their journey to the Egyptian underworld.

• Wicked Woods (Land of the Dragons)

The fairy tale creatures from "Beware!" have now moved to the haunted Wicked Woods, continuing to make sure that no-one lives Happily Ever After.

Mini Zones

These much smaller free-roaming zones were not listed on park maps and primarily involved performers intermingling with guests.

• Death Jockey (Front Gate)
• Street Creeps (Morocco)
• Fountain Camou (Morocco)
• Stalk-Arounds (Timbuktu)
• Bird Garden Camou (Bird Gardens)

Shows

• Fiends (Stanleyville Theater)

Join Dr. Freakenstein and his mischievous nurses as they prepare to bring Frankenstein's Monster to life.

• Freak Show 2007 (Marrakesh Theater)

Live Freakish performers come together in an all new show hosted by the evil Professor Black.

• Sweet Dreams (Desert Grill)

The Master and Mistress of nightmares fight for control of the body of an unsuspecting sleeping person, creating a show filled with music, dancing, special effects and a few unexpected surprises.

Event Icon

The Death Jockey, an evil DJ who killed his victims with burning lights and earsplitting music; his exploits were chronicled in comic book form on , the website for 2007's event.

2008: Raven Twins Bad Twin. Worse Twin. (Not All Nightmares Happen When You Sleep)

History

Preparation for the 2008 year event began in late 2007. In December 2007, the website page for the 2007 event was replaced by a small page showing the Howl-O-Scream logo in front of red symbols and reading "If you think the Death Jockey had his audience captivated, Wait until next year!". This page remained on the website until June 13th, 2008, when a new page was released wishing readers a "Happy Friday the 13th" and detailing in a short summary how the event would become more scarier and grislier then previously. It also included a calendar displaying the year's dates for the event. In mid-July 2008, the site was updated again, this time having the events synoposis shortened slightly, and including an option to buy tickets and a link for scare actor auditions, along with usual Privacy Policy and Terms of Use links which appear at the bottom of most Busch Entertainment websites. In August 2008, the website was given a link showing Howl-O-Scream ticket options. The site was completely updated on August 30, including complete listings of the event's attractions, though it is intended for ages over 18.

Summary

FOR 17 SELECTED NIGHTS, HOWL-O-SCREAM 2008 DOUBLES THE HORROR AT BUSCH GARDENS TAMPA WITH TWO TWINS YOU’LL DIE TO MEET. THE DEVIOUS CREATURES LURKING IN ALL-NEW HOUSES SCARE ZONES AND THRILLING LIVE SHOWS WILL GET YOUR PULSE POUNDING, AND BONE-CHILLING ROLLER COASTERS TO KEEP THE SCREAMS COMING ALL NIGHT LONG.

Haunted Houses

• After Hours: Last Call (Crown Colony Skyride Station)

It’s last call at Club Muse, and your party is over. When the lights come up at the end of the night, you’ll see who has been lurking in the shadows, waiting to welcome you beyond the velvet rope and turn your V.I.P. night into R.I.P. forever.

• Trapped in the Walls (Timbuktu Building)

The gruesome fate of an innocent family made headlines when it happened. Years later, evil still lingers in the rooms where the tragedies happened. It has seeped into the walls, trapping dark demons and infesting a house that can’t let go of its horrible history.

• Eat Your Heart Out (Grawzi Event Yard)

Each October, The Messengers come out of hiding to seek out 13 unlucky victims, who are tracked down and tortured according to an annual theme. In 2008, the gang feasts on flesh, and they have already claimed 12 lives. Pray that 13 is not your unlucky number.

• Taste of Blood (Ubanga Banga Bumper Cars)

Once revered as undead royalty, vampires have now been forced underground into the subways and sewers to avoid the light. By day, they feed on rats to survive. But as night falls, the horde takes to the streets to seduce fresh blood.

• Death Row: Vengeance (Nairobi Pavilion)

The inmates at Grey Echo Penitentiary are slated for execution, and they blame you. With their last breath, they curse those who do nothing to save them from the electric chair or lethal injection and vow to haunt those who watched them suffer. Will you make it out alive when they come back to make good on their dying promise?

• Reconstruction: The Doctor is In (Former Akbar's Adventure Tours)

Dr. Edger VonAngst has the skill and technology to rebuild you…but what will you become? This mad reconstructive surgeon has set up shop, putting human parts back together with mechanical pieces and combining flesh, bone and steel in the most hideous ways. Nip/Tuck was never like this!

Shows

• Fiends (Stanleyville Theater)

Is there a doctor in the house? These captivating creatures of the night will infect you with dance fever and keep your pulse pounding with their deranged dance party. But when Dr. Freakenstein’s naughty nurses start operating, the diagnosis is always “code pink.”

• One Wild Night (Desert Grill)

When a young couple breaks into an abandoned wax museum to steal the perfect costumes, they find themselves at the mercy of the true spirits of Halloween. With “Trick” and “Treat” as their witching-hour escorts, the couple soon learns that it only takes one wild night to change your life forever.

• Killer Klownz (Marakesh Theater)

All the world loves a clown, but these bloodthirsty bozos are a different breed… and they want you to join them. Just try to escape as the Killer Klownz reach out into the audience to draw you into their sinister spectacle and turn you into one of their own.

Scare Zones

• Wicked Woods (Bird Gardens)

In this grim fairy tale, you’ll never live happily ever after. The trees reach out to grab you, and the hideous creatures that hide in their bewitched branches are starting to get hungry. You’d better move quick… your “once upon a time” is about to run out.

• Eternal Midnight (Stanleyville)

As the bells of the clock tower chime never-ending midnight, ghostly mourners and angry souls roam among tombstones, searching for eternal rest. The only way to be released from this earthly purgatory is to find an unsuspecting guest to take their place – trapped on this haunted hill ‘til the end of time.

• Zombie Junction (Nairobi)

When Marie de la Mort came to town, she brought with her a dark plague that poisoned the townspeople as they slept. But the dead didn’t stay buried for long. Now, this little town is overrun with hordes of flesh-eating ghouls who prey upon anyone unlucky enough to wander into Corncob Junction.

• Roaming Hordes (Parkwide)

New in 2008, you never know where your next scare is preparing to pounce. Just when you thought you were safe, Howl-O-Scream doubles the horror with roaming hordes of clowns, zombies, monsters and more taking their terror to the streets and sneaking up on unsuspecting victims. Who's watching your back?

Event Icon

The Raven Twins, two female twins who were born siamese connected by the face, but separated themselves when they were called "freaks" by the man they both loved. They then became twisted serial killers who murder anyone unlucky to see their disfigured faces.

See also

• Busch Gardens Africa
• Howl-O-Scream
• Howl-O-Scream (Williamsburg)
• Howl-O-Scream (San Antonio)
• Halloween Horror Nights (Orlando) (a Universal Studios equivalent)

External links

• Official site for the 2008 event
• Official site for Howl-O-Scream 2007
• 2002 Website
• 2003 Website
• Haunted Attraction Magazine Article