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SALT LAKE CITY -- You've probably noticed it from the freeway, an old cement factory transformed into a haunted house. This time of year, you'd expect the place to be buzzing with daring teenagers, but right now, the gates are closed.
While the Fear Factory looks ready to terrify and thrill, the city is yet to approve all of the permits so they can open for business. Every night the owners turn people away and lose thousands of dollars.
Co-owner Rob Dunfield describes the Fear Factory as an "extreme haunted attraction."
"It‘s incredible, from extreme elevations to underground tunnels, to fears of claustrophobia, to snakes and spiders, to paranormal," he said.
An ominous entrance giving all daring enough to enter a second thought, check; forced pathway through partially dug up graveyard, yep, they've got that too. They even real life ghosts.
"It was an old cement factory built in the late 1800s, and there's been, we've found old newspaper articles of factory workers who have died here," Dunfield said.
But there's one major thing missing at the Fear Factory -- the customers.
"It originally began as a dream, but in the last few months it's become a nightmare," he said.
For months, the building has been beckoning I-15 drivers, but Dunfield and his co-owners haven't been able to gain all of the necessary permits from Salt Lake City. They've put in an extensive fire alarm and sprinkler system with on-site fire hydrants, upgraded the staircases and railings, and complied with every city requirement. In all, they've spent about $4 million and counting.
It originally began as a dream, but in the last few months it's become a nightmare.
–Rob Dunfield
"Satisfying the city‘s safety issues and making sure that it is safe for the public. And I would say it is probably one of the safest places in Salt Lake City right now," Dunfield said. "We have thousands of Facebook fans, and thousands of people show up here every Friday and Saturday night wanting to come and see it and enjoy this new haunted attraction. And we have to invite them to come back next week. Hopefully we'll be open next week."
Dunfield says he hopes to get all of the final permit approvals within the next day or two. If he got approval Friday, he said he would open for business Saturday!
This is a long-term investment, a haunted house that will remain open for years to come, but they say it would sure be nice to start making money back this year. Since they're getting such a late start, they plan to stay open possibly through November.
They have a Facebook page where you can get updates on their opening date status.
E-mail: jstagg@ksl.com
