September 24, 2004 > The Pirates Are Back and Better Than Ever!

by Linda Stone

One of California's premier haunted attractions, the Pirates of Emerson, now in their 13th year, is back! This year's spine-tingling thrills promise to surpass all previous episodes of terror in celebration of this auspicious anniversary. Those afflicted with triskadekaphobia.should be wary and proceed to this event with supreme caution since these swashbucklers consider the number 13 as special and will be particularly active this year.

Voted one of the top thirteen haunts in the country by Hauntworld Magazine, this is no ordinary haunted house. It is a high tech adventure worthy of its location in Silicon Valley, with an interactive environment full of special effects. Animated robotics promise to scare even the most experienced haunted house aficionados. And this year they have added 5,000 square feet of haunt!

"We redo everything every year. If you came last year, you wouldn't recognize it," said Carl Fields, creator of the event. This year the pirates have many new and exciting technical marvels. An imposing 14-foot tall, animated pirate talks and moves while sitting atop the front entry to greet arriving visitors.

A new maze called the Spider Web - twice the size of last year's maze - promises to be more confusing and disorienting than ever before. The Dark Adventure is an incredible interactive experience where you will find yourself mesmerized as a participant in the creepy scene. Don't miss the Pirates of the Deep 3-D and the Gauntlet of Doom. Both will leave you tales of terror to share with your friends.

Fields mentioned one new scare, giant bats! But, he says, "The rest is secret." We can only imagine what new scares await those brave enough to visit Pirates of Emerson, but they are sure to deliver the thrills and chills that you can only find in a top quality production.

The Pirates of Emerson started in the Fields' home 13 years ago. Over time, they acquired many props and scares and were so successful that they eventually were forced to find a larger place to hold the popular attraction. Today they occupy over 3 acres and are considered one of the largest haunted adventures in the Bay area.

It takes a crew of about 75 people and weeks of preparation to put on the event. Volunteers over age 16 are always welcomed and encouraged to apply for a chance to be one of the cast members. You can wear an authentic looking costume and have fun as a scary pirate, or wretched soul. You will even get some acting lessons for your part.

The Pirates of Emerson opens the first weekend in October on Saturday and Sunday the 1st and 2nd. After that they are open Wednesdays through Sundays with and additional night on Monday the 25th and Tuesday the 26th. The last night is October 31st.

Hours are 7 - 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 7 - 10 p.m. during the week. Tickets are $10 for the Main Haunt and $15 for general admission, which includes the Main Haunt, Pirates of the Deep 3-D and the Gauntlet of Doom.

This event is handicapped accessible and parking is free. It is located at 45031 Warm Springs Blvd. in Fremont. Children under the age of 13 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Due to the intense nature of this event, it is not recommended for children under 13.

For further information visit their website: www.piratesofemerson.com, or call (510) 657-2121