So this is it.  The hardest single part of our Halloween Haunt coverage.  This is the part where we say our thank yous and I bring this party to a close until we meet again.  Even when the Haunt coverage goes on much longer than I expected it would (life is always funny that way), it does make me sad to have nothing more to add except goodbye.

2004 was a banner year for us at the Scary Farm; it was our 10th Anniversary and in celebration of that, we shot footage of all mazes - something we haven't been able to do for years here for various reasons.  We also were awarded a very special trophy at the annual Haunt awards ceremony for our dedication to Halloween Haunt and the coverage we give the event each year here on Theme Park Adventure.  While it was a very special moment for me personally, the trophy really is for everyone we know and work with.  Without the support of Knott's Berry Farm and its employees (that's you, monsters), there is no way this coverage would ever be possible.  Nor would it be possible if it weren't for the tremendous enthusiasm of our readers around the world who come to this site to see the images and video year after year.

We were the first to bring Halloween Haunt to the Internet - and each year, I am very proud to pioneer forward with more video, more images and more features than anyone else out there.  There is no secret - we are in love with Haunt and we adore the monsters and friends we've made through our coverage over the years.  No one knows more intimately how amazing the monsters are; it is a massive, amazing family, full of drama, love and enough laughter to last a lifetime and get us all through the heartache associated with the real world, outside of the fog and black walls of the mazes.

Though I have attended Halloween Haunt since '81 (a date that is still disputed - it's either '81 or '82 - either way, I've been going for a hell of a long time), I have to say that when I get on the airplane or hop into the car to come down from San Francisco to begin our annual Haunt coverage, I am a kid again.  My heart races faster and I find that I have no appetite; I just have one thought on my mind - getting to Buena Park and getting on with it!  By the time I come to Southern California, I have watched all of the mazes being built via the Internet (which we share with you guys and gals now as part of our coverage), I have known usually for months what to expect from the coming event in the way of mazes, shows and scare zones and I have chatted with Haunt monsters all year.  I know when slider practice is taking place, I am invited to get-togethers (which is always flattering) and always have to decline because I live so far away now.  Halloween Haunt is a year-round event for me, both personally and professionally.

And it's the personal aspect that keeps me going.  I've made many acquaintances and a handful of very special friends from Knott's.  These are the people I confide in, laugh with and keep in close contact all year.  My relationship with some of these individuals is not uncommon; the men and women that make up the entire Haunt crew are all intertwined like this with each other.  So when something happens - like a death in the Haunt family or a newborn baby - it is cause for reaction on a large scale.  That is what makes Haunt special; it is not gallons of paint or smelly old costumes - it's a huge, beautiful group of friends getting together each year to put on an amazing show of force.

Yes - as we say every year, it was an amazing show, indeed.  Yeah, there are a few problems here and there - but overall, nothing beats Halloween Haunt, which is why we look forward to it year-round and dedicate so much space, time and effort to it here on TPA.

We feel like VIPs when we come to Haunt each year.  The love TPA is shown - from hugs to thumbs-up as we go through the mazes... all of that stuff is fantastic and we appreciate the enthusiasm.  However, we're just like anyone else coming through the Main Entrance; we want to be entertained, scared and we come each year to admire all that is the Scary Farm.  I was just lucky enough to be writing about Haunt when I was all those years ago when a small group of Ghost Town Streets monsters took me in and made me an honorary "monster" - free to move in their circles and become part of the family.

That is something that means the world to me - and it is by far, the most special aspect of working this beast called Theme Park Adventure.  TPA's opened a lot of doors for my staff and me over the years and we have met some amazing people along the way.  But through TPA, I have gained a family - and I cherish that each and every day.

Rick West and some of the gals workin' it in Ghost Town.

In all of this mushiness, there are thanks that need to be made.  First, Theme Park Adventure wishes to thank Jack Falfas and his executive staff at Cedar Fair.  Without Jack's support, we'd not be able to move about the Scary Farm so freely bringing all that we do to our readers.  His friendship and professional support mean everything to us; when you thank me or TPA for the coverage we provide, you're also thanking Jack, because he's the man with the stop/go sign that is always on "GO!" when it comes to our annual requests.

In that same breath, I want to thank Susan Tierney-Dust, who has been a friend and avid supporter of ours for years now.  She is the gate keeper at Knott's and Susan's always held that gate open for us each year - she knows how much it means to us to be welcomed into the fold like this and we strive each and every year to do her and the Knott's P.R. management team proud.

A special thanks also goes out to Charles Bradshaw, who oversees the Entertainment aspect of the Scary Farm.  Charles is always supportive and always open to us and our readers.  He is a great guy and awesome friend to all Theme Park Adventure readers for allowing us in.

Next up is Craig Harreld, a Halloween Haunt legend himself and now part of the management team that does such a wonderful job overseeing the Streets monsters each season.  Craig's always open to us and is very cool with Theme Park Adventure and its readers - he knows that when we attend Haunt with cameras in hand, everyone in Internet land that comes to our site is also attending.  We feel very fortunate to know Craig and we give him ultimate respect for the role he has played personally in shaping Halloween Haunt.  He's got a difficult task, considering he was once a prominent Streets monster himself and now serves each year as a "yellow shirt," which automatically makes him the target of management swipes from fellow employees when things get bumpy throughout each run.  Craig rises above that however and does the best he can, understanding the big picture of what Haunt is and needs to be going forward year after year.  We applaud Craig and always love bumping into him as we navigate the fog of the Scary Farm - and he always has time for TPA.

A special thanks and nod goes out to other members of Knott's management who seem to know us, even though we can't always remember names as we pass by and say hello each night we're at the Scary Farm.  Management always seems happy to have us, even though there are times when we may seem at odds with them in our reviews or views of certain aspects of Haunt.

Shea Foley and Julie Selva.

No Halloween Haunt would be complete without a BIG nod to our friend Jeff Tucker, who is a force of nature himself.  A talented writer and entertainer, Jeff busts his butt each year to make Halloween Haunt as special as possible - be it a show or maze soundtrack or absolutely nasty lines in The Hanging - Jeff is always "on" and always thinking of great ways to add to the Scary Farm.  This past season, he appeared as Tommy Tomb and met the public eye-to-eye.  Likely, no one knew as they watched Tommy Tomb perform in the Tiki Lounge of Terror that this was the same guy who has worked endless hours for years recording maze soundtracks, Blood Light commercials and who has contributed so much to The Hanging and all other aspects of the Scary Farm.  Jeff's a good pal and a hell of an asset to Knott's.  He's a face we love to see in the fog each year!

At the same time, we extend thanks to Adam Hankinson.  He's a digital wizard who is there when it comes to show mixing, soundtrack recording and general Haunt chaos on a large scale.  Adam's a hard-working guy who always has time for TPA (either that or he fakes it really well - either way, we love him).  Major props to Adam - whenever we know he's on a particular project, we have no doubt that it will be quality stuff.  Adam's another hard-working madman who makes Haunt what it is and we give him huge props.

Finally, while on the Entertainment side of things, we have to give high praise to our dear friend, Ken Parks (a.k.a. Doctor Cleaver), one of the most amazing writers and funniest damn people I have ever met.  He pens The Hanging (and directs it occasionally), does voice work for Haunt and is a very hard-working guy not just at Knott's but elsewhere throughout the entertainment industry.  Knott's is always lucky to have Ken - and the fans are even luckier.  Whether he returns to Haunt in 2005 as the good Dr. Cleaver or in any other capacity - all we care about is that he does return; the Scary Farm without Ken wouldn't be the same.  We love this guy!

HUGE props going out to the Haunt designers, painters and builders - first there is a vision, then that vision is carried out with sweat and love.  Then, the masses get to play.  Everyone involved on the back end - you rock so hard!

Getting into thanking monsters individually is a very slippery slope, because inevitably, I will forget someone - you know how that goes.  Let me just say that those monsters who have befriended us and welcome us with open arms each year truly make Halloween Haunt an extra-special event for us.  Whenever we walk into Haunt for the first time each October (or September, depending on when we attend), it feels like a genuine homecoming for us.  It's a reunion of friends - some who we only get to see once a year.  That is always tremendous to us - we cherish each of you.

A special thanks goes out this year to everyone's favorite Bastard, Bill Coleman, who supplied Theme Park Adventure with many awesome images this year for our 2004 coverage.  His unique style and awesome lens truly added a new dimension to our image galleries and we applaud him for his assistance.

And a special thanks going out to our Whispers in the Fog 2004 crew; even those who dropped out along the way.  It's a very tough road to travel - those who make it to the finish line are given mucho props by TPA and our readers for their endurance and amazing effort!  Props to all who participated.

Finally on the Knott's side of things, I want to extend a personal thanks to our dear friend and annual media escort, Kevin Horton.  Each year, he takes us (and all of you) through the mazes and the darkness so that we may shed light on what Haunt is all about every season.  He's a trooper and his support for Theme Park Adventure both inside and outside of Haunt is awesome.  We are the lucky ones to have Kevin on board as a friend and now as a TPA Staff Member to help out for the rest of the year.

Everyone's favorite mix master, Adam Hankinson.

Speaking of support, I have to end this roll-out of gratitude to my staff and family.  Shea Foley does a kick-ass job each year shooting images, video and putting together special projects for us like the annual Screamy Awards video.  He is first-rate all the way and Theme Park Adventure is blessed to have him aboard.  His enthusiasm for Halloween Haunt has grown each year and with every passing Haunt run, he gets better and better with the videos and overall content of our coverage; he is truly awesome and a dear friend.  Shea will also be responsible for the back end work on our Halloween Haunt coverage DVDs, which at the time of this writing, are being discussed with Knott's management.  More on that in a moment.  Shea is a razor-sharp editor and video wizard; he is one of the true faces of Theme Park Adventure - when you sit there loving the Screamy Awards, remember that he worked long and hard to put them together for us.  He's a good man and I wouldn't want anyone else at my side running this madhouse!

Julie Selva is Shea's long-time girlfriend and she doubles as TPA's grip from time to time.  She is a super trooper as well and never complains about the long hours we put in at Haunt.  Her enthusiasm keeps us going and her laughter is a fantastic boost when we're tired and sore.  Plus come on - not many sites have such pretty ladies working with them on the Net - we're double-blessed around here!

The rest of my staff - Scott, Carol, Dez, Aly, Trish, Kevin, Angel and Bill all keep a watchful eye over the site and our Message Board year-round and their enthusiasm for TPA is awesome.  Considering how small the pay is around here (okay, there is no pay), their endless support is amazing to me - and their patience with my morbid fascination with the Scary Farm is even more appreciated than they will ever know!

Last but not least, is my own family.  My wife, Venus, is very patient with me.  Those who have "Haunt widows" at home know what I am talking about here - sometimes, it can get ugly, but in the end, she knows I love this and is supportive of the effort I make each year to cover the event.

While she doesn't really know or understand it yet, I also thank my little girl, Emily, for being patient and good while daddy is out of town every year for a week "on business" in Buena Park.  One of these days, it will be my very proud duty to introduce her to the Haunt family - but until then, she remains a very good little girl while I am away.  She is also very good about leaving daddy alone while he is "working" on his Haunt coverage - she is very good about running to my desk, pointing and screaming, "MONSTER!" as I work on our images and reviews.  Sooner than I will be ready, she'll be roaming the Farm with her own group of friends, pointing into the fog and screaming, "MONSTER!"  Heh - only imagine the bubble bursting when the ferocious beast lunges from the fog and says, "Oh, hey, Em!  How are you?"  The woes of being the next generation of TPA...

Currently, the question of videos going forward is in flux as we flesh everything - all of the boring and nasty legalities - with Knott's management.  Regardless of whether or not Theme Park Adventure will be allowed to move forward with our DVDs as planned, you have my absolute promise that this company will continue to blaze the trail of Halloween Haunt coverage in whatever form necessary to keep you all coming back year after year.

We will not ever settle for second best around here and always have you in mind - because without our readers, there is no reason for TPA to exist; period.

Going forward, there will be small videos from Haunt; the size is what's a concern for our service provider (hey, it's a good thing that our Haunt videos are so popular).  The images will continue to be better and better as we move forward.  And we're always working on new and exciting ways to make Theme Park Adventure the premiere Haunt destination on the Internet.

Rick and long-time pal Vince Carrillo - once upon a time known as "Spike the Werewolf" in Ghost Town.

And so, after what has felt like an endless but heartfelt ramble, it is now my duty to lower the curtain on this 2004 coverage of Halloween Haunt...

The wind subsides and the Farm lies silent.  The fog has retreated and the monsters lurk only in our memories.  Yet, there is a strange feeling in the air - a dark, heavy sensation that we're not alone.  As we close our eyes and stand very still, we can feel hot breath on the back of our necks and we know that when we open our eyes, for a split second, we'll come face-to-face with our deepest fears.

Halloween Haunt has come and gone - and our coverage of the 2004 event has carried on much longer than planned, thanks to life's little bumps.  In the end however, it's worked out well for our readers who come to TPA for their off-season Scary Farm fix.  For this time, rather than months of waiting, Theme Park Adventure's 2005 coverage of Knott's Halloween Haunt is just around the corner.  Only a couple of weeks away, to be specific.

So I assure you, dear children - monsters do exist.  They may not be stalking guests in Ghost Town right now or lurking in the depths of the Mine Train.  But they are here, amongst us just the same - and I've been a bad boy, plotting and planning with them for months now (in some cases for more than a year) about our 2005 coverage.

In closing, I will leave you with this thought: they are all more than ready for you.  They are more than ready for TPA.  And when the summer gives way to Autumn and the breeze once again begins to caress the buildings of Ghost Town, all Hell is going to break loose - and you can bet we'll be there to capture it for you all once again...

Rick West

The one and only Craig Harreld!

Okay, you've GOTTA love the kid in a STRYPER shirt!  How awesome is that?

TPA friends Ken and Kori Pellman and Rachel Miller come out to play!

Glenn Schmidt and Julie Schmidt join TPA for a night of nastiness!

Industry designer and good pal Bob Baranick, who also comes to Haunt several times each year, pausing in Ghost Town for a rest-in-peace.

Rick and Shea, doing what we love most!  Gettin' our Haunt on!

Gotta give love and respect to the outdoor vending folks!

Tommy Tomb (a.k.a. Jeff Tucker) and Rick West.

Rick, Frank Maciel and Ken Parks backstage at Dr. Cleaver's Psycho Circus.

Shea, Rick and our dear friend/official Haunt escort Kevin Horton.

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