Trail of Terror: Walk or run through new haunt at Margaritaville at Lake Lanier

Bizarre butchers, crazed clowns and psychotic pirates; Halloween is here!

The Atlanta area embraces the horror holiday with haunted houses, Halloween parties and costume contests.

I ventured out to an old attraction in a new home: the Trail of Terror.

“This year we have 12 scenes going; anywhere from clown scenes to lake scenes, to butcher scenes, to pirate bar scenes,” Matthew Miller from the Trail of Terror told WSBTV.com’s Nelson Hicks.

Miller is the mastermind behind the haunt. He grew up a fan of Stephen King and turned his love of all things horror into a haunted house eight years ago.

This year, it moved from its former location to Margaritaville at Lake Lanier Islands.

“It’s just fun, man, getting the families together and having fun,” Miller said. “Holidays are just something so special for, I think, everybody worldwide, no matter your culture, no matter your ethnicity, where you’re from. It’s fun to get out there with your family, get out with your friends and enjoy the festivities.”

Haunt visitors wind through the Trail of Terror right next to Lake Lanier. They’ll encounter dozens of live actors across those 12 scenes.

“We love the human scare, the element of surprise. That, to us, is the scariest thing,” Miller said.

By day, Miller owns a nearby hair salon. So, he and his fellow actors take pride in the hair and makeup of those who call the Trail of Terror home.

For Halloween week, the haunt is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

“On Saturday night, we’ve got a full costume contest; we have live music from Electric Gemini, as well as fireworks,” Miller said.

Guests who purchase their tickets online can avoid the $20 Lake Lanier Islands entry fee.

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