Erebus opening Sept. 25 with new virus precautions

Erebus Haunted Attraction will open for the season this Friday, Sept. 25.

The half-mile haunted house in downtown Pontiac, named the number one haunted attraction in the country last year by USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Travel Awards, will be functioning a little differently this year with new coronavirus related precautions.

There won’t be any touch related scares for patrons as actors will be required to stay at least six-feet away. They’ll be wearing face masks, required also for guests, and will have their makeup applied via airbrush to minimize contact with makeup artists, according to Erebus.

“We’ve had to modify and alter a couple things, but I don’t think guests will be able to tell the difference from a normal year here,” Edward Terebus, co-owner of Erebus, said. “We’re moving forward trying to be as safe as possible. You really should be able to go through the whole haunt this year without having to touch anything.”

Fifteen sanitizing stations will be available after every potential touch-point, like hand rails, with cleaning crews working through the night to sanitize after guests. Temperature checks will also be required at the door with a limited amount of tickets being sold every half hour.

There’s no new scenes or storylines this year due to the prolonged uncertainty this summer of if the haunt would be able to open. Instead,

the Erebus team focused on renovating makeup artist areas to promote social distancing and added improved sound equipment throughout the house. New cameras have also been installed to help crews control the flow of foot traffic.

Groups will be limited to a maximum of six people. Patrons can only walk through the haunt with the group they arrive with.

Erebus Haunted Attraction opens this Friday, Sept. 25. The haunt will also be open on Saturday, Sept. 26 and select weekends in October and November. For dates, times and ticket information visit haunted pontiac. or call 248332-7884.

“We’ve had to modify and alter a couple things, but I don’t think guests will be able to tell the difference from a normal year here.”

— Edward Terebus, co-owner of Erebus