Of Roller Coasters and Horror Attractions

By Chris Kullstroem

Pictured: Six Flags New England holds Fright Fest every September and October, creating a Halloween enthusiast/coaster fanatic’s dream of haunted houses and thrill rides.

For many of us Halloween enthusiasts, one of the greatest aspects of Halloween is the thrill of the haunt. Haunted houses, horror theme parks and other awesome after-dark events bring chills and thrills that you just can’t get anywhere else. But why is it that not everyone rushes in line to get to these types of attractions? There are even some Halloween enthusiasts out there won’t come close to them.

The excitement of horror is very similar to the excitement of being on a roller coaster. It can be seen how well the two go together when major theme parks hold Halloween events such as Fright Fest and Halloween Horror Nights. The parks fill with all types to celebrate the season with the tallest vertical drops and the scariest of haunted houses. More often than not, those who love one love the other, and those who stray from one stray from both, and for the same reasons.

The main aspect of roller coasters and horror attractions that make them unlike anything else is the thrill of the rush. The adrenaline brought out in the anticipation of the unknown that just can’t be found in every day life.

Adrenaline is a hormone released in the presence of a high-tense situation. Rocketing through the air and running from a psycho killer with a chainsaw are two situations that definitely fit into this category. Adrenaline is a kind of built-in safety device, a sudden burst of energy to help us get the hell out of a place, fast. Adrenaline is also released in situations that the body only believes to be dangerous, even though realistically we know we’re quite safe. Roller coasters and horror attractions are not really life-threatening (or no more so than cars, bikes, or crossing the street), but the body doesn’t know that. This burst of released adrenaline gives a natural high, which is why so many crave the big thrills.