Five haunted houses.

Nine scare zones.

And one of them is not on the map.

More freaky fun at Busch Garden’s Howl-O-Scream.

It’s where the Tampa Bay area’s most outlandish minds come together for a fear-fest of theme park proportions.

Heading up this year’s event— Chloe Newman.

“All of these ideas come from collaboration with my co-workers,” said Newman. “I absolutely love working with them. There’s so much creativity that we each bring to the table. And it results in amazing haunted houses like this.”

The haunted house Newman is standing in front of is the newest on at the park’s marquis event—Stranglewood Estates.

What’s in there?

“A lot of ghosts,” said Newman, smiling. “The lady of the house Miss Stranglewood killed all of the workers in the house, and they’ve never left, and they are waiting for their revenge Newman.

The dilapidated house looks like it was once a beautiful estate.

A pale-faced, red-eyed, undead butler beckons you into a darkened foyer with a once-grand flower arrangement.

You round a corner and you can see the ceiling falling in and a small ghost in white.

It doesn’t seem like it should be scary.

Oh but it is.

Paintings in the hallway reveal screaming undead.

And when you get to the vine covered bookcases, don’t look left.

Just don’t.

There is some creepy brick-walled hallways with flicking lights.

I got a little dizzy here—maybe I blacked out with fear?

And when you get to the sitting room—don’t look right—just keep walking.

The kitchen comes next—the cooks in the kitchen are waiting to frighten you.

And whatever creature is around the corner that says, “Stay with Us!” is completely veiled somehow.

And full-on creepy.

Escaping is a relief.

But the thing I can’t help noticing is how gleeful all the Howl-O-Scream workers are.

They’ve accomplished their goals—upsetting someone to tears.

Huzzah!