NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — The ringmaster at the Carnival of Carnage is coming back to haunt Niagara Falls for the second year in a row. But this isn't the first year for the Backyard of Horrors. Kyle Roberts has been scaring his neighborhood for the last seven years.
"It's just a passion project," Roberts told 2 on your side, "all the way through Halloween."
It takes years of planning to pull off an at-home haunted attraction of this size. Roberts says he started to build the carnival in April 2022. The planning stages started the year before.
"This is our final year for our carnival theme and it's our most successful one yet," Roberts added.
So what's new this year? Roberts has recorded dozens of audio tracks to scare visitors. He says the story will follow you through multiple rooms. Live actors will return again this year, and visitors will get to meet the Ringmaster.
"A lot of people really liked our Ringmaster character... The Ringmaster will welcome you in from the front, and then as you go through the midway and into the haunted house you'll go face-to-face with him, and from there he'll start guiding you through all the rooms."
You can also expect Mama Bear's Treats to return, serving up sugar cookies and 'blood' soaked popcorn. Another new addition this year is themed merchandise, "which is trick or treat bags based off of our previous years and enamel pins."
"Every two years I start a brand new theme," Roberts said, "so just to cushion it a little bit, we're looking to do some fundraising for the next theme."
You can visit the Backyard of Horrors one night only, October 31, from 4:00pm - 8:00pm. Visitors are encouraged to come after dark for the best experience.
2 on your side's Nate Benson visited the haunted house last year.