Fear Fest faces backlash over unreturned refunds after fire code shutdown
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Despite never opening its doors due to a failed fire inspection, multiple people say they have yet to receive a refund from Fear Fest Haunted House in Columbia.
Columbia’s Fear Fest Haunted House made an official announcement on Oct. 31 stating that it was not possible to open this season and that refunds were being processed in bunches.
After racking up 15 safety violations during the Boone County Fire Protection District's annual inspection, the 2024 Halloween season marked the first time Fear Fest has been unable to open its attractions during its 20-plus-year history.
“Obviously a fire hazard, when it comes to the extension cords and how they're being attached to the wooden portions of the structures. But there are also electrical hazards in the fact that we had prayed cracked, weathered extension cords that were attached to metal paneling or metal bars that created a maze of sorts, even outside,” Boone County Fire Protection District Assistant Chief Gale Blomenkamp said.
Columbia resident Lisa Bradley said that she purchased tickets for Fear Fest for her children after attending the year before.
“I took my three daughters because it's around my daughter's birthday and we loved it. It was so much fun,” Bradley said. “That's why we wanted to go back.”
Bradley purchased three tickets for $158 and intended to go during the first week of October. However, she said unlike the previous year it appeared that the only option to purchase tickets was online.
Fear Fest made five separate posts on social media announcing that it had to delay opening before finally announcing it was unable to operate this year on Halloween night.
The group later commented that it was working on refunding everyone who had messaged them. However, people say that many of those messages went unanswered. Bradley said that Fear Fest initially kept trying to make things right, but delays continued to pile up.
“I was shocked and it said they were going to try to open the next day and that they would honor our tickets and upgrade us to the top chain, I guess, to where you can be touched,” Bradley said. “ I was like ‘OK, I’m happy with that.’”
Annalisa Geger told ABC 17 News that she spent $200 on tickets, but did not receive a response when she asked for a refund. Bradley reached out in November and said Fear Fest responded asking what email address she used to purchase the tickets. That was the last message she received.
“To not hear anything is frustrating,” Bradley said. “I don't expect to see that money back.”
Boone County Fire completed an initial inspection of the property in late September. After failing the inspection, Fear Fest announced that opening night, which was set for the first weekend in October, would be pushed back to Oct. 11, due to “unexpected electrical issues.”
After the initial inspection, Blomenkamp said they pointed some things out to Bill Schnell, who was listed as the contact for the property.
The county required Schnell to pull a permit based on some of the observations noted the department. Boone County Fire returned five days later and still found multiple violations.
Seven violations were related to emergency exits, with the inspector finding emergency exits obstructed, not well marked, and one exit opening inward, increasing the risk of attendees being stuck in an emergency scenario.
Four violations focused on risks during an emergency situation. The inspector found that there were not enough fire extinguishers, there was no key box for first responders to use during an emergency, and that the building itself is older and more susceptible to fire.
Three violations broke electrical safety codes, with the building's electrical box being difficult to access, the electrical room was not marked, and extension chords were being used inside in place of permanent wiring.
“We gave them ample time. The ball was in his court to get the plans submitted to get the permits. We just identified the things that needed to be done,” Blomenkamp said. “I really think he was not expecting the violation notices or the violations to be as severe as they were. And unfortunately, he would tell you nothing has changed over the years. And I would tell you, you're right, nothing has changed over the year. Therefore, things become worse and worse and worse.”
ABC 17 tried to get in contact with Schnell, but his email address was no longer valid.
