Cydney Neil:

For nearly three decades, Utah has had some of the largest and most elaborate haunted houses in the country. In the last 14 years, Cydney Neil, producer of the highly successful Rocky Point Haunted House has capitalized on this tradition with attractions in both Salt Lake City and Ogden, Utah. One of only a few women owner/operators in the Haunted Attraction business, Cydney has been able make a full time living from the Rocky Point Haunted Houses.

With amazing growth over the past twenty years, the Rocky Point Haunted Houses have been widely recognized by the media and the Utah Halloween fans who visit the attractions each October in every increasing numbers. Traditionally, Halloween attractions have lacked a certain credibility in the 'real' business world, but through the years Cydney has built a strong reputation based on first rate productions. With credentials that include a long list of impressive sponsors, annual attendance figures of more than 70,000, and over $350,000 in contributions to local charities, Cydney is now recognized as one of the top businesswomen in the state.

While being very rewarding creatively, the Rocky Point attractions require a great deal of work. Each of the two Rocky Point venues are 45,000 square feet, and from June through the end of November each year, Cydney is known to put in twenty hours per day, seven days per week on the two events. "I have lost a whole lot of hair to this business… lack of sleep I guess!"

The real pay back for Cydney comes in being able to do something she loves that is creative, fulfilling, and so much fun. "Even though it feels like I have run a marathon when it is finally over, the rewards make up for all of it." Cydney attributes her creativity to her father, Scott Crabtree, a successful entrepreneur and artist. Scott's crowning achievement was the design and construction of the building known as Rocky Point, a local landmark from which the Rocky Point Haunted House takes its name. "My father took a hill covered with rocks and turned it into one of the state's best known buildings, with every inch built by hand and filled with original sculpture and artwork." Similarly, Cydney takes a vacant building and creates within it a haunted house, which Halloween enthusiasts certainly consider works of frightful art.

Like any attraction of this size, the Rocky Point Haunted Houses are not a one-woman show. Her brother, Neil Crabtree, started the Rocky Point Haunted House in 1979 as a small fund-raiser for his church group. "Neil and I work very closely designing, building and managing the events. He is such a big part of these shows, (that) I would never want to try to do them without him." Cydney who has produced the show since 1981, cannot give enough credit to her costume designers, make-up artists, casting directors and the thousands of people who have worked as actors over the years for making the show what it is today.

She credits the increased quality of the set construction in recent years to Bart Cox, Rocky Point's construction coordinator, who has over 5 years experience building sets for film and television, and Chris Hanson, a Hollywood make-up artist with 30 films to his credit, who designs all of the Rocky Point make up. Jennifer Richerson implements the costume designs for the show and Fran Pryun is the director of casting. Cydney also has been blessed with the generosity from her many friends in the Hollywood special effects business. Steve Johnson of EFX, Greg Nicotero and Howard Berger of KNB FX Group, Alec Gilles and Tom Woodruff of Amalgamated Dynamics, all of whom have provided actual props from Horror and Science Fiction movies for her to use in the Rocky Point shows.

One thing the Rocky Point Haunted Houses pride themselves on is attention to detail. The entire experience is that of stepping into a giant movie set, complete with elaborate props, realistic sound effects, professional lighting, custom designed costumes, and a scare around every corner. Tony Timpone, editor of Fangoria magazine, who visited her haunts for the first time in 1999, could not think of one thing he would change about the shows, "They are perfect just like they are." Quite a compliment from a person who has been around the horror business nearly his whole life, and who now travels the country critiquing haunted houses.

Another key factor in the success of Cydney's shows is the acting staff. Rocky Point is a very actor-intensive show, utilizing very few animations. On any given night there are 75 to 100 actors in costume and makeup in both Salt Lake and Ogden. To keep this large volunteer crew enthused and punctual, Cydney has set up a very successful actor incentive program. Actors are treated like family, which creates camaraderie among the cast and crew. "I have purposely set up a program and established a place where anyone is welcome and everyone is accepted as part of our team," explains Cydney, who believes many of the people who get involved with her show have had little acceptance in the outside world and few opportunities to exercise their talents in a positive environment. "They come here and just flourish." Cydney says with pride, "I have seen so many people's lives change as a result of their involvement in our productions." The 'team spirit' between people from so many different age groups, ethnic backgrounds and economic situations is surprising. These 'life changing' experiences are a part of haunting that few people can fully appreciate unless they are involved in it themselves.

A former fashion model and beauty make-up artist, Cydney's early career had little to do with Halloween or horror. "It certainly seems an unlikely path for me, and one I never dreamed I would pursue." Unlike many haunters who have loved Halloween all their lives and grew up staging haunted houses in their garages, Cydney had dreamed of a different life journey. "I don't remember being much of a fan of Halloween as a child, although I did love The Addams Family and The Munsters," recalls Cydney, "and I always stayed up late on Friday night to get scared by Nightmare Theater." She does recall as youngsters, her and her brother setting up a 'haunted hall' in an upstairs hallway in her family home. The hall was lined with closets and built-in bookshelves with doorways onto several bedrooms. "From there we could jump out and scare each other. We had six children in our family so we had a built in cast!" recalls Cydney, "When I think back, I guess there were some seeds planted, but haunting certainly wasn't my passion as it is for so many people in this business."

Instead, Cydney originally charted her course for a career in fashion. While not directly related to Haunted Attractions, her other pursuits provided skills and a good business sense that would later prove invaluable. "At various times, I had my own businesses and assisted my father with his, where I learned accounting, sales and public relations. I produced large fashion-entertainment shows, where I developed skills in production, set design, marketing, sponsorship programs and fund-raising." explains Cydney, who also worked as a make-up artist and a clothing designer. "While I thought that the beauty and fashion industry would be my life, I have learned that life doesn't always head in the direction you thought it would or think it should." Cydney believes that when life provides unexpected forks in the road, that they should be followed. All the while learning from the new direction and the challenges that we are faced with. "Though I never planned to use my skills to produce Halloween shows, I got involved with my brother's annual haunted houses, and I found that I had nearly every skill I needed to make such a business successful." This unexpected change of course sent Cydney on a journey she doesn't regret.

"When I first got involved in the haunted attractions industry, I felt very different from all the other, mostly male, attendees at the Halloween shows. They all seemed to be completely immersed in the world of haunting and horror, while I found it awkward to even tell people what I did for a living," describes Cydney. "For years I began each Halloween season with the idea that it would be my last, only to find myself coming back and the shows continuing to grow year after year." Her life experience has taught her that "If you apply yourself, you can create something you can be proud of, which can be fulfilling to yourself and rewarding for others." 

Cydney feels that she was fortunate to have been given the opportunity, and through the years has learned to love Halloween, an incredibly fun holiday, when people can just let go and escape from reality for awhile. "I feel fortunate to have been able to meet so many wonderful and talented people in this business, people I no longer feel different from, but share so much with."

So what is next for the 40 year old haunting workaholic? First off, as the shows continue to grow, producing both of the Rocky Point Haunted Houses is getting to be too much. The twenty-hour days are getting longer, and Cydney says she only has so much more hair to lose. Plans are well under way for the sale of the Ogden attraction, so that Cydney can then concentrate on the Salt Lake City show. And as far as her long range plans, she trusts that life will provide the answer in the form of new challenges, new opportunities, and new direction for the rest of her journey. And why not, that plan of action has served her pretty well to this point.