Halloween Hacks for Devising a Devilish Dodgem

John Prast with Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s entertainment department offers these tips when converting a ride into a haunted attraction:

• Bring the entertainment, operations, and maintenance departments together to have an open discussion about safety and expectations. 
• Keep an open mind. “Don’t be afraid to try something different,” Prast says. Previously, Busch Gardens shuttered the “Ubanga-Banga” dodgem each fall in favor of converting the structure into a traditional haunted house. 
• Mix up characters. In recent years, clowns and zombies have successfully infested the dodgem during “Howl-O-Scream.” In 2019, creepy campers from an unfriendly campground will interact with guests.
• Halloween is meant to be fun not taxing. “Don’t be afraid to fail a couple of times,” Prast says of testing new concepts.