Well. Hell.

[elionwyr]

Spookyworld's being auctioned off.

I just...there are no words.

I'm in shock.
And my heart *so* goes out to all you Spooky staff members...
:(

Comments

[crystalsage.livejournal.com]

Well that sucks. Sorry to hear that, hon.

[seidhrcat.livejournal.com]

Oh Man! And I have not had a chance to go there yet!! That sucks!!

[reaper98.livejournal.com]

Dusti.. If you only knew half the crap we do..
but I'm sure Lori filled you in on some of the
drama..

*Hugs*
-M

[ysengrin.livejournal.com]

Any public info on what happened? As somebody who's talking with a P&Z commission trying to get a haunt park approved, it's more than idle curiosity.

[dedgurl74.livejournal.com]

Well, as a manager of one of the attractions at Spooky, I can say that NONE of this has been relayed to the staff yet (!!!!)...however I found out this morning via the Hauntworld e-list. Here is Larry's post:

from Hauntworld:
I talked to David several days ago, and got the sad
news. Actually as for the industry I think we are
the first ones he told. He sent us an advertisement
about a week ago and asked if we could somehow
sqeak it into the magazine and we did...anything
for an old friend.  I didn't want to say anything,
actually I couldn't believe the ad once I saw it. 
I thought he only wanted to sell the Wax
attraction, but instead we get this ad selling the
entire show. I was in shock!  I guess I was just
hoping he'd change his mind!
David Bertolino is a good friend to me and I'm
sorry to see him go. I asked him several times if
he was sure and why. He said it wasn't about the
money, it wasn't about anything other than he's
burnt out on the whole thing. His best friend died
this past year and he's heavily involved with
Rubies and just wanted to say goodbye.
Its hard to believe thats for sure...Spookyworld
was a legend. Spookyworld created so many trends it
was un-real. Spookyworld was featured on the Jay
Leno Show, when Tiny Tim got married for a second
time.
As for the auction, I wonder how the great one
(Hanfadomas) will predict the outcome. Most
haunters are very busy in September and very short
on cash to say the least. It's not the best time
for an auction, but this auction could break the
bank. I've seen Spookyworld many times, as Dave
and I have been great freinds. I hope the auctions
works out for him.
In the meantime we've posted the actual ADVERT from
our magazine on the web incase anyone wanted all
the details.
Here is the exact URL to the full line of
information about the auction.
http://www.hauntworld.com/SpookyWorldAuction.pdf
I wish my good friend David Bertolino all the best!
Larry Kirchner

[gandryyne.livejournal.com]

I'm So Sorrrrrry! I haven't been there yet either! :(

Here's hoping a dark angel comes to Spooky's rescue!

[elionwyr.livejournal.com]

Not likely.
There's just no way that anyone can afford to save the show, keep it intact...

Some are going to try to buy some stuff as souvenirs - I know of at least two - and they have a good chance at it because it's a no reserve auction, meaning that something could be worth $10K, but if the highest bid is $20, that's what it'll go for.

:/

[gandryyne.livejournal.com]

That's Soooooooo SAD! :(

[elionwyr.livejournal.com]

(Thank you for posting this for me, dedgurl74!!)

[reaper98.livejournal.com]

Hey Dusti.. Want to know what's better.. this is the
offical notice we got.. so now it's up to the house
managers to contact all the actors.. It's a nice kick in
the a$$ if you ask me..
-M

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yes, Its true Spooky world will be closing its gates.. We would like to thank everyone for all your hard work and time that was spent in making Spookyworld a success..

David feels its time to close this chapter in his life and move on to other things. As most of you know, David is in the costume industry and was made National Sales Manager for Charades Costume Co. We all wish him the best.

As far as Bruce knowing for months he must be a psychic becuase David didn't even know himself till this past Friday... If anyone needs to know the facts and not rumors please feel free to call me at the office.

Many thanks for all that you guys have done and you all will be missed.

Robin Zagwyn

[reaper98.livejournal.com]

P.S. Is only came up after Lori contacted Berlin
after the news went public.. and Bruce the Walkaround
Manager posted on the myfamily site.. if not.. I'm
sure no one would have known or made an offical
statment..

[dedgurl74.livejournal.com]

Rob contacted Berlin....cuz I was too choked up to do it myself.

[elionwyr.livejournal.com]

I truly believe it was a sudden thing...Dave was trying to score some major advertising on HauntedHouse.com fairly recently, so I see no reason to think this was premeditated.

The official statement they're releasing is in the form of a press release put together by Haunted Attraction Magazine.

[reaper98.livejournal.com]

For me it doesn't matter if it was or not.. but I think it's
wrong that the employees need to find out from the public and
people releasing press notices in his name apposed from hearing
it from David himself.

And I don't like him using Sean as an excuse.. Sean was a nice
man.. he wasn't anything like David.. If people really knew how
David treated his employees..

oh...

[softlywhispered.livejournal.com]

NO!!! I loved spookyworld :

Re: oh...

[dedgurl74.livejournal.com]

Thank you. We loved it too. So much so I gave 5.5 years of my life to it.
*sigh*

Re: oh...

[softlywhispered.livejournal.com]

I went there when I was first married in 1993, and then again in 97 I think. I had always loved Haunted houses, and this was a whole THEME park of them. I think thats where the bug bit me.

When Busch Gardens started doing it,I had to be a part of it... I had to be a scare. I'm sad that this year I won't be able to participate, due to Disney owning my soul. *sigh* Thats the bad thing, I never know, with them if I will have to work over time or not. *whine* So no Howl-O-Scream for me.

Next year... NEXT year though...