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ISSAQUAH | SAMMAMISH
Friday, October 19, 2012
www.issaquahreporter.com
Business boom New merchants added to Grand Ridge Plaza shopping center
Rotary Club of Sammamish Secretary Cary Young, left, stands with Dana Young (unrelated) of Scare productions. Dana Young, who does makeup and is an actor during Nightmare at Beaver Lake, also takes part in the set production. She painted both the walls in the background.
BY LINDA BALL LBALL@ISSAQUAHREPORTER.COM
KEVIN ENDEJAN, Issaquah & Sammamish Reporter
GET YOUR SPOOK ON Nightmare at Beaver Lake ready for ninth go-around
BY KEVIN ENDEJAN KENDEJAN@ISSAQUAHREPORTER.COM
E
ight years of providing Halloween scares at Nightmare at Beaver Lake and actors have never once failed to reach their goal — to make an adult patron wet his or her pants.
“Sometimes we get it on the opening night, sometimes we get it on Halloween night, we’ve never not had a year where somebody didn’t,” said Dana Young, a Sammamish resident and member of Scare Productions. Approximately 350 volunteer werewolves, vampires, zombies and other ghouls will take their shot at the coveted prize — a toilet seat with a plaque on it — when the annual outdoor haunt kicks off at 7 p.m., Friday at Beaver Lake Park. The Nightmare runs through Halloween night, open every night except Monday, Oct. 22 and Tuesday, Oct. 23. As is the case every year, there will be plenty of new surprises for those brave enough to take the 3/4-mile stroll through the dimly lit
NIGHTMARE AT BEAVER LAKE When: Oct. 19 - 31, closed Oct. 22-23. Family Hour: 7 - 7:45 p.m. Full Scare: 8 - 10 p.m. (school nights); 8 - 11 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays Admission: Family hour, $10 per person; Full scare, $16 per person. Discounts: Donation of canned food to Lifewire provides $1 discount and $3 discount coupons are available at select retailers. More information: www.nightmareatbeaverlake.com woods. “We change 90 percent of our show every year,” Young said. “The 10 percent we keep, we change it up. You might see a strobe room again, but it’s going to look different.” There are several interesting sets this year, including “twisted books,” which will provide scary takes on many popular novels past and present. Some books on the list include Hunger Games, Lord of the Flies and Macbeth. Visitors will also tour dozens of other spooky scenes, including a field of vampires and a post-apocalyptic zombie village, equipped with a burning car. With live, unscripted actors and no reliance
on expensive animatronics, Young said visitors are guaranteed one of the more unique Halloween experiences in the state. The actors — many who are local high school students — are taught the psychology of scaring people and how specific ghouls are supposed to act. She said the improvisational freedom of each actor makes for a different experience every time. Cary Young, who is the Rotary Club’s team leader for Nightmare at Beaver Lake, admits she’s been caught off guard several times. “I never knew I could laugh and scream at SEE NIGHTMARE, 5
Issaquah’s retail base will expand even more as Marshalls Home Goods and its traditional off-price clothing and shoes plans to open in 2013. Regency Centers of Portland, is the developer of the $70 million project. Rian McNamara of Regency said DICK’S Sporting Goods, similar to a Sports Authority, and Zumiez are also among the new line-up of merchants recently announced for the 280,113-square-foot retail center under construction in the Issaquah Highlands. McNamara said the 12-screen Regal Cinema complex now under construction, local restaurant chain Big Fish Grill and RAM Restaurant & Brewery will be the first to open in the June of 2013. Cosmetics retailer ULTA Beauty, restaurants Chinoise Café and a 44,543-square-foot Safeway store should open in September 2013. Construction broke ground in June 2012 when Regency unveiled its plans. Grand Ridge Plaza will be an open-air, pedestrian-friendly shopping and entertainment district. According to Regency Centers, 80 percent of the available square footage at Grand Ridge Plaza is now leased. Additional tenant announcements are anticipated as construction progresses. McNamara said total buildout should be complete by the end of 2013. Issaquah first began seeking a vision for the Highlands in 1989 as a smart growth concept for suburban community. Linda Ball can be reached at 425-391-0363 ext. 5052, or lball@issaquahreporter.com.