Los Gatos Weekly-Times

The Haunted Forest returns to Oak Meadow and Vasona

By Shari Kaplan

From Oct. 25 through Halloween night, the Phantom Express will again travel through scenes of terror and humor as riders meet ghosts, spiders, warriors and assorted monsters and spectres as part of the second annual Haunted Forest in Oak Meadow and Vasona parks.

The event, which also features the Spooky Hollow children's area and rides on the Bill Mason Carousel, is presented by and benefits the Los Gatos Police Department's volunteer organizations--reserve officers, volunteers-in-policing (VIPs) and the Disaster Aid Response Team (DART). The nonprofit Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad (a.k.a. the Phantom Express) will also share in the proceeds, and Los Gatos service clubs will set up concession booths.

The Haunted Forest is the brainchild of LGPD Community Service Officer Gwen Cross, who wanted to have a fundraiser that was also a safe, fun family event.

With the help of show director Stuart Kuramoto and technical director John Barchi--whose Halloween credits include many years of work with G.Y.R.O's World of Terror--Cross, the police volunteer organizations, railroad personnel and the service clubs spent many months last year arranging and running the Haunted Forest. Net proceeds amounted to more than $10,000, which combined Phantom Express and Spooky Hollow ticket sales as well as sales of T-shirts, pins, magnets and popcorn.

This year is "new and expanded," according to Kuramoto, who owns Discovery Comics in town. Some scenes, like Terminal Jeopardy and the Witches Grove, have been moved to the train depot or to Spooky Hollow to allow for more entertainment and interaction with patrons. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre will now feature more psychos, and Stonehenge will be larger and more ominous. Among this year's new scenes are two that were inspired by hit movies: one has to do with Braveheart, the other with Independence Day. That's all Kuramoto will divulge.

"Everything's going really well. We're 'dead set' to top last year," he says with a chuckle. "Halloween is my favorite holiday. Every time I see all that stuff in Walgreen's, I get excited!"

The Phantom Express will run 12 times per night, beginning at 7 p.m., with a special midnight run on Halloween. Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for children 12 and younger. Spooky Hollow/Carousel passes are $3 each, two for $5 or five for $10. Tickets may be purchased from 1 to 6 p.m. weekdays at the Los Gatos Town Council Chambers or weekends from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. near the carousel in Oak Meadow Park. For more information, call 354-6842.