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Frightfully fun!
  
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Carder’s Variety Land offers tricks and treats
By Joseph Duron
For The Herald-Argus
Manager Wayne Rightsell stressed the value of visiting Carder’s Variety Land. They strictly promote a family oriented environment with clean family fun. During the Halloween season, the Haunted Barn is the featured attraction.
Carnival Rides
Carder’s Variety Land offers activities which include over six carnival rides (including ferris wheel and miniature train), pond for fishing, and plenty of room for outdoor games such as football, kickball, or ultimate frisbee.
Many of Carder’s rides have a unique history. Specific years aren’t known, but some rides date back to at least the 1940’s. Several have been rescued and revived from now defunct parks such as Enchanted Forest in Porter.
“Safety is our biggest concern,” explains Rightsell along with other employees. “Every ride is kept up mechanically and we don’t run them after dark.” Sometimes parts are hard to find. “Some parts have to be special ordered from different countries.”
A ‘claim to fame’ that Carder’s promotes is their miniature train (which holds no more than 20 passengers) was used in the well-known Little Rascals series.
Rightsell points out, “To the best of his knowledge this train is one of the only things that Bill Cosby doesn’t own from the Little Rascals set. And he has offered money for the train.” Yet it still remains at Carder’s for families to enjoy.
Haunted Barn
The main level of Carder’s Haunted Barn is dedicated to a Haunted House. It is complete with creepy effects such as lighting, sound, mysterious creatures, and roaming goblins.
Torture Devices
The top level of Carder’s Haunted barn is home to a eerie collection of Torture Devices, most of of which date back to the Middle Ages and the Spanish Inquisition.
What inspired Carder’s to have a torture gallery?
Rightsell explains, “We’ve seen so much crime over the years.” We show the torture devices to remind people what actually did work, given the means were just.”
Devices on display include: Electric Chair, The Spanish Boot, Hot seat (Heats up when you crank it), Fiddler’s daughter, Interrogation Chair, Restraining Stock, Guillotine, Torture Cross, Skull Crusher, Scavengers Daughter, chastity belt-type devices, shackles, balls and chain, and many others.
Rightsell explains that the Interrogation Chair, which dates to the spanish inquisition, was used to first interrogate, then torture you to death. “Both arms are restrained with metal bars, along with your chest and legs.” The chair has around 3,000 razor sharp spikes in the chair which measure almost three inches in height, and just a quarter inch width.
There are other variations of chairs like this, all with their own unique features and characteristics. How were they prepared for the next victim? “Throw a bucket of water on it and move on” said Rightsell, who also claims he was married in this chair.
Hot seat: There is a plate in the back that comes up and crushes the victim. it has spikes and heats up.
Restraining Stock: Victims were tied in and left there. Hands on top, feet on bottom.
The guillotine: The ‘End of all Ends’ is a focal point of the display area. The blade is a replica of the one that took Marie Antoinette. “Our blade weighs the exact same as the one that took Marie Antoinette, 88.8 ounces.” Rightsell explains. “Once it drops from 6 feet, it will take your head off.” He also explains a not so well-known fact: “Your brain will function for up to 7 minutes. You will blink, roll your eyes, and move your mouth.”
Torture cross: Lined with spikes, the torture cross is roughly 85 to 100 inches in length. The victim lays down and is secured by metal bars. They are slowly crushed and initially the spikes pierce the skin. Piercing the skin is just the initial torture with many of these devices. “After the initial skin piercing is done, the devices are intended to do much more.” Rightsell said.
If thrill seekers, history enthusiasts and other ‘wonderers’ of medieval type torture devices can make it out alive, they will find Carder’s Haunted Barn interesting, to say the least!
If you go:
What: Haunted Barn at Carder’s Variety Land
When: Rides run from 4 p.m. until dusk on weeknights, 2 p.m. until dusk on weekends. The haunted barn is open every night from 5 to 10 p.m. until Oct. 31.
Where: 4711 N. Co. Rd. 100 W., La Porte
Admission: $10 includes unlimited rides
Information: (219) 878-1463 before 4 p.m.
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| Have a ball | Chaos Haunted and Historical Tours examine local history and ghost hunting techniques |
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| The following is criteria editors will follow in deeming comments suitable for posting. The newspaper reserves the right to not publish any comment for any reason and is not responsible for the content of any comment that posts. If you have a question as to why your comment was not posted, please e-mail newsroom@heraldargus.com |
