Of the thousands of people who make haunted attractions possible in the Carolina’s each year, there are a select few who have gone far beyond what their roll as an owner, actor or support staff requires. They do so for no other reason than to make the experience truly better for every guest who dare darkens their path. Most of those sacrifices go unnoticed by the casual fan and in 2024 we seen the need to recognize some of the Hero’s of Horror that make the Carolina Halloween season as memorable as possible year after year.
Nominees may be recommended by haunt owners and fellow staff members by emailing us at Fearcarolina@gmail.com . Consideration is also given based upon our conversations with haunt owners and actors and/or our interactions with a potential nominee. If it benefits others, we are all about it! A willingness to be kind and work together with other haunts in an effort to make every haunted attraction better across the Carolina’s is one of the things we love to promote the most! Because there are so many that are deserving of recognition and having their stories told, the selection process is tough. We don’t want to water down the Honor of being chosen. So, we are only adding a maximum of 3 Hero’s of Horror a year to our “Horror Hall of fame” each season with most seasons receiving only two selections. All selections are made at the sole discretion of Fear Carolina.
If you know someone who is deserving of this recognition, put them on our Radar!
2024 It is not often that you meet someone who truly wants to see others succeed as much as they do themselves, Sammie Cassell is that person. We at Fear Carolina have known Sammie through several different haunts and conventions over the last decade and although many things have changed, he has not. Haunting for Sammie began as an opportunity taken by his whole family on his 13th Anniversary to portray zombies for a short film. That experience sparked an interest in haunting so Sammie started his haunt career at The Original Hollywood Horror Show. After 6 years in Snow camp. Sammie started haunting closer to home at Spookywoods where 2025 will mark 12 years of fear he has created! Having made the acting jump from Haunter to TV shows to working on a few films with some of the biggest names in Hollywood including Halloweeen Kills,Sammie has shown what can happen with some determination and the willingness to work hard at what you love. Currently, Sammie is one of the Midway feature creatures that can be found most operating nights at one of the best haunts in the nation, Spookywoods in Archdale NC. Having witnessed him help others in numerous ways from acting tips for fellow cast mates to deeds which do not even necessarily need to be spoken of as recognition was not why they were done. We have seen him make people laugh, cry and scream and squirm over and over. Sammie Cassell is a true asset to Haunting in the Carolina’s and is certainly deserving of a Grave Ovation! Grave Ovations Haunt Actor of the Year Sammie Cassell Wayne Trexler and his family wanted to create something for the “Boogerwoods area kids to do for free on Halloween of 1976 ( the woods really were known as Boogerwoods!). Soon After, Boogerwoods the Haunted attraction was born. From the early years to the present, having fun while providing a great show for the fans while raising money for Cystic Fibrosis have been the main goals of Wayne and his team of family and friends. Although surrounded by a great support staff to accomplish the goals so many in the area and beyond have come to depend on, Wayne wears more hats than you can count without taking your shoes off! The results of his efforts are night after night of sold out shows. From marketing to maintenance to janitor and even guide Wayne does it all and he does it well. Creating a haunted attraction in the 70’s and 80’s was no easy task most props and sets had to be made in house as there was no haunt industry at the time. In fact it is no stretch to say the Haunt Industry as we know it today was built upon the foundation that haunters such Wayne Trexler helped shape. And he has done so his way, the Boogerwoods way with compassion to his fellow man as a center point. For providing nearly 50 years of quality Fears, we at Fear Carolina along with all the Fans of Fear across the Carolina’s salute our very first Hero of Horror, Wayne Trexler! 2024 Crypt Keepers Award Haunt Owner of the Year Wayne Trexler