Sloss Fright Furnace
Sloss Fright Furnace was an annual haunted attraction held at Sloss Furnaces.
The event, held in October of each year from 1998 to 2019, played up reports of supposed paranormal activity at Sloss to help create its atmosphere. The event's marketers invented a new ghost story, about James "Slag" Wormwood, to lure people to the attraction. Wormwood is a fictional, abusive manager of the graveyard shift at Sloss from the early 1900s, who fell into the furnace and died instantly in October 1906, and whose spirit continues to haunt Sloss.
Fright Furnace's primary attraction was a haunted trail featuring numerous actors in makeup and costumes. Other attractions included a concession stand (the Roadkill Cafe), 3-D mazes, continuous scenes from horror movies projected on a 25-foot wall, psychic readings, and live entertainment (Stages of Death).
The 2021 and 2022 events were not held due to the COVID pandemic. In 2022 Sloss Furnaces' board determined that the event was not aligned with the landmark's mission or image, and in its extent was disruptive to school tours and other operations. The board offered to allow an event of shorter duration, but the event organizers chose not to accept the offer.
| Sloss Furnaces | |
|---|---|
| Events | Magic City Brewfest · Preserve Jazz Festival · Sloss Fright Furnace · Stokin' the Fire BBQ Festival |
| Exhibits | Engine No. 4018 · Sloss Quarters |
| Owners | Sloss Furnace Company · Sloss Iron & Steel Company · Sloss-Sheffield Steel & Iron Company · U.S. Pipe · Jim Walter Corporation |
| People | Joseph Johnston · Theophilus Jowers (The Ghost in Sloss Furnaces) · Hugh Morrow · James Sloss |
| Programs | Sloss Metal Arts · Sloss Performing Arts Program |
External links
- Sloss Fright Furnace official website
References
- "(Haunted) House Party Some New Tricks to Treat Brave of Heart this Year." (October 21, 1998) The Birmingham News
- Diel, Stan (October 21, 2007) "Spirit hunters haunt Sloss." The Birmingham News
- Koplowitz, Howard (September 8, 2022) "Sloss Fright Furnace shuts down Halloween production after 22 years." The Birmingham News