Thrills and Chills 
Release Date; May 27, 2025
Host: Adam Berry

Theme: Paranormal activity and hauntings in theme parks — the spooky side of the happiest places on Earth.

Episode Summary
This episode explores the fascinating intersection between thrill-seeking, hauntings, and the unseen spirits that may be lingering at major American theme parks. From Disney’s Haunted Mansion to Knott’s Berry Farm’s real-life ghost town, Adam dives into tales from employees, researchers, and first-hand investigations that suggest some guests never really leave.

Main Segments & Topics
Intro – The Haunted Fun of Theme Parks

• Walt Disney's vision for Disneyland included embracing fear as entertainment (Haunted Mansion opened in 1969).
• Theme parks provide "safe scares" — a psychological release of fear-driven chemicals.
• Universal Orlando’s new Dark Universe horror-themed land shows our continued fascination with monsters and fright.

Act 1: The Guests Who Never Leave

• Speculation around Walt Disney’s ghost
• Cast member reports: shadow figures, phantom music, voices, ghostly guest named Mr. One-Way on Space Mountain.
• Theory: Happy energy from theme parks draws spirits like a beacon; emotional imprinting from visitors fuels residual hauntings.

Act 2: Kings Island & The Girl in the Blue Dress

• Adam and Amy Bruni investigate Kings Island in Ohio during the off-season.
• Encountered signs of the spirit “Missouri Jane,” a young girl believed to be linked to an on-site cemetery.
• Paranormal experience inside the abandoned haunted house attraction — footsteps, leading energy, and atmospheric chills.

Act 3: The Real Ghosts of Calico Ghost Town at Knott’s Berry Farm

• Origins of Knott’s Berry Farm, Calico Ghost Town, and use of real historic buildings.
• Park founder Walter Knott recreated the Old West, sometimes with actual 19th-century structures, possibly bringing spirits with them.
• Stories from employees include:
• Miss Hazel, an early staff member upset by the commercialization of the park
• George and Harold, ghosts haunting the Timber Mountain Log Ride
• Cordelia Knott, believed to still observe from her beloved Chicken Dinner Restaurant.

Act 4: Listener Spotlight – Christie’s Wild Ride

• Origins of Knott’s Berry Farm, Calico Ghost Town, and use of real historic buildings.
• Park founder Walter Knott recreated the Old West, sometimes with actual 19th-century structures, possibly bringing spirits with them.
• Stories from employees include:
• Miss Hazel, an early staff member upset by the commercialization of the park
• George and Harold, ghosts haunting the Timber Mountain Log Ride
• Cordelia Knott, believed to still observe from her beloved Chicken Dinner Restaurant.

 Interview with Christie Drolet, a long-time Knott’s employee.

• Firsthand accounts:
• Items moving on their own.
• Hair being pulled until she directly addressed the spirit.
• Apparitions in restaurants, theaters, and ghost town attractions.
• Disembodied voices from spirits named Harold (grumpy) and George (playful).
• Ghosts seen walking stages and saloons, seemingly reliving their time in the park.
• Does Walter and Cordelia Knott still walk the grounds?

Act 5: Thrill of a Lifetime — And Beyond

• Reflection: If you could choose to haunt anywhere, wouldn’t a theme park be ideal?
• Ghosts as eternal park guests: always welcome, surrounded by joy and magic, and even allowed to scare.
• Final thought: Theme parks are made for the living, but they may just be paradise for the dearly departed, too.

Key Quotes

• “There are 999 happy haunts… but there’s room for a thousand.” – Haunted Mansion
• “It’s people who loved the park too much to leave, even in the afterlife.” – Adam Berry
• “Success is a continuing thing. It is growth and development.” – Walter Knott

Themes Explored

• The psychology of fear as fun.
• Residual energy and emotional imprints in crowded public spaces.
• Ghosts with attachments to places of joy and belonging.
• Intersection of folklore, history, and personal testimony in paranormal research.

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Production Credits:

• Host/Producer: Adam Berry
• Co-Producer: Chad Rossi Provincetown Recording Studio
• Writer and Co- Producer: Julie Tremaine
• Music: Chad Rossi
• Artwork: Laura Lineberry
• Special Guests: Christie Drolet