Brandon M. Seidl
Author / Webmaster / Historian

I'm a lifelong visitor of Ocean City and its many amusement venues, and feel like it's my second home. I've always been fascinated with Trimper's Haunted House ever since my first introduction in the late 1980s. I was immediately attracted to the towering façade, unique effects, and frightening sounds, but being the inquisitive kid that I was, I didn't just beg my parents for another ride. I began to take note of the ride's different features, how the ride was operated and maintained, and its history.

After many summers visiting the Haunted House with my family, I started to talk with Clifford Hudson around the mid 1990s. He was the manager of the Haunted House then, and had been since the 1960s. I gained substantial knowledge from Clifford, who witnessed the ride transform and grow throughout his three decades of employment at the park. In 1996, I was lucky enough to experience my first walk-through, hosted by Clifford. It was an amazing experience, and I still think about that first trip behind the scenes to this day.

Several years later, I met Chris Trimper, grandson of the amusement park's owner, Granville Trimper, who held a management position at the ride. Chris, who is currently the manager of Marty's Playland arcade (owned by the Trimper family), as well as owner of several small businesses, took me under his wing and showed me all of the ins and outs of the ride's operation from a technical standpoint. At the same time, I was gaining insight from Scott Hudson (son of Clifford). Scott, who is currently the Haunted House's general manager, was a ride attendant back then. He shared with me his invaluable knowledge of the Haunted House, gained through his lifelong exposure to the ride thanks to his family's involvement. Scott has been managing the ride for nearly 15 years.

For years I took pictures and videos to document the ride, only later realizing that I was capturing slight changes that reflected the ongoing passion and dedication to the Haunted House by its employees and owners. Finally, I got the opportunity to work at the attraction during the summer of 2002. During this time, I had the chance to operate the ride, learn its inner workings, and help with problems as they occurred on busy summer nights. My responsibilities extended beyond the Haunted House, as I also operated classic rides like the Tilt-a-Whirl, Zipper, Inverted, Sling Shot, and Ferris Wheel.

In 2006, I graduated from Stevenson University in Baltimore, Maryland with a degree in Business Communication and the cold reality of the working world hit me. I needed a release from the humdrum world of my 9-to-5 job, and I also wanted to share my fascination with the Haunted House, dark rides, Ocean City, and amusement parks with other enthusiasts and newcomers. Combining my interest in cutting edge communications and web technologies and my passion for the Ocean City classic attraction, I created a unique website that documents the Haunted House's interior and exterior. I launched the website in September of 2007, and immediately found others who were looking for a place to celebrate this one-of-a-kind dark ride along with me.

I've continued to add to the website, which has grown into one of the largest amusement attraction fan sites on the Internet. I've explored a variety of means of sharing my love for the Haunted House and Trimper Rides, finding success with frequent news postings and articles, and I'm committed to offering fresh content for others to enjoy. I also love to hear what others think about the ride, and encourage you to participate in the discussions in our forum. I recognize the attraction's true value and historical significance, and I'm determined to continue the spread the word that the Haunted House is not just another dark ride in a seaside amusement park, but is instead a unique piece of history that has outlived so many other rides of its kind.

In the fall of 2011, I had the privilege of coordinating and executing the purchase and installation of several Bill Tracy stunts from Phantasmagoria, a defunct dark ride at Bell's Amusement Park in Tulsa, OK. This was an honor for me as it allowed me to follow through with my wish to preserve and protect as many dark ride artifacts as possible to allow future generations of families to enjoy them. The stunts have been repainted by the Trimper family and are currently on display in the ride.

When I get the chance to get down to the boardwalk, I'm usually found walking around the park in search of changes, new information, and insight. I keep in touch with Chris and Scott, and know that they're committed to maintaining an excellent attraction. I continue to take photos and videos to share with others, and take the time to remember the conversations I have with those employed at the park, as well as my fellow visitors. You can feel confident that on this website, I'll bring you the most up-to-date information in a user friendly format, helpful to longtime enthusiasts and newcomers alike.

Out of all the major parks I have been to, Trimper's is without a doubt the cleanest, safest and friendliest amusement venue I've seen.The Haunted House is my all-time favorite ride and deserves the utmost respect from its riders. I never want to see this baby go.





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