Granby Manor is NOT Returning in 2018

Granby Manor, at least as we know it, might not return in 2018.

On October 29th, 2017, Granby Manor closed its gates to the public... possibly for the last time. But why would they do this? MLA Industries and Granby Manor had a wildly successful season with a great fan turnout. Does this mean that they are simply changing the theme and creating a new haunt, just like in 2015 and every year prior? We reached out to MLA Industries and Entertainments with these questions, but received no response.

The Facts

The official Granby Manor website states "Granby Manor was located..." and the exact address has been removed from all pages.

The MLA Industries and Entertainments website states that the company will cease operation of haunted attractions after 2017.

The Speculation

Right away, we can rule out problems caused by high operating costs as the reason for Granby Manor's demise. MLA has been easily able to sustain haunted houses for the last six years, and Granby Manor was by far the most profitable. We did see an increase in ticket prices this season, but this was likely because the company realized that they could charge more for admission and not see a drop in attendance.

Also, we know that the company has had several clashes with the County before the 2017 season started, so this could possibly be a cause for the Manor's closing.

Most likely, however, this is because the contract between the Granby Manor developers and MLA Industries and Entertainments is due to expire in the spring of 2018. Not much is known about this contact except that it has been in effect since 2012, it was modified in 2016 (most likely to extend the rights to the "Granby Manor" brand for the 2017 season), and that it is up for review in 2018. 

Alek Kowalczyk's EPRV Designs

When Director of Operations Michael Allen assigned Set Designer Alek Kowalcyk to develop a dark ride vehicle that would be used in Forbidden haunted house, Kowalczyk created sketches of what he called the Electrically Propelled Rotating Vehicle, or EPRV for short. The car would have 2 rows, the rear higher than the front, and sit 3 passengers in each. Each EPRV would have its own built-in motor, allowing the car to speed up, slow down, or stop completely as programmed by a computer. The vehicles would run on a main track in the center of the floor and a second guide rail would rotate the vehicle to face scenes as desired. Each EPRV would have an on-board computer that would relay information to a motherboard in the attraction's control booth, allowing several cars to operate at once (this is called a block-system). The idea was put aside later that year because there was not enough money, but the company has said that they plan to bring back the plans.

Source: http://media.wix.com/ugd/628715_1797ab04c74a4b4486e77e065d81c937.pdf

Image credits: Alek Kowalczyk

Original Granby Manor Concepts

Original sketch for the Stretching Room

Sketch of the Master's hanging body in the rafters 

Granby Manor was originally intended to be a dark ride! After exiting the rectangle-shaped stretching chamber, guests enter a loading area and board a EPRV (or Electrically Propelled Rotating Vehicle) - designed by Alek Kowalczyk. This was scrapped because of lack of space, but MLA Industries does plan on reviving the idea in the future!