ATHOL — As guests enter the dark world of Scarywood Haunted Nights, they will be greeted by bloodcurdling wails, bone-chilling laughter and all the glorious sounds of a full-on fright night.

They'll hear the Zombie Express screaming through the park, punctuated by explosive gunfire.

They'll hear the excitement of thrill-seekers who have waited all season for Halloween to take over Silverwood Theme Park.

But they won't see the ghouls lurking in the shadows until it's too late.

"The family-fun, wholesome park turns into this scary nightmare land," said Mark Robitaille, Silverwood's director of marketing and communications. "When I'm here at night and even just walking behind a group of people, watching them get scared, it's just a kick."

And plenty of people did get scared Friday when Scarywood opened its ominous gates for a spooky sixth season. This year's Scarywood features five signature attractions, seven scare zones and more than 130 actors and crew members working to serve park visitors a healthy dose of Halloween entertainment.

"It's a great place to hang out with friends," said Rachel Waldo of Coeur d'Alene, who attended opening night with a few pals. "It's a very good bonding experience for us girls."

The five main attractions are the fluorescently freaky 3Dementia, claustrophobia-inducing Total Darkness, weird and twisted Blood Bayou, adrenaline-pumping Zombie Express and the new, paranoia-provoking Caved In.

"It's dark, eerie, creepy and there are some creatures that might come out of the walls," Robitaille said of the new attraction.

Christine Wolverton and her friend Elissa McGovern, both of Spokane, laughed as they stepped out of 3Dementia. It was Wolverton's first time at Scarywood.

"It was super crazy, like a really good crazy and the last thing, I almost fell over 20 times," she said.

McGovern went last year and was drawn back yet again to have the wits scared out of her.

"I really love it, I want to be a monster here," she said. "Halloween's my favorite holiday."

Many of Silverwood's rides will be operating during Scarywood hours, including the Tremors roller coaster, which will be running backward.

Scarywood will be open Thursdays-Saturdays through Oct. 30. Times: 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 24; 6:30-11 p.m. Thursdays through the 29th; and 7 p.m. to midnight Oct. 30. Ticket prices: $20.99 three days in advance for Thursdays or $25.99 two days or less in advance; $27.99 three days in advance Fridays or $32.99 two days or less in advance; and $34.99 three days in advance for Saturdays or $39.99 two days or less in advance.

Info: www.scarywoodhaunt.com