Image via Shocktoberfest


If you're unfamiliar with Shocktoberfest, it's a haunted theme park in Pennsylvania now in its 15th year of operation.

With attractions that include Hollywood-style computer-controlled special effects and a smorgasbord of horror-themed rides, Shocktoberfest is like Six Flag's "Fright fest" on crack.

But only beginning Tuesday will the theme park be cool enough for me to actually want to visit. Shocktoberfest is going interactive, thanks to the iphone. And personally, I hope this development sparks a dominant trend in all amusement and theme parks.

From Reuters:

Here's how it will work. Visitors at the theme park can interact with both attractions and features via their Apple iPhone. After getting scared yourself, you can scare others by setting off animated props, triggering effects, and - to a considerable degree - manipulating your environment right from your iPhone.

Call me crazy, but I think a development like this - if ultimately successful - could spread like wildfire through the theme park world and, eventually, inspire complete destination-based attractions and amusement parks based on interactive iPhone participation.