Thrill-seekers from around the world visit Michigan every Halloween season to be devoured by giant creatures, chased by monsters, swallowed by a swamp, and even buried alive.
These are just a few of the bone-chilling experiences that have made Erebus Haunted Attraction in Pontiac a legendary destination, now celebrating its 25th anniversary with new thrills.
Founders Ed and Jim Terebus, known to some as the “grandfathers of haunting,” have a story that goes back even further than the opening of Erebus’s current home in 2000. The brothers first entered the scare business in the 1980s with a humble setup — a tent in a Kmart parking lot — and eventually expanded to 10 mobile trailers to house their frights.
“Back then, people weren’t so finicky,” Ed tells Metro Times. “The very first haunted house we set up was in the low spot of the parking lot, so every time it rained, all the water ran toward us. People were literally walking through three or four inches of water, and I don’t think we ever got one complaint.”
Once Ed and Jim found the building that now hosts Erebus though, they put everything on the line.
“This building was vacant for 40 years before we got it,” Ed says. “There was nothing inside of it. Nothing was working. The roof was leaking. Anything working in that building now, we made it work. I sold my house. Jim remortgaged his. It’s kind of like the Vikings. The Vikings would sail across the ocean, they would burn their ships and say, ‘We either succeed or die.’ So, we sold everything we had. We borrowed money from friends and family. We were either gonna succeed or go down in flames.”
Fortunately, Erebus was a hit, gaining national recognition not just for its terrifying scares but for its immersive and creative storyline — a twisted tale of time travel gone wrong.
The backstory, as Ed explains, revolves around Dr. Colbert, a scientist who built a government-funded time machine. Unfortunately, the machine identifies humans as viruses, so each time someone enters, it tries to destroy them. Desperate for more funding, Colbert disguises the machine as a haunted house, drawing in willing test subjects and using their admissions to finance his experiments.
This creative edge sets Erebus apart, allowing the attraction to transport visitors through time — from outer space to ancient Egypt — making every season feel like a new adventure.
Since the Terebus brothers started over four decades ago, they say technology has been the biggest change in the haunted house industry.
“Before, everybody was pushing buttons and pulling strings to make things move,” Ed says. “Now, with technology, we can automate everything, synchronize sound and lighting effects, and make the scares even more intense.”
Erebus, named after the Greek god of darkness, has led the way in developing haunted house effects that are now used across the country.
"In this market back then, we probably had almost 70 to 100 haunts within 50 miles of us,” Ed says. “So when we went to a trade show, we really couldn’t buy something that everybody else had, because we’d be just like them. It kind of forced us to be a little innovative. And by innovating, we were able to build things that other people didn’t have.”
One of their most famous creations is The Swamp, where guests feel as though they are wading through murky water — without ever getting wet. They’ve also introduced other experiences like bottomless pits, their iconic “buried alive” effect, and props that touch visitors.
“Rather than having people touch you, we created things that will touch you,” Ed says. “In our haunt, we have things that will grab you, bite you, land on top of you. We’ll put you in a room and bury you alive, but no human will touch you. We actually create things that will do that.”
Every year, the Terebus brothers and their team introduce new and exciting features to keep visitors on their toes.
“We spend all year getting ready for next year, trying to create a new concept, a new idea, a new something,” Ed says. “We sit down, we collaborate, we share ideas, we come up with a bunch of stuff, and then we try to see if it is feasible or not. It’s almost a cross between a haunted house and a fun house, just because of some of the things going on in here. We just try to be unique and different.”
He adds, “We never build the same thing twice. We create something new each year, so the creativity never stops.”
This commitment to innovation often leads to memorable moments, both for the visitors and the actors.
“I had a ‘Show no mercy’ philosophy,” Ed says. “Somebody’s paying to be scared? Let’s get ‘em. Let’s get ‘em good. If they say stop, don’t stop, get them harder. And if I said, ‘Don’t scare them,’ that was the keyword for, ‘Come out and give them everything you got.’”
In one incident, a woman passed out, and while trying to escort her out of the haunted house, Ed unintentionally yelled, “Don’t scare her!” Naturally, the staff took it as a cue to scare her even more, and she passed out over five more times on the way to her car.
Then, Ed witnessed his own scare.
“She jumped in her car; she was gonna take off, and from the passenger side window, I reached in and grabbed her keys so she couldn’t leave, because I’m thinking, ‘You’re going to pass out and kill somebody,’” he says. “This woman grabbed my arm like a chicken leg and took a chunk out of my arm. The fire department actually held me longer than they held her.”
He adds, “I’ve seen people run into walls and knock themselves unconscious. I’ve seen people knock down walls… It’s fun to be scared. It’s a whole lot more fun to scare people.”
For the actors at Erebus, it’s not really about the money. “They’re here to scare people and have fun,” Ed says. “It’s kind of a neat experience being behind the scenes and watching people react, and you can’t help but to giggle.”
Now, in honor of its 25th anniversary, Erebus Haunted Attraction has revamped its third floor with nostalgic Halloween vibes. Guests enter a haunted forest lit by jack-o’-lanterns, encounter the boogeyman, and are devoured by a giant, chomping pumpkin.
Aside from the new thrills, Erebus has also planned a series of special activities to celebrate 25 years of fear. Each day this season, giveaways include limited-edition 25th-anniversary apparel, tickets to the recently opened Mythos Museum of Oddities and Curiosities next door, passes to the Erebus Escape escape room, and gift caskets filled with prizes like cash and gaming consoles. The haunted house is also rewarding “Speed Pass” ticket holders attending the first time slot each night with exclusive Erebus T-shirts.
Reflecting on over four decades in the industry, Ed is still passionate about the future of Erebus, and he and his brother remain focused on keeping the experience new and exciting — creativity that has been key to their long-standing success.
“We’ve been scaring people our whole life, and I wouldn’t change it for the world,” he says. “It’s been a lot of screams and a lot of laughter. It’s been a lot of good times. We’ve had a blast. It’s been great for the families, it’s been great for the friends, it’s a unique opportunity.”
He adds, “People are getting more difficult to scare nowadays. I can’t scare everybody, but I can guarantee you a good time. We appreciate everyone who’s supported us for 25 years — 44 years in total. It’s been a great run.”
