Famous Special Effects Artist Visits Kevin McCurdy's Attraction

We are in the thick of Spooky Szn here in the Hudson Valley and you never know who's going to show up.

This past weekend Kevin McCurdy's Haunted Mansion in Wappingers Falls, New York had a cool guest visit with the scare team.

Hollywood Special Effects Artist Stops By The Haunted Mansion

Kevin McCurdy shares on social media that the team at the Haunted Mansion was visited by a special effects artist who has worked on some pretty big Hollywood projects, McCurdy writes:

We were visited by Mark Vinellio , Hollywood Special Effect Artist. You know his work from three decades of films, including Stranger Things, Lord of the Rings, and the Mandalorian to name a few.

But this is where this celebrity story takes a pretty cool turn. Vinellio grew up in the Hudson Valley, he's originally from Fishkill, and he got his start in special effects at Kevin McCurdy's Haunted Mansion back in the day!

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by KevinMcCurdy's Haunted Mansion (@kmhauntedmansion)

Also in the photo shared of Mark Vinellio's visit is 13-year-old TJ who is currently working as a special effects apprentice. Of course, this visit was the perfect opportunity for TJ to ask questions from a Hollywood special effects professional. McCurdy explained of the meeting:

Mark spent time giving TJ his advice and instilling the fact that persistence is key. If you want to do something hard enough, you’ll get there. Mark grew up in Fishkill and left for Hollywood after attending Purchase College. His First film worked on was Jurassic Park 3. Amazing.

Other Celebs Visit Haunted Attractions Around the Hudson Valley this Year

Last week everyone's favorite Doctor made a special Friday the 13th stop at Kevin McCurdy's Haunted Mansion.

Matthew Gray Gubler also known as Dr. Spencer Ried from CBS' Criminal Minds got in his scares and then waited for the cast afterward to congratulate them on a job well done. In 2022, Gubler was spotted taking in the sights and scares at The Headless Horseman in Ulster Park.

Special Effects Makeup Artist Celebrates 31 Days of Halloween

While we're on the topic of SFX, local makeup artist Jamilyn Boldrin has been celebrating the 31 Days of Halloween with some amazingly wicked looks.

Boldrin has been using her love of Halloween and makeup super talents to transform into some terrifying characters like Jigsaw from the Saw franchise and a Tim Burton-esque Barbie.

Check out some of her looks this year below:

Wappingers Falls, NY SFX Makeup Artist Shares Wicked 31 Days of Halloween Looks

10 Most Haunted States In America- Where Does New York Rank?

We decided to ask ChatGPT to help us solve this one. We asked it to determine the most haunted states in America, and why those states stand out.

Determining the most haunted states in America can be subjective and depends on various factors, including the number of reported ghostly encounters, the density of historical sites, and the prevalence of well-known haunted locations."

With that data, here's several states that are often considered to be among the most haunted in America, based on their historical significance and numerous reported paranormal experiences. See where New York ranked on this list:

Gallery Credit: Dave Wheeler