Missouri Attorney General’s Office dismisses case against Fear Fest owner, expects to refile as several people still have not received refunds
Olivia Hayes
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Missouri Attorney General’s Office told ABC 17 News it had to dismiss its case against Fear Fest owner and operator Bill Schnell after being unable to locate him.
Columbia’s Fear Fest Haunted House made an official announcement on Halloween 2024 stating that it would not be opening for the season and that refunds would be “processed in bunches.”
The attraction racked up 15 safety violations during its annual inspection by the Boone County Fire Protection District. The 2024 Halloween season marked the first time Fear Fest was unable to open in its more than 20-year history.
The Attorney General’s Office said it still has 25 complaints of people saying they still have not received a refund one year after Fear Fest’s unexpected closure. The AG’s office said it plans to refile the case again soon to force repayment.
In a statement to ABC 17 News, Michaela Payne said she purchased three tickets in October 2024 for the Fear Fest Haunted House, spending more than $100 and making the drive from Kansas City. It would have been her first visit to the attraction.
She said she was told to reach out for reimbursement, but after months of trying, she never received a response. She said she called, emailed and sent multiple Facebook messages.
She said following the situation she connected with a small community of others who were also impacted, all sharing the same experience of being ignored and left without resolution.
Payne said she reached out to the Attorney General’s office and filed a complaint. She said she was contacted for an interview, but nothing further happened.
“It’s truly disheartening,” Payne said in her statement. “Not just because we lost hundreds of dollars, but because we were simply trying to enjoy a fun night out and support a local favorite.”
John Peterson, a Lake of the Ozarks resident, said his family spent $265 on 2024 Fear Fest tickets.
“I’ve done Fear Fest for a long time, since I was a teenager,” Peterson said.
He said he found out Fear Fest was canceled through a Facebook post, but never saw any notice on the company’s website. After discovering the cancellation, he reached out for a refund.
“We sent a proof of our purchase and we never heard from them again,” Peterson said. “I’ve messaged them countless times, I mean countless times.”
Peterson also filed a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office.
“The attorney general contacted me probably about three or four months later and asked if I’d be willing to testify. I told them, ‘Yeah, absolutely.’ And I haven’t heard from them since,” Peterson said.
Moving forward, he said he is not as interested in a refund of his money as much as he is in seeing justice served.
“Honestly, I would rather just see him prosecuted to the court of law, I mean to the fullest extent. Not only did you steal adult money, you stole money from little children,” Peterson said.
Missouri Nightmare, a new “haunted” attraction in Columbia, is hoping to fill the void by offering free admission next weekend to those who never got their money back from Fear Fest. Anyone who was never refunded for their fear fest ticket can get in for free on Oct. 30-Nov. 1 with proof of their ticket purchase from 2024.
“We care and we want to be here and be the Halloween experience for Columbia,” said Nicolas Palmer, owner and operator of Missouri Nightmare.
Payne said she most likely won’t utilize the offer, but Peterson said he’s considering going with his family.
Missouri Nightmare finalized contract negotiations with Prairie Grove Shooting Sports Complex during the July 4 weekend. Palmer believes the backlash and legal trouble Fear Fest is facing could have been easily avoided.
“You shouldn’t take a dime from anybody until you know you’re going to open,” Palmer said. “People care a lot about their money, they work hard for their money.”
Some of the actors apart of Missouri Nightmare previously worked for Fear Fest, according to Palmer.
“They were just heartbroken by the fact that it didn’t open,” Palmer said. “It’s like if you had a big friend group and all of a sudden that friend group was broken up and you weren’t able to be friends anymore.”