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Howl-O-Scream drops some props in wake of beheadings

 
Howl-O-Scream has always been graphic, but props of severed heads at Busch Gardens’ sister park in Virginia drew complaints recently.
Howl-O-Scream has always been graphic, but props of severed heads at Busch Gardens’ sister park in Virginia drew complaints recently.
Published Sept. 18, 2014

With international horrors far more disturbing than any zombie horde, Busch Gardens is removing some props from Howl-O-Scream after complaints about severed heads at its sister park in Virginia.

The Tampa theme park would not give specifics on what it pulled, but park spokesman Travis Claytor said adjustments were made in the wake of the beheadings of three Westerners by Islamic militants in the Middle East.

"Many of the scenes depicted at Busch Gardens' Howl-O-Scream are graphic in nature, but they are fictional and are not intended to provide commentary on current world events," Claytor said in a statement. "The props in this year's event were designed and purchased several months ago. In light of recent events, some of these props would have had the unintended consequence of appearing insensitive."

Complaints cropped up recently in Williamsburg when the Virginia Gazette newspaper ran a photo of five severed head props that were part of the attraction. The display was more cartoonish than realistic.

Tampa's Howl-O-Scream, the popular annual Halloween attraction of elaborate haunted houses and in-your-face scare tactics, has previews Sept. 26-27 and runs through Nov. 1 on select nights. See buschgardens.com.

Times staff writer Sean Daly contributed to this report.