Friday the 13th fans cheer: The real Camp Crystal Lake opens for Oct. 13 tour

Could the hockey mask killer be lurking under that camp bed? This Oct. 13, the real Camp Crystal Lake opens its doors to Friday the 13th fans.

For many people summer camp was a rite of passage. The week spent away from parents was supposed to be filled with memories and fun. But this iconic memory is the basis for a classic horror movie, Friday the 13th. Friday the 13th fans have the opportunity to tour the real Camp Crystal Lake this Friday, Oct. 13.

Filmed in the early ’80s, Friday the 13th became a horror movie classic. The tale of a Jason terrorizing the camp counselors preyed on people’s real camp-related fears. Could that fun-filled week at camp be met with a perilous end? True Friday the 13th fans know that Camp Crystal Lake is a real, operating camp in New Jersey.

For the fourth time ever, New Jersey’s Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco will open its doors to the public for a special tour on Friday, Oct. 13. This special private tour is a hugely popular event. The previous events sold out in minutes. The demand is so high because the real camp rarely lets the public on the grounds. While a fully operational and open camp, Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco is normally only for the Boy Scouts, not horror movie fans.

Boy Scouts there have the privilege of canoeing in the lake, wandering the grounds, and enjoying the outdoors. While the camp does accept its part in entertainment history, the entertainment factor can’t interfere with the camp’s true mission.

The special tours, which only occur on a few select Friday the 13 dates are a huge special occasion for fans. While the camp doesn’t look exactly the same as the movie, the personalized guide tours take guests all around the infamous spots. From the lake shore to the walkways, tour guests will see it all. Don’t expect extra scary effects, like Jason rising from the lake. This tour is entertaining for super fans, but it is not a haunted tour. Think of the special event like an outdoor movie set tour. The fun comes from the limited amount of people who actually get to participate in the event.

For those people who don’t get to tour the real Camp Crystal Lake on Friday, Oct.13, the Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco does offer various souvenirs for purchase. These souvenirs range from Angry Mother Lake Tours t-shirts to Angry Mother Bottling Co. water. Sold for $15, these water bottles feature “genuine water from from the lake where the Friday the 13th legend was born.” Bottled only on Friday the 13th, the supply is limited. When the bottles are sold out, fans have to wait till the next Friday the 13th. For the ultimate super fan, these items are fun conversation pieces.

Even though films have become more technically advanced, the classic horror film retains its legions of fans. The story line preys on people innate fears. With the classic film’s ties to a real life location, fans feel even more connected to the fictional tale. Even though a real life Jason scenario didn’t truly occur, the real life location keeps fans tied to a favorite horror film. Hopefully no Boy Scouts succumb to a maniac in a hockey mask.

Next: Titans of Terror Halloween experience

While this year’s tour has already sold out, fans can hope that another Friday the 13th Camp Crystal Lake tour will occur again soon. The next Friday the 13th occurs in April 2018. Do you dare visit Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco on Friday the 13th?