Riverboat Junction was always a special place. For generations before colonization, the Wyandot fished for bony sweet fish in its rivulets. After Reconstruction, families of the enslaved settled on the rich soil and planted fruit trees. At the turn of the century their land was stolen and flooded for irrigation for the large commercial agriculture. Then after a little creative rebranding the methane gassy pond was christened Lake Happiness. as recreational and the country’s first waterpark opened three years later.

The early days of Riverboat Junction were a dream. Inspired by Huck Finn, the park was white pickets, bandstands, and marching bands. Cotton candy and water flume rides, the water park was a local family favorite. Soon butter popcorn and picnics didn’t cut it. The water park was expanded and modernized. Death-defying rollercoasters, gaming halls, and a Hall of History complete with an animatronic Lady Bird Johnson, the water park grew more and more popular. Until people started dying.

Mysteriously Alice Fae Miller drowned in Lake Happiness. A few attendees fell to their deaths from the Scorpion’s Tail. Then there was that viral urban legend about a brain eating virus in the lake water. Between the rumors and competition from newer theme parks, Riverboat Junction was shuttered. That’s when the land came alive.

Lights, camera, Action, the van doors opened and slammed shut. The crew of Ghost Breakers hauled their audiovisual gear in front of the rusted chain fence.

“Guys check the lithium batteries on the EVP equipment. I do not I repeat I do not want a repeat of the shitshow at the Staedtler Mansion. This is the most haunted amusement park in America. I want real life Paranormal Activity not just bumps in the night. I mean it Stevie,” Dex Pilgrim, host and creator of Ghost Breakers, said, “I bartered my soul to get access to this crummy dump. I want results.”

“Dexy, bra, I got this. Trust me if the expert doesn’t deliver I have a backup plan,” Producer Steve Jericho said.

“Where is this expert anyway?”

“Well he was right here. Check the backseat.”

The expert was already gone. He was walking past the concession stands towards the hellmouth aka Lake Happiness. With each step the lights flickered and blazed. The Ferris wheel slowly whirled. Somewhere a popcorn maker cranked. The sounds of a little girl’s laughter mingled with music from a deleric carousel.

“Mr. Snickers! Where are you?”

"It had been a long time coming, but now I felt I could truly call myself the slayer of monsters,” the expert shouted back in response. “But you can call me Candyman.”