Get scared and clean at haunted Colorado car wash

Most people go to the car wash to get rid of dirt and bugs. This October, one Colorado car wash will throw in clowns, fog and screams. Tommy’s Express Car Wash is bringing back its “Tunnel of Terror,” a haunted house you drive through without leaving your car.

The Tommy’s Express on Garden of the Gods Road in Colorado Springs will run the haunted wash for three nights, Oct. 23-25. Workers dial the conveyor belt down to its slowest speed, which gives you about three minutes of terror once the gate arm goes up. Expect spooky music, colored lights and costumed employees lurking in the suds, waiting to jump out at you. You also get a real wash, so your car comes out clean even if you come out shaking.

The setup has some clear advantages over a regular haunted house. You don’t have to stand in a cold line, nobody can grab you, and you can keep the doors locked the whole time. You don’t need tickets or to register ahead of time. Pricing varies by location, and members may pay a different rate than drop-ins, so check the location page before you go. Tommy’s says some locations are more family-friendly than others, so use your best judgment before bringing little ones.

One warning for regulars: during Tunnel of Terror hours, the haunted wash is the only wash available. If you just need to get the mud off your truck, go before dark. Otherwise, roll up the windows, crank the heat and hope the clowns don’t follow you home.