Destination Fear Season 2: Talking the Suspenseful Season Opener

Technically the second season of Destination Fear started on April 29, 2020. I had a chance to talk haunted road trips with Dakota Laden, Chelsea Laden, and Tanner Wiseman back then, but the second half of Destination Fear season 2 premieres Saturday, October 24, as part of Travel Channel’s Ghostober event. In a great twist of fate, I also had a chance to talk with them about that.

Another thing I got a chance to do ahead of the call again was to screen this time’s premiere episode, “Saratoga County Homestead,” which came in handy and prompted lots of questions. Plus, it was a lot of fun to watch.

Speaking of the Saratoga County Homestead episode, as Dakota put it, it’s a suspenseful season opener and was a tough start to this road trip.

It is.

As I told them, I was on the edge of my seat freaking out for them watching this episode. I also told them I felt bad about that because there I was enjoying the episode so much partly because they were having such terrifying experiences.

Below is a quick synopsis of some of what we talked about regarding the episode. However, we had a great long chat, all of which can be found on the podcast. If you’re interested in hearing it, I’ve embedded it below.

Destination Fear Season 2 Messes with New Heights and Different Fears (not just paranormal)

As Chelsea put it, they go to new heights this season. Literally.

Ahead of their investigation at the Saratoga County Homestead, Dakota has another adventure lined up for Chelsea, Tanner, and Alex: Extreme Hydro Flight.

They all eventually find their groove and figure it out. In Chelsea’s case, she quite literally gets her groove on while hovering over the water on the fly board and breaks out some dance moves.

[We] messed with different fears this season. More than just the paranormal. And there was, uh, some very embarrassing moments. ~Dakota Laden

The Big Reactions

Dakota admitted the Saratoga County Homestead excursion was a suspenseful series opener and a tough start to their road trip. I haven’t seen all of the other episodes, but this one was intense.

A lot happens while they’re in the Saratoga County Homestead. Dakota sees something at the end of the hall that no one else does at the time, and it flips him out. He screams and runs.

It turns out he captures what he saw on his camera, but the others can’t see it on his little screen when he tries to show them.

However, Alex and Tanner, especially Tanner, go charging down the hall ready to take on any trespassers or people messing with them.

They also hear distinct voices. Is it people trying to break in or are they hearing phantom voices?

Chelsea’s not sure if it’s real people or a gang of ghosts, but when it happens again, her reaction is to duck and cover and turn out all the lights. I envied her crouching skills and knee flexibility. She quipped the Extreme Hydro Flight had warmed her up.

She also busted Dakota’s chops for leaving her, as well as everyone else, when he saw the figure at the end of the hall. He pushed them all out of the way to make an escape.

Dakota sheepishly admitted he wasn’t a good brother and this wasn’t a good look masculinity-wise for him, which cracked everyone up. But he did feel bad that if it had been a real person (which Tanner and Alex found no evidence of) then shame on him for not being by his sister’s side to help her fight off a stranger.

Chelsea joked that’s why she makes sure to work out more than the guys and concentrate on being just a little faster than them. Their tight bond shines through on the show, but this part of the conversation also highlighted that.

The Caretaker

Pre-investigation they talk with Steve Brodt, who’s now the caretaker of the Saratoga County Homestead. But they also learn about another caretaker who used to live on the property and who would hide inside the building, pop out, and scare trespassers away. 

He sounded terrifying, and there are many reports of similar activity happening inside the property now. Some say it’s the caretker. I wasn’t sure if he was still alive or dead so I asked them.

Apparently, yes, he is no longer among the living but his restless spirit may still be working at the homestead.

Trespassers or Gang of Ghosts: Why No One Sleeps Alone This Episode

Fans of Destination Fear know that when it comes time to settle in for the night. Dakota, Chelsea, Tanner, and Alex identify the hotspots and put those locations in a hat. Then they each draw to see where they’ll sleep.

This episode was a first-of-its-kind because, while they did identify the hot spots and drew to see who would sleep where, there were only two locations they decided to sleep in.

Why? Did they not find more haunted hotspots to sleep in?

Nope.

They encountered lots of activity all over, but Dakota determined (and the others agreed) that since they couldn’t figure out if trespassers had broken in and were messing with them or if all the ruckus was supernatural, it was safer for no one to be alone.

And dang it, as I’m now reflecting back, I wish I would’ve asked where they would’ve chosen for the other two locations if they had broken up individually. Missed opportunity. Gah!

Would They Go Back?

All of them seemed eager for day to break so they could get the hell out of the Saratoga County Homestead. Was it really as scary as it seemed?

Yes.

Tanner said he’d never go back alone even during the day. Dakota pointed out none of them had been alone so that hadn’t mattered. The activity there was just too intense.

They’d even gone in with the utmost respect, but as the new caretaker had theorized, the spirits are aggressive because so many people have broken in and been disrespectful. He feels the spirits act out to try and keep the living away.

Was the Saratoga County Homestead the Most Intense Location of this Roadtrip?

No.

This is their scariest road trip, and the Saratoga County Homestead was perhaps among the scariest places, but they also referred to the Randolph County Infirmary.

Dakota explained when they made the Trail of Terror documentary, Tanner had had a big experience at the infirmary that had always perplexed them. It involved the basement and a door opening. Tanner had been down there alone at the time. He’d heard something but hadn’t seen it. It was captured on film, though, and ever since they’ve always wondered about it and wanted to go back.

Since then, Dakota has also talked with others who have experienced activity or had stories from the infirmary. All of it happened in the basement too. Dakota decided the time to go back and see if they could figure it out was now, which Tanner admitted made him very nervous.

Tanner also said he’d wondered ever since if he had noticed at the time what they later saw they’d captured, how would he have reacted? Did he have a chance to find out this road trip?

The Randolph County Infirmary is also where Dakota set up a hard challenge for everyone, one which proved a bad idea. It affected them all and even apparently caused Chelsea to cry.

Dakota really isn’t trying to win any Good Brother awards, is he?

He said in his defense, however, that the Randolph County Infirmary is also where Chelsea pulls a prank on him, so people may feel more sorry for him that episode than her.

The Mysterious Crash, or What the Hell Fell?

I wish I could have a follow-up interview with them. Not only would I ask what other places they would’ve considered splitting up and sleeping in at the Saratoga County Homestead, but I would also ask Dakota if he ever figured out what fell in his room during our interview.

You can totally hear it (shortly after the 17-minute mark), and he comments on it and says it scared him. But what fell? Why? #UnsolvedMystery

Listen to the Interview

What I’ve shared above is just some of what I talked about with Dakota, Chelsea, and Tanner.

If you’d like to listen to the whole conversation about the Destination Fear season 2 return, it’s embedded below.

For More Info

Visit: https://www.travelchannel.com/shows/destination-fear-2019