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Meet the man behind the wheel of the Colorado Springs ‘Ghostbusters’ truck

If there’s something strange in your neighborhood … who you gonna call?

Well, if you’re in Colorado Springs, try Ken Vizzini.

Vizzini can often be found driving his modified Ecto-1 around town — complete with the tools needed to bust some ghosts.

As the operator of Colorado Springs Ghostbusters, Vizzini shares his adventures around the Springs, giving a glimpse of ghostbusting at schools, libraries, parades and charity events.

From left, Jeremy Herrold, Ken Vizzini, Dorian Marricle and Xander Marricle stand next to Vizzini’s Ecto-1 tribute vehicle in their “Ghostbusters” outfits at the Creepy Community Family Fun Festival at Triple C Complete Carpet Care and Restoration on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023. (Parker Seibold, the gazette)
From left, Jeremy Herrold, Ken Vizzini, Dorian Marricle and Xander Marricle stand next to Vizzini’s Ecto-1 tribute vehicle in their “Ghostbusters” outfits at the Creepy Community Family Fun Festival at Triple C Complete Carpet Care and Restoration on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023. (Parker Seibold, the gazette)

Sometimes, parents will even reach out to Vizzini to pick up their kids at school — drawing crowds of kids in the parking lot for a chance to see the truck. Creating those happy memories has become Vizzini’s mission.

“For them, it’s a bigger deal than being in a limousine,” he said. “It’s given me a purpose, in a convenient way, to help out and to do things in the community. I never saw this coming when I built the car.”

Vizzini crafted his ghostbusting mobile over the last several years, getting the idea around 2017. The project, he said, came from boredom. Looking for a creative outlet, he decided to turn his plain 2005 Toyota truck into a tribute to the iconic Ecto-1 as seen in “Ghostbusters.”

Ken Vizzini’s Ecto-1 features a pop-up Slimer that will spray water just like the character from the film “Ghostbusters.” (Parker Seibold, The Gazette) (Parker Seibold)
Ken Vizzini’s Ecto-1 features a pop-up Slimer that will spray water just like the character from the film “Ghostbusters.” (Parker Seibold, The Gazette) (Parker Seibold)

“I was bored with my truck, and I had always been a ‘Ghostbusters’ fan. When I was a young adult, I did it to another car and turned it into Batmobile,” he said. “I’ve always just been creative and had an imagination that never stops. I don’t believe in being normal.”

The project really came together during the start of the pandemic, when Vizzini was able to sit down and devote some time to the endeavor — and when the new “Ghostbusters” movie was set to come out.

“I thought how cool that would be, how fun that would be, to be able to have this done and be able to show up with that to the movie and so I got started on it right away,” he said. “I got it done, in the most part, in about a month and a half.”

The model is equipped with everything from a ghost sniffer, a satellite, a ladder and even a glowing green light underneath. There’s also pop-up animatronics Vizzini has added over the years, including Slimer, who will pop up in the rear of the truck and spray water, just like the infamous ghoulish character.

“It does serve me well when someone is driving behind me too closely,” Vizzini joked.

To more serious “Ghostbuster” fans, Vizzini wants to be clear: “It’s not an exact replica, it’s a tribute,” he said. And even though it’s not an exact copy, people are still just as excited to see it drive by. In fact, whenever taking the truck somewhere, Vizzini is sure to leave extra early.

“When I first drove off in it, even before it was all the way done, I was followed by people all over,” he said.

Working part time at In-N-Out, Vizzini spends his free time driving the Ecto-1 for ride-sharing services, surprising riders with a spin in the outfitted vehicle.

Dorian Marricle, a members of the Colorado Springs Ghostbusters wears and outfit complete with goggles, ghost traps and event the infamous proton pack featured in the famous film. (Parker Seibold, The Gazette) (Parker Seibold)
Dorian Marricle, a members of the Colorado Springs Ghostbusters wears and outfit complete with goggles, ghost traps and event the infamous proton pack featured in the famous film. (Parker Seibold, The Gazette) (Parker Seibold)

“After turning my car into the Ecto-1, I got treated like a rock star, but I didn’t really know where to go, so I started driving for Lyft,” he said. “It’s been a wonderful experience. It’s really opened the door to a lot of other events and things. It’s been great.”

Vizzini has even found a community here in Colorado of other ghostbusters.

“There are so many more ghostbusters that have just beautiful equipment. It’s so authentic. It’s so original. What I did to my car, they’ll do their proton packs and all of their other equipment,” he said.

So, if there’s something weird, and it doesn’t look good … you know who to call.

“I love doing what I’m doing,” he said. “It’s been life-changing.”

Ken Vizzini, operator of Colorado Springs Ghostbusters, stands next to his Toyota truck that he transformed into a tribute to the Ecto-1 from the film “Ghostbusters.” on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023“I was bored with my truck,” he says, “and I had always been a ‘Ghostbusters’ fan.” (Parker Seibold, the gazette)
Ken Vizzini, operator of Colorado Springs Ghostbusters, stands next to his Toyota truck that he transformed into a tribute to the Ecto-1 from the film “Ghostbusters.” on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023“I was bored with my truck,” he says, “and I had always been a ‘Ghostbusters’ fan.” (Parker Seibold, the gazette)
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