Subscribe to RSSTaylor Haunted House to fundraise through scares
By Kendra Straub
One of the longest traditions on Northern Arizona University (NAU)’s campus is the annual Haunted House run by Taylor Hall. This year, the haunted house will run from 8 p.m. to midnight Oct. 26 to Oct. 28 and again on Halloween night.
“The haunted house started inside Taylor Hall and has expanded and has grown so large that the event now is held in the NAU Fieldhouse,” graduate residence hall director for Taylor Hall, Tim Bonson, said.
The event is free for NAU students and $4 for non-NAU students.
“The proceeds will go to future haunted houses . . . and a charitable organization,” Bonson said.
For the event to function, there are multiple people involved in helping scare NAU students. The volunteer jobs range from design to acting during the haunted house. Ben Draeger, a junior special education and elementary education major, is a resident of Taylor Hall and was recruited to participate in the haunted house.
“I’m helping out with the construction and break down of the event,” Draeger said. “This is the first year I’ve been involved.”
“There are over 30 individual volunteers, and then organizations help out as well with a total between 50 to 70 people helping in some way or another,” Bonson said.
The construction of the haunted house began Oct. 19. The Fieldhouse will be turned into a maze where students walk through themed rooms where they will encounter costumed actors and a fitting themed room.
“Last year I was dressed in a Freddy Kruger costume and would stand behind people waiting in line to scare them,” Bonson said. “There were some people that left while waiting in line because [they were] so scared.”
The haunted house does have a separate tour intended for children that does not include all the scares.
“Last year, 1,500 people attended the event and it was the biggest event Taylor Hall put on last year,” Bonson said. “I believe [it's] one of the biggest events on campus.”
Everyone has high hopes for the success of this year’s haunted house.
“I think, based on the number of people that went last year, and based on the feedback we are already getting, I wouldn’t be surprised if we surpassed the 1,500,” Bonson said.
