From the blood-spattered bathroom to the body parts dangling from the ceiling to that icy tickle on the back of your neck, Frightville XI Haunted House will get the adrenaline flowing.
Screams will emanate from the Roller Barn as the brave venture through 21 rooms of terror, including escaping the rumored first morgue of Oak Harbor and squirming between the walls of the house of a couple killed on their wedding night.
But that’s only the beginning. Meet Mr. Giggles and Mr. Honky, a pair of maniacal clowns with no boundaries on scaring the screams out of everyone.
Can you escape a room without doors? What will leap out of a room with a nightmarish twist on the movie “Poltergeist?” Can you be sure it was just a cobweb that brushed over your head?
Twist after macabre twist will keep the shrieks coming until the breathtaking finale in the play room — and it isn’t named that because the guests are the ones getting to play.
A core group of approximately 15 volunteers have been working nearly every day since April to get the scares set up, including adding four more rooms than last year.
“We do it because we love to. There’s nothing better than the adrenaline rush of scaring somebody,” said Brian Boyle, manager of the haunted house and the portrayer of Mr. Giggles.
Brian’s wife, Johanna Boyle, will play a gory guide to lead groups through the haunted house.
“I’ve always loved Halloween and dressing up. I met my husband and his construction battalion did a haunted house and it was amazing,” Johanna said.
She can’t get enough of horror movies and Brian brings them to life. He’s been building haunted houses for the past 11 years.
“I’ve always gone over the top and he jumps right in,” Johanna said.
“There’s nothing better than seeing someone get scared. It’s always funny,” Brian said.
Over the years, the Boyles, Philip Sellers, playing Mr. Honky, and Randi Farrow, queen of the bathroom scene, have seen too many “funny” reactions to terror to count.
“There’s the turtle,” Brian said, showing the stance by hunching up and hiding behind his arms. “And screamers.”
Sellers said the most amusing was “the kid sacrifice,” when a parent shoved her child between herself and what scared her.
“We have a lot of fun,” Brian said, noting that under the rules for volunteers “have fun” is listed twice.
The haunted house has room for more than 40 actors and still needs more volunteers age 18 and up.
The screams are going to a good cause because all proceeds benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Oak Harbor. Last year, the group raised $12,000 for the club as 1,200 people went through the house.
This is the second largest fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club.
The haunted house will be open through Halloween night. It’s meant to scare and isn’t designed for young children, but a lights-on matinee complete with flashlights and candy will be open to children on Saturday, Oct. 29 from noon to 3 p.m.
But for the adults, it’s one chilling thrill after the next.
“Good luck making it through the play room!” Brian said, laughing.
To volunteer or for information call 240-9273.
Experience the terror
• Saturday, Oct. 22, 7 to 10 p.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 27, 6 to 9 p.m.
• Friday, Oct. 28, 7 to 11 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 29, 7 to 11 p.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 30, 6 to 9 p.m.
• Monday, Oct. 31, 6 to 10 p.m.
Admission is $10.
Lights-on matinee: Saturday, Oct. 29, noon to 3 p.m.; admission is $3.
The Roller Barn is located at 98 NE Barron Drive, Oak Harbor.
Call 240-9273.