The typical elements of Valentine’s Day are tried and true – flowers, gourmet chocolates and fancy dinners. For those looking for an alternative way to spend their evening, a haunted house awaits lovers (or friends) in Atascadero.
The Haunt operates primarily during Halloween, but during this season of love, members of the volunteer team put together a Valentine’s Day experience-themed “Dr. Frankenstein’s Heart Lab” on Feb. 14 and 15.
This personalized haunt experience is not for the faint of heart. Participants go through the set-up with their group, up to four people, and can expect a high-end experience complete with stunts, animatronics and attention to detail.
“The amount of prep that goes into a show- it would blow your mind,” said founder and owner Chris Towers. He oversaw the merge between two local haunts in 2015 and has been dedicated to his team at The Haunt ever since.
People expecting a cheesy, cardboard cut-out style haunted house will be shocked upon entry, according to Towers. The entire system is computer-controlled, animatronics that took weeks of preparation. Live actors add another layer of intensity.
Behind the scenes, The Haunt is entirely volunteer-based with everyone bringing a collective passion for creativity.
Cast members of The Haunt in Atascadero. Stephanie High | Courtesy
“Everyone is either there because they want to learn or have something to teach,” Towers said. “Every time I’m there, I learn something new from somebody.”
From artists to engineers to actors, the group of local volunteers come up with original ideas for haunts and execute them, according to Towers. All the money made goes directly back into the artwork.
“Shortly after getting here, I realized that I found my tribe, and it’s wonderful being with them,” said volunteer Sean O’Donnell.
O’Donnell has been with The Haunt since 2020 and works behind-the-scenes. He currently writes electronic programs for the show and communicates with his team during haunts to ensure safety.
Towers notes that although the goal is to give attendees a scare, it will also be 15 minutes of a good time. The commercial building might not appear like much from the outside, but a cemetery and basement await attendees just inside.
“It’s amazing, because people that come always, always, always tell me we’re better than anything they’ve seen,” Towers said. “We’re better than universal, we’re better than all the big boys down South, because they can tell the amount of time and effort that goes into it.”