The Huntley Haunt

As the countdown towards Halloween night begins, more and more trick-or-treaters are veering away from traditional neighborhood trick-or-treating and favoring community-organized settings.

Huntington Beach residents Eric Olson, Julie Schumacher, Denis, Eric and Sunny Schweers have attempted to curb this trend by providing an alternative with their now infamous haunted house known around the area as “The Huntley Haunt.”

For the last few years, the garage of 5661 Huntley Avenue (MapQuest it) has been transformed into a harrowing maze of menacing décor on Halloween night. Equipped with a variety of props including lifelike mannequins, fog machines, strobe lights, a nerve-wracking self-produced soundtrack and enough candy to feed a small nation, the group has carved their niche in Garden Grove lore.

Not wanting to rest upon past laurels, the haunt has evolved each Halloween as new ideas are conceived and growing communal pressures to improve upon past successes mount. Word of mouth combined with an effective advertising campaign has assured that such changes haven’t gone unnoticed. Each year “The Huntley Haunt” has grown in popularity, last year alone entertaining over 600 visitors.

For the group involved, the motivation behind this ambitious

undertaking was an inspiration to create something that they would have relished visiting as children. Building upon themes from classic horror films as well as Knott’s Scary Farm, this particular haunt has proven to be a melting pot of terror, while promising not to terrorize your wallet since the price of admission is free.

This year promises to be an even more memorable haunt as the group has a few surprises up their sleeves which will remain under wraps until Halloween night. What the group is divulging, however, is that this year’s theme will be a collapsed hillbilly coal mine, infested with an unruly bunch left blinded by dust. Unsurprisingly, these hillbilly-types will be eager to welcome any trick-or-treater capable of finding an exit in the eerily dark corridors, so be on the lookout! Of course the odds will be stacked against you as the locals have a dozen fog machines, an astute awareness of secret passages and costumes daunting enough to stop you in your path. If you are up to the challenge, the odds are certainly not in your favor that you will find your sugary treat at the exit before they can get to you.

While children and teens make up the overwhelming demographic of patrons, the group welcomes those of all ages. Just make certain to keep a keen awareness of your surroundings as some of the injured, lifeless bodies left lying around may be a bit more lifelike than you think…