How Does Haunted High School Happen?

By Alana T.

October 28, 2023, marked the 20th anniversary of the Haunted High School at Roland-Story. First put on in 2003 by NHS, what we know as the Haunted High School was simply a haunted house, and it has continued to grow. The way the haunted house was run initially differs from how it is run today. Mrs. Fetterer, the school secretary and teacher sponsor of NHS, was asked her opinion on how this year’s Haunted High School went. In comparison to past years, Mrs. Fetterer said that the turnout was a little higher. This difference from past years may be due to this year's planning. 

Planning for the Haunted High School usually starts in the beginning of September, right after Labor Day. All NHS members meet and are briefed on how the Haunted High School works. They then form groups to work in and claim a section of the high school to decorate. Each group develops their assigned section into a unique and scary idea that they come up with. But the planning for this event doesn’t get serious until two weeks before the big day. At the two-week mark, groups need to have their themes finalized. NHS members meet again and inform Mrs. Fetterer of what she needs to buy to make their idea a reality. During this time period before the Haunted High School actually happens, Mrs. Fetterer secures all props, decorations, and costumes the groups requested. 

The themes members came up with this year were very terrifying and well put together. To start off, you enter a hallway of creepy clowns. Strobe lights go off as the clowns slowly approach you. Then, you enter an insane asylum in the varsity girls locker room. Patients and doctors alike are pictured in distress. If you paid for the extra room, that’s your next stop. The extra room includes many carefully set-up props to create an authentic torture chamber feel. Next, you are ushered into the elevator to continue your Haunted High School journey. Inside the elevator, dolls silently stare at you with a haunting look. When you exit the elevator, your next stop is a terrifying prison. Inmates scream at you as you hurry through this section. Then you enter a graveyard; it’s full of horrifying zombies. Before you can enter the next section, you have to find your way out of a wooden contraption. Your next stop is a bone-chilling blackout maze. Actors in a variety of Halloween-themed masks jump out at you. The next room involves an active surgery and a wild animal. Though random, this combination produces a gruesome sight. As you continue, you are ushered through the unsettling nursery scene by a little girl. You can find the elderly and young in this wild room. Your last stop in this Haunted High School journey is a grotesque cannibalistic feast. It is led by a new age cult, and anything from brains to blood is served during this meal. These themes were all made a reality in one day. 

On the day of the Haunted High School, the actors and planners of this macabre event scramble to prepare their sections in the best (and most horrific) way possible. They gather supplies to transform the high school into an unrecognizable place. These supplies include intricate wooden sets that Mr. Boman, the physics teacher and co-sponsor of this event, has his physics students build. Mazes are set up, the set pieces are placed, and props are gathered. Next, NHS members need to dress in their spooky costumes. For some this means previously purchased costumes and masks. For others, it means DIY costumes and make-up. This year’s set-up began at around 11 am. Most sections were finished by 6 pm for a quick pizza break before the haunting began. But first, Mrs. Fetterer needs to preview the Haunted High School in its entirety. After the walkthrough is complete and final touches are made, doors open at 8 pm. All the frightening actors, who have prepared all day, get ready to make the first scare of the night. 

The Haunted High School goes from 8 to 10 pm, but this year's last group of people didn’t finish going through until 10:30 pm. After the final group finishes their scary journey, members can start the process of tearing down the Haunted High School. They tear down all their hours of tedious and painstaking work to return the high school back to its original state. The cleanup ends much quicker than the setup, only taking about 30 minutes. After their section is cleaned up and put away, NHS members are released to go home. This ends their 12-hour day filled with spooky preparations. 

After how much hard work NHS members put in, it all paid off. This year, around 280 tickets were sold. The profit for the 2023 Haunted High School came out to $2,800.  Some of this money goes back to NHS for membership fees and induction night supplies. The majority of the profit, however, goes to a local charity. This year, the charity has yet to be decided. When asked what she thought about this year's Haunted High School, Mrs. Fetterer said: “I feel like overall it was a great year. We have some really great leaders in NHS.” Additionally, this year the members running the ticket counter were able to get people through the line faster and were more organized.

Overall, the Haunted High School ended up being just as successful as past years. It made a profit that will be able to support not only National Honor Society’s needs, but a local charity as well. NHS members had a fun time organizing and scaring, while participants got an enjoyable and (hopefully) terrifying experience. In the end, all it took to make an amazingly morbid Haunted High School was the hard work and dedication put in by determined high schoolers!

Location: Story City, IA 50248, USA

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