Last month, Ash and I took an unforgettable trip to Las Vegas with one main goal in mind—to visit Zak Bagans’ Haunted Museum. As avid haunted house enthusiasts and creators, this museum felt like a dream destination. It’s packed with eerie exhibits, historical artifacts, and chilling tales that had us captivated from the moment we walked in. The experience not only satisfied our curiosity but also gave us countless ideas to enhance this year’s haunted house event.
Walking Through the Haunted Museum
The Haunted Museum is a treasure trove of eerie objects and immersive displays. From cursed dolls to vintage circus paraphernalia, every corner seemed to whisper a story. One highlight was the doll exhibit, which featured some truly unsettling pieces. (Check out the photos we snapped of the dolls below.)
Another favorite was the “Bimbo 3 Ring Circus” arcade machine. Its retro style and haunting vibe got us thinking about adding vintage, interactive elements to some sections of our haunted house.
Gathering Inspiration for This Year’s Haunted House
Zak Bagans’ Haunted Museum left us buzzing with ideas. The attention to detail in their props and staging inspired us to elevate our own immersive storytelling. Here are a few ideas we’re taking back with us:
Photo Highlights from Our Trip
A wall of haunted dolls, glowing eerily under dim lights (pictured below).
The iconic Haunted Museum entrance, with its quirky vintage vibe.
The “Warning” sign—a perfect inspiration for setting the tone at the entrance of our haunted house.
Ash and me repping our Black Mountain Haunted House shirts.
The Las Vegas strip on a quiet morning, capturing the contrast of the bustling city and the eerie museum hidden within.
Looking Ahead
This trip to Zak Bagans’ Haunted Museum was not just an exploration but a masterclass in haunted storytelling. We’re excited to implement these ideas into this year’s haunted house and can’t wait to see how our visitors react to the new immersive elements.
Stay tuned as we unveil more about this year’s themes and features. For now, enjoy these photos, and let us know what you’re most excited about for this year’s Black Mountain Haunted House!
The Black Mountain Haunted House is more than just a collection of terrifying scenes — it’s a labor of love, creativity, and teamwork. Each year, an incredible group of volunteers, staff, and community members come together to build an unforgettable experience. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at the magic, mayhem, and hard work that went into this year’s haunted house.
It all started with the essentials: lumber. We loaded up the truck with the wood that would form the bones of the haunted house (Thanks to our wonderful Volunteers). Under the night sky, we arrived at Hillcrest Farm Market, ready to unload and prepare for the build. The excitement was palpable — we were laying the foundation for this year’s scares! 🛠️🌙
On the first day of the build, the site buzzed with energy. Volunteers worked together to frame the walls, piece by piece. The structure started to take shape, and with every nail and beam, we got closer to our vision. Of course, breaks were necessary, and our team made sure to enjoy snacks, coffee, and a bit of shade. The camaraderie kept us going strong! ☕🔨
With the walls up, it was time to go vertical! Ashley climbed the beams, securing the roof with precision and a smile. Dad was right there with his steady hands and expertise, ensuring everything was solid. Our volunteers worked tirelessly, balancing on ladders and beams to complete the structure.
Soon, the roof was on, and we had a fully enclosed space ready for the next phase. Rain or shine, this haunted house was ready to stand tall and deliver the scares! 🌧️🏗️
While the structure was being built, creativity was in full swing. Our volunteers brought scenes to life with handcrafted props and meticulous attention to detail.
In the photos, you can see Ashley hard at work constructing giant nutcrackers. From humble materials like Sonotubes, PVC pipes, and paint, these nutcrackers transformed into imposing sentinels for the Krampus Hallway. With glittering gold trim, vibrant red jackets, and painted faces, these nutcrackers add a chilling festive twist to the eerie scene, guarding the path where Krampus and his sinister elves dwell. 🎨🛠️
Meanwhile, Michaela meticulously crafted snowflakes for our Winter Forest scene, adding that magical, icy touch. ❄️ And Aunty Heather assembled the Christmas trees that would set the stage for the snowy landscape — complete with the chilling Yeti lurking in the shadows. 🌲👹
One of the highlights of this year’s build was the participation of staff from the McNair Mental Health Unit at Kelowna General Hospital. These incredible healthcare workers took time out of their busy schedules to help with construction, showing just how much this haunted house means to our community. Their enthusiasm and hard work reminded us why we do this — to support a great cause while having fun together. ❤️
As the walls went up, the rooms took shape, and the details came together, the excitement built to a fever pitch. From securing tarps to stringing lights and pumpkins, everyone pitched in until the haunted house was ready for its grand opening.
Ashley took a well-deserved break, her smile a testament to the joy and pride we all felt. After long days and late nights, the Black Mountain Haunted House was complete — a spooky masterpiece built with sweat, laughter, and heart. 🎃🛠️
Building the haunted house isn’t just about creating scares — it’s about community, creativity, and connection. Every volunteer, family member, and friend who helped made this experience possible. From loading lumber to crafting snowflakes, every moment was filled with fun, teamwork, and a shared passion for giving our community an unforgettable experience.
Thank you to everyone who helped build, support, and visit the Black Mountain Haunted House. We can’t wait to scare you again next year! 👻❤️
Kelowna, B.C. – This year’s Black Mountain Haunted House not only delivered spine-chilling scares but also achieved a remarkable milestone in community support. Thanks to record-breaking attendance and the incredible dedication of volunteers, the event raised $10,000 for the McNair Mental Health Unit at Kelowna General Hospital.
The haunted house, held at its new, expanded location at Hillcrest Farm Market, welcomed thousands of visitors between October 18th and 27th. Attendees experienced a series of immersive horror scenes, from sinister witches to eerie alien encounters, each crafted with meticulous attention to detail. The event drew in horror enthusiasts of all ages, offering both terrifying nighttime experiences and family-friendly hours on weekends.
Proceeds from this year’s haunted house went toward improving patient comfort at the McNair Mental Health Unit. The funds provided essential items like weighted blankets, noise-cancelling headphones, pillows, and furnishings to create a more home-like, therapeutic environment for patients undergoing treatment. Additionally, part of the donation supported supplies for the dedicated staff who provide critical care, ensuring they have the resources needed to continue their work effectively.
The success of the Black Mountain Haunted House wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work of volunteers and community partners. Actors, set designers, construction crews, guest service attendants, and parking staff all played vital roles in bringing the haunted experience to life. A special thanks goes to Hillcrest Farm Market for hosting the event and providing support with space, parking, and concessions.
The Black Mountain Haunted House has become a staple Halloween event in the Kelowna community, combining entertainment with a commitment to giving back. To date, the event has raised over $25,000 for local mental health initiatives, highlighting the power of community-driven events to make a positive impact.
For a closer look at this year’s thrills and the community effort behind them, watch the event highlight video here:
With another successful year in the books, plans are already underway for next year’s haunted house. Expect new themes, more scares, and continued efforts to support local causes.
Thank you to everyone who attended, volunteered, and supported the Black Mountain Haunted House. Together, we’re making a difference — one scare at a time.
We are beyond excited to share that this past season, the Black Mountain Haunted House was able to give back to the community in a truly meaningful way. Thanks to the overwhelming support of our visitors, volunteers, and sponsors, we donated $10,000 to the McNair Mental Health Unit at Kelowna General Hospital. 🏥❤️
This donation went directly towards improving the comfort and care of patients receiving mental health services at the new Ketamine Treatment Clinic. The funds provided:
These additions aim to reduce the clinical feel of the hospital and provide a more therapeutic environment, which can significantly impact patient well-being during treatment.
In addition to enhancing patient care, part of the donation was used to purchase supplies for the dedicated nurses and staff who work tirelessly to support mental health patients. By investing in the well-being of these healthcare providers, we help ensure that they can continue delivering compassionate and effective care.
This achievement would not have been possible without the collective effort of:
Your ticket purchases, enthusiasm, and support allowed us to give back to a cause that is near and dear to our hearts.
We are so grateful for the opportunity to not only create thrilling experiences but also contribute to our community’s mental health services. Thank you for being part of this journey. We can’t wait to welcome you back next year for even more scares and support!
👻🖤 With Haunted Thanks,
The Black Mountain Haunted House Team
Last year’s Black Mountain Haunted House was a huge success, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work and dedication of our incredible volunteers. From planning to execution, our team of volunteers played a crucial role in bringing this event to life.
Behind every successful event are the unsung heroes who make it all happen. Our volunteers spent countless hours building, decorating, and ensuring every detail was perfect. Whether they were hammering nails, painting props, or coordinating logistics, their contributions were invaluable.
We cannot thank our volunteers enough for their hard work and dedication. You truly made last year’s event unforgettable! We’re already planning for this year, and we’d love to have even more volunteers join our team. If you’re interested in helping out, visit our Volunteer page.
Last year’s haunted house reminded us of the power of community and what we can achieve when we work together. Here’s to making this year’s event even bigger and better!
Welcome to our News page! Here, you can find links to the latest media coverage of the Black Mountain Haunted House. We’re proud to be recognized by local news outlets for our spooky event and our commitment to supporting mental health initiatives. Check out the articles below to see what the community is saying about us.
Posted on October 27, 2023, by Cheyanna Lorraine – Kelowna Now
Spooky season is upon us, and the third annual Black Mountain Haunted House is back in full swing, just in time for Halloween! 🌕🎃
In case you missed out on the opening weekend, don’t worry—there are still three more nights to experience all the thrills and chills we have in store. From Friday, October 27th to Sunday, October 29th, thrill-seekers can head over to 1850 Linda Ct. between 6:00 PM and 10:00 PM for a night of spine-tingling scares.
This year’s haunted house is more elaborate than ever, featuring intricately themed rooms and terrifying street performers ready to give you a fright! But the fun doesn’t end there—guests can also enjoy delicious eats from the TNT Dynamite food truck on site. While the event is family-friendly, we recommend that children 10 and over attend to fully enjoy the experience.
Entry is by donation, with a suggested contribution of $5 per person. Best of all, every dollar raised goes directly to the Mental Health Unit at Kelowna General Hospital. Last year, we were thrilled to raise $6,500 for the unit, and with your help, we’re hoping to surpass that amount this year.
Parking is conveniently available at the Black Mountain Liquor Store, just a short walk from the haunted house. We hope to see you there for a night of frights and fun—all for a great cause!
Read the full article on Kelowna Now
Photo Credit: Black Mountain Haunted House Facebook