In a building that had been abandoned for nearly 30 years, 3rd Street Asylum, a haunted house, opened for a special preseason showing on Saturday, Aug. 25. The haunted house’s season begins Friday, Oct. 5 and lasts until Saturday, Nov. 3, with tickets priced at $18. 

Built in 1918, a former junior high school is used to house 3rd Street Asylum. Owners Mike Clouse, Steve Hoffine and Jerry Hoffine began to lease the building in 2007.

The haunted house officially opened in 2009 and has been improved upon every year since. Most of the rooms in the haunt follow the theme of an insane asylum, focusing on mad patients and fear immersion techniques.

“We concentrate on people’s basic fears, like spiders, snakes, clowns and claustrophobia,” Steve said.

Also, in hopes to terrify customers further, Steve uses misdirection in order to create confusion and panic among the haunted house’s customers.

“The goal is to lead people one way and have something come at them from the other direction when they least expect it,” Steve said.

Junior Ty Smith enjoyed his experience at the early showing.

“I thought the haunted house was very exciting and exhilarating,” Smith said. “I felt very alive.”

Thirty to thirty-five actors of all different ages work the haunted house using costumes that fit with the theme of the room they are stationed in.

“We actually have a set of twins that dress alike and pop out from behind walls,” Hoffine said. “You don’t know where they will come from next.”