Enter there if you dare!

Alexis Barker
NLJ Reporter
 
Spider webs, fake blood and horrifying animatronics now fill the old tire shop that has become FrightMare on Main Street just in time for Halloween. 
For the third year,  friends Kellie Taylor and Robert and Natasha Miller are bringing screams to Newcastle with their haunted house, which features not only scary animatronics but also live bodies that promise to scare those who are brave enough to attend – parental discretion is advised. 
For 10 hours over two nights, people seeking thrills can attend FrightMare on Main Street, located at 600 W. Main, for $5 or 3 cans of food. People who want to skip the line and get to the fright quicker can purchase a VIP pass for $10. 
“It is a whole lot of fun scaring people, and we get to give back to the community,” Robert Miller said. “We don’t make any money doing this.” 
In fact, the trio admitted that they spend money every year to host the frightful event, all with the community in mind. Money is spent every year on setup, new decorations for the haunted house and insurance purchased to make sure the hosts are covered in case of an accident, they said. 
“Every year we come together after the haunted house is over and decide where we are going to donate the money,” Taylor said. “We change it up every year, and the food always goes to the local food bank.” 
In the past, the proceeds from FrightMare have gone to purchase jerseys for the RENEW Special Olympics team and the Toys for Tots program. The group has also received help from the Future Business Leaders of America organization and the Family, Career, Community, Leaders of America from Newcastle High School. In return for their help with the haunted house, the students received funds for their organization. 
“We just really love scaring people, and we are trying to bring the community together while we do so,” Taylor said. “It also gives the kids something to do and keeps them out of trouble.” 
She noted that in previous years the haunted house has become a hangout for middle and high school kids, who go through and get their scare and then hang out in nearby parking lots. Taylor said the kids are safe there and stay out of trouble. 
The trio hopes to continue FrightMare in future years and to engage local businesses in the venture, admitting that they have approached businesses previously but to little success. Taylor said that their ambitions include getting enough businesses involved that each one has its own room in the haunted house to decorate. 
“We want to keep it cheap for the community, but we want to be able to have it grow and get bigger,” Taylor said. 
She noted that for now the old Peerless Tire Shop at 600 W. Main works, but the annual fright planners hope to eventually have a bigger building. They also hope the building can be permanent so they don’t have to completely tear down the haunted house structure and rebuild every year. 
“We will have put a solid month of work into the haunted house by opening night,” Robert Miller said. “The guy that owns this building is nice enough to let us take it over, but eventually we would like our own building.” 
He noted that the haunted house began at T&A Brewing in 2015 before moving into the old Peerless Tire Shop for 2016 and 2018. The group of friends took a year off in 2017. 
This year’s haunted house will feature a maze with actual walls to prevent people from running through, and creepy animatronics that have been used in previous years, as well as some newly added animatronics that are sure to provide some scare. The live bodies, though are what provide the real scare for those brave enough to tour the haunted house. The planners admit they can always use more live bodies, and interested volunteers should contact Taylor at 746-8233. 
“We really just hope people come down and will hopefully be scared. They will have a great time either way, even if they are not scared,” Taylor said.