HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – A family-owned haunted house has opened its creaky doors for the 20th season in Hopkinsville. Built from the ground up in the backyard of a Halloween loving household, Nightmares End has the goal of creating an ever-growing community gathering spot, and a lot of screams.
“I’ve always enjoyed Halloween. As a kid I would hide and scare other kids when they would come trick or treat,” said Cary Alder, owner of Nightmares End Haunted House. “It’s all about having a good time and smiling and yelling and screaming and laughing.”
In 2005, Alder put together a small haunted house on his property to entertain his five kids during fall. As time went on, word started to spread, and he put his creativity to the test as more and more people were looking to get scared.
“They’d come up and knock on the door during the week and brings some friends and want to go through it too, and it kind of just took off from there,” Alder told Christian County Now. He eventually put a name on it as has committed to pushing the limits every Halloween season.
20 seasons of growth
This year, Alder kicked off the 20th season on a particularly spooky Friday the 13th in September. Since it is located right behind his house, he has been making additions and improvements on the haunted house all year long. This process includes visiting regional trade shows to check out the latest masks and costumes while collaborating with other haunted house owners to determine the best ways to terrify.
“Being our 20th anniversary, I have done a lot of work. The entire house has been completely redone inside and out,” said Alder.
While the exact layout of the inside and outdoor portion of the haunted house remains a mystery to maintain an element of surprise for guests, he mentioned they have added quite a few new gadgets and tricks. He believes the key to a good scare is putting people in uncomfortable situations where they are not sure what will happen next.
Support from Halloween lovers
After people walk through the haunted house, they are encouraged to grab a bite from a local food truck on site and sit around the fire pit while listening to distant screams. Alder said he loves watching people hang out and enjoy the atmosphere and looks forward to seeing new and returning faces every year from Christian County and beyond.
Although he is proud of what he has been able to create in his own backyard, Alder has dreams of one day expanding beyond his property. For now, he will continue enhancing and growing what he’s built saying, “As soon as Halloween is over this year, I’ve got some plans to start redoing some stuff already.”
Nightmares End is located down a winding road in Hopkinsville at 1595 Billy Goat Hill Road. The haunted house is recommended for people over the age of 13 and will be open every Friday through Sunday night until Nov. 3, weather permitting. People have the option of purchasing regular, or fast pass tickets that allow them to skip the line. Find more information on the Nightmares End Facebook page.
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