Beware of BSG’s new scare

BSG’s Haunted House moves to former Wal-Mart plaza

Allison Kowalski
LIFESTYLES EDITOR

The abandoned Wal-Mart lot is undergoing a whole new makeover during the month of October.  Instead of unused space, the Forest City Auto parking lot in the old Wal-Mart lot will host SUNY Brockport’s haunted house this year. 

Every year, haunted houses are promoted and created by the Brockport Student Government (BSG).  Last year, “A Nightmare on Holley Street,” was in an abandoned house the college bought.  However, the house was torn down to create more parking for commuter students and off-campus students.  Also, BSG was not able to have the haunted house on campus because of safety hazards, said Ryan Troup, the programming director of BSG.

“We had no real options for on-campus because of fire hazards,” Troup said.

So, needing a new location because last years is no longer physically available, BSG had some work to do.  The Ballroom was out of the question because it is temporarily hosting Harrison dining hall while it undergoes renovations. There is also a maximum number of two days for renting the Ballroom while BSG would need it for three weeks of preparation.

Driving around Brockport, Troup and BSG President Darnell Pierce realized that the old Wal-Mart parking lot would be an ideal spot to hold the haunted house. BSG has been planning the haunted house since July. 

The Forest City Auto lot provides a large space where the BSG programmers are able to create their own layout with its 6,500 square feet of unused space.  In previous years, BSG had to work around the layout of the houses the haunted houses were in.  Now, BSG is able to work with hired contractors to use the big, open space and and they will create eight different rooms, along with a haunted maze. 

BSG was given a discount on the area because it would be used for college students. 

Each room will have a scary movie theme due to demand and interest. One of the themes will likely be Saw because it is very popular.  Saw IV will be opening later this fall, so what better way to get ready for it than visiting the Saw room in the haunted house?

The maze will be especially frightening because of its haunted circus theme.  Scary, crazy and ragged-looking clowns will jump out to scare you.

BSG currently has 40 student volunteers to help set up the haunted maze and themed rooms.  They will do things such as staple tarps to the wooden walls and set up the fog machines.  The volunteers will also be actors in the haunted house and maze as well. 

“This is one of my favorite things to do,” Troup said. 

The haunted house will be held Friday, Oct. 26, Saturday, Oct. 27 and Wednesday, Oct. 31.  Sunday, Oct. 28 is a possible additional date for the haunted house, though BSG is not sure if it will be, Troup said.  The haunted house is free to Brockport students, faculty and staff with a valid ID.  It is also open to the Brockport community for a small fee, though the community will not be allowed to visit the haunted house Halloween night because it is reserved only for college students.

Shuttles specifically running to and from the haunted house will be available for students free of charge. 

So be prepared for a fun-filled evening of scary excitement as you go through the haunted house and maze!