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Local lovers of spooks and scares are the beneficiaries of Olivia Wood’s lifelong obsession with all things Halloween, as she transforms her collection of skeletons, witches, zombies and other creatures of the night into a haunted house that will be open on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at the Hollister Veterans’ Memorial Building.
A benefit for the Vet’s Hall, the Hollister Scares haunted house consists of 10 different frightening scenes, along with sound and lighting effects which Wood says promises a ‘frightful night you will never forget.”
Wood has been collecting Halloween decorations, particularly animatronics (electronically controlled figures), for 14 years. Her initial motivation was to create displays for the holiday in front of her home, and she chose what to buy accordingly.
“When I see an animatronic,” she said, “I immediately think about a scene, and that’s how I determine what I want. Most of the time, I’ll see something and know exactly what that thing needs to be doing and where it needs to be doing it.”
She began creating scenes from her collection in front of her house on Halloween, just to entertain her neighbors. As the displays became more elaborate, she began adding tents to extend her garage into a full-scale haunted house.
“My family,” Wood said, “would just bring it to life with their acting, scaring people along the way. Maria Spandri, here at the hall, knew this about me and asked me to bring it here. I really didn’t know what I was getting myself into, but I don’t have any regrets.”
The scenes she has created for the haunted house are intended to tell stories, all of which are based around the animatronics.
“In one,” she said, “a little boy was playing video games all night long. His mother said, ‘Hey, you’re going to have nightmares.’ And sure enough, a creature is in the corner of his room, haunting his dreams. I love putting these stories together.”
Wood has relied on a crew of about 10 volunteers to help construct the scenes and then act as costumed terrors. That includes her friend, Ariana Cordova, and her nephew, Parker Schmidt, who drove from Las Vegas for the event. Wood has trained them to temper their actions to accommodate their guests’ fear level.
“We do jump scares,” she said, “the things that make people wonder what’s on the other side. I think that people really enjoy that part of going to a haunted house, the mystery of it, the what’s behind that black curtain and what’s going to get me.”
But there are limits to what her actors will do to terrify people. They will not chase people or touch them, and she insists that guests not feel trapped or feel they need to run. For younger guests, she will lead them through the scenes in her character as Crouton the Clown, but will not wear her mask.
“I approach and I introduce myself,” she said, “and I let the kids know, ‘Hey, don’t worry. It’s really fun, honestly. Let’s walk through together, and we’ll bring your parents with us.’ We walk room to room, and I show them around.”
Younger visitors may also be provided with a flashlight, a cue for all actors in the vicinity to temporarily remove their masks and introduce themselves. Occasionally, she said, someone will actually recognize the actors at that point, as happened with one guest who spotted local businessman Adam Hill.
“He said, ‘Oh my goodness, that’s the guy at Hill’s Bookstore,’” she said. “And that was a good reminder as to why we do this. We want it to be for the community and a place for everyone to come and enjoy themselves.”
Hill’s daughter, eight-year-old Amelia Hill, has been one of those volunteers from the beginning. Wood says she will greet guests as they walk in and then head into the haunted house to improvise actions in the various scenes.
“She’s so awesome,” Wood said. “We don’t even tell her what to do. She kind of comes up with creative things on her own. And then she suddenly disappears off into the darkness, and that is scary enough.”
Wood said that one of the side benefits to becoming involved in the haunted house is her ability to promote the Veterans’ Building itself, which she discovered many people were unaware of as a venue for community activities.
“I got a chance to remind them this place is here,” she said. “Particularly veterans, who get into my haunted house for free. My message is, ‘Come on by. It’s your place!”
The Hollister Scares haunted house is open Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Hollister Veterans’ Memorial Building, 649 San Benito Street. General admission is $15, and it’s free for veterans (with ID) and children under five. All proceeds will be donated to the Veterans’ Hall. Participants may bring only clear bags; costume masks. Prop weapons are forbidden.
More fun events for this weekend:
San Benito Stage Company will present BeetleJuice Jr. from Oct 24 to Nov. 8
Hollister Recreation Treat Streets, Oct 31, 4-7 p.m.
Luna Gallery Hot Chocolate and Pan Dulce Reception, Nov. 1 at 5:30 p.m.
San Juan Bautista’s Día de los Muertos Celebration, including an Aztec “Blessing of the Community, ” starting at 4 p.m., then a mass for deceased Indigenous peoples will be held at Mission San Juan Bautista at 4:45 p.m., followed by a blessing for the dead and assembly at 5:45 p.m. A Calavera band then forms a procession back to the city celebration. For more information, click here.
El Teatro Campesino Dia de los Muertos Annual Community Event & Procession, Nov. 2, 12-5 p.m. Procession begins at 3 p.m.
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