Walt Disney World has fairy-tale princesses and a haunted house. Now Gainesville does, too, but with a scary twist.
The Gainesville Junior Chamber of Commerce, or Jaycees, will hold its 14th annual Haunted House at the Alachua County Fairgrounds starting tonight and ending on Halloween.
In groups of five or six, people will enter a 1,500-square-foot house in the depths of the woods and make their way through 13 rooms, numerous hallways and a maze, according to Kristen Rabell, Jaycees community director and haunted house head chairwoman.
This year's event, The Enchanted Castle, is inspired by fairy tales and Disney stories twisted into frightening tales, she said. For the past three years, the house's themes were movie-based, asylum-inspired and decorated to resemble the horror movie genre respectively.
Tickets are $5 in advance and $6 at the door, cash only. A portion of the funds will be donated to The American Kidney Foundation.
Event organizers expect 2,500 to 3,000 attendees to visit the haunted house over the course of five days.
UF organizations contributing to the event include Sigma Phi Lambda Sorority, UF American Society of Civil Engineers and UF Fire Emergency Services, Rabell said.
People of all ages can attend the event, though the attraction may be too scary for children younger than 8, Rabell said.
During a previous haunted house walk, a guest hyperventilated and had to be carried out by paramedics.
"I have seen a grown woman wet her pants, and someone actually ran out of their shoes," Rabell said. "It's pretty funny to see senior football players from Eastside [High School] run out screaming like 4-year-old girls."
The haunted house will be open from 7:30 p.m. to 12 a.m. tonight, Saturday and Oct. 30. On Thursday, it will be open from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., and on Halloween, it will be open from 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.
For advance tickets or additional information, e-mail info@gainesvillejaycees.com or call 352-213-6760.
