Penn State Clubs to Host Haunted House

Penn State’s Forensic Science Club and Theme Park Engineering Group are hosting a haunted house on the University Park campus beginning tonight (Oct. 21).

The haunted house, called “St. Michael’s Asylum,” will take place at Penn State’s Pine and Spruce cottages. Tickets to the event are $4.99 and can be purchased at the door.

Haunted houses will take place on the following schedule:

• Thursday, Oct. 21 — 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• Friday, Oct. 22 — 7 p.m. to midnight
• Saturday, Oct. 23 — 7 p.m. to midnight

The groups will offer a “Kids Hour” from 7 to 8 p.m. on Saturday.

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A portion of the proceeds from the haunted house will go toward the H.E.A.R.T. Foundation and Give Kids The World Village.

The H.E.A.R.T. Foundation provides support to victims of sexual assault through promoting positive change in laws and through therapeutic aid. Give Kids The World Village is a nonprofit resort in Central Florida that provides a free, week-long stay for families of critically ill children from around the world.

This year’s event will be the first haunted house at the cottages in two years since it was put on hold last year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Members of both organizations wanted to make their return “a good one.”

Each club designed a cottage on its own. TPEG took inspiration from John Carpenter’s “Halloween.” The group focused its cottage around Michael Myers, one of the most infamous asylum escapees. Guests will go along with a tour guide through the asylum, culminating in an escape from “the Shape.”

“The story of TPEG’s haunted house is that you are visiting Shady Grove Sanitarium, current residency of Michael Myers,” Andrew Talarico, TPEG’s chief creative director, said. “Myers breaks out of the sanitarium, and chaos ensues.”

Jared Martin, TPEG’s president, said the haunted house should be scary enough to make you feel like you’re in the film.

“Guests this year will truly feel this terror come to life,” Martin said. “We’ve recreated some of the most iconic moments from the films in new and unique ways that will leave visitors surprised and terrified…You have a part to play as the last survivors, fleeing one of cinema’s premier slashers. Whether you’ve seen the movies or not, you will be sure to have a frightfully good time.”