Their very own scream home

Family transforms its home for scares and charity

Not satisfied with simply adorning their lawn with a few pumpkins, one Calgary family continues to take its Halloween decorating to the next level.

For the past 27 years, the Campbell family has annually transformed its otherwise-unassuming Rocky Ridge home into a haven for all things horrifying. "I think it's going to be the best year yet. In fact, I know it is," said homeowner and Haunted Calgary host Myrna Campbell. "We get everything from laughter to tears. Our goal is to scare people, so it's a successful year if we make somebody pee their pants. I think every year that happens at least once, and it's not usually the kids."

What began as just a way of showing off their ghoulish sense of décor has since spread into a full-blown haunted house, complete with sound effects, animatronics and 40 live actors. For $10 and a food donation, both of which are donated to charity, Calgarians can test their mettle.

According to Campbell, around 7,000 brave souls take the challenge every year, contributing the family's goal of raising $10,000 for the Oops-a-Dazy Animal Rescue and Sanctuary Society, as well as donating food to the Calgary Interfaith Food Bank.

This year's theme is the Salem Witch Trials, with Campbell promising to traumatize trick-or-treaters with "freaks and monsters you've only seen in your nightmares." This year, the Campbells were even lucky enough to have a local actor donate their time to give the volunteers a bit of an acting lesson.

With this year's haunted house the "biggest yet," the Campbells have used every bit of space available to maximize scares.

"This is as big as it can get on our property. "So in order for it to get any bigger, we would have to have land somewhere," said Campbell.

"So if anybody wants to donate a warehouse for us, we're more than willing. It's cost-prohibitive to buy land to put up a haunted house."

Visit Haunted Calgary Oct. 30 to Nov. 1 from 6 to 10 p.m. at 222 Rocky Ridge Bay N.W – if you dare.

Tagged: Calgary Community | Halloween | haunted house | Rocky Ridge