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Terrortown Times 2

Suncoast News photo by KLINT LOWRY

Chuck Morris, Bailee Frevold and a furry friend get Terrortown ready for visitors.

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By KLINT LOWRY

The Suncoast News

Published: October 24, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - Two heads really are better than one, especially when you're talking about monsters.

In the face of hair-raising economic times, two of west Pasco's most impressive amateur Halloween attractions have decided to join forces to create a haunted house of epically eerie proportions.

For the past five years, with the coming of the October moon, the ground around Chuck Morris' home in the Veterans Village neighborhood has transformed into "Terrortown."

Years earlier, Morris' friend Steve Schienle had introduced him to the seasonal hobby of working on Halloween attractions. Morris works as an emergency medical technician for Sunstar Critical Care Transport, and is an alternate EMT for All Children's Hospital.

He and Schienle created Terrortown as a fundraising event for the hospital. For a private venture, Terrortown became a local legend in its scope and quality.

"I had 32 characters in my haunted house at one time," Morris said.

Last year, Morris heard of another impressive amateur haunted house in the Moon Lake area.

For the past seven years, brothers Dana, Dave and Don Frevold have been conjuring up a haunted house on a lot adjacent to Dana's house.

It all started when Dana's daughter, Bailee, wanted a witch-theme party for her 11th birthday.

"They built a little haunted house for us, and then the neighbors wanted to go through it, and that's how it started," Bailee Frevold said. "Each year it got bigger."

When they bought the vacant lot, the Frevolds had the luxury of doing something Morris couldn't; they were able to build a permanent structure for the frame for their haunted house.

Bailee's mother, Lori Frevold, said last year their haunted house drew as many as 600 guests in a single night.

This year, with Morris bringing the Terrortown name to the Frevolds' facility, they are all expecting they can draw loyal visitors of both attractions to a haunted house that is bigger and better than either was separately.

They have expanded the building frame, so that now the winding corridors, macabre rooms and creepy open courtyard take up about as much space as a moderate ranch-style house. By teaming up, they have the accumulated props, costumes and special effects of both attractions to fill it with a series of horrific "scenes."

Some haunted houses go for sheer horror, Morris said, others go for a more comical approach. Their aim is to have a bit of both - a family-friendly attraction with a few terrifying jolts along the way.

To make sure that balance isn't disturbed by any unwelcome spirits, no one suspected of being intoxicated will be admitted.

The greatest asset in this collaboration is that both haunted houses come with a legion of loyal volunteer spooks who bring a healthy spirit of fun.

They're thinking they will have enough volunteers that the ghouls and goblins will be able to haunt in shifts. People don't realize the kind of energy it takes to terrorize for hours on end, Morris said, especially doing it in heavy rubber costumes. Last year, he lost 15 pounds in five nights working Terrortown.

The Frevold property has enough space, so volunteers will set up a camp out back and turn it into a long haunted Halloween weekend party for all the volunteer families during and after witching hours.

The relocated Terrortown will be open 7:30 to 10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and 7:30 to 11 p.m. Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at 8940 Lake Drive, just east of Moon Lake Park. The proprietors suggest using an online direction service such as Mapquest for directions.

Because the haunted house is in a residential neighborhood, arrangements have been made so guests can use the park's parking lot, rather than park on the street.

Admission will be $3 for all ages. A portion of the proceeds will go to All Children's Hospital.

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