Local News

Student-designed haunted house returning to Lisbon for Halloween

LISBON -- A pop-up haunted house designed by Lisbon students is inviting the community for two evenings of scares.

"We did this last year, and the town really loved it, so this year we wanted to expand it. The extra space has really opened up their imagination," said local coach Rob Gregg.

For the second year, a haunted house has risen at 373 E. Chestnut St. in preparation to welcome the community for an evening of scares with themed rooms, scare actors, and horror set pieces, all designed and brought to life by a group of Lisbon students. This year the haunted house will be open Oct. 31 from 4 to 5 p.m. for younger children to enjoy the haunted house before the scare actors take their posts for general admission from 5 to 9 p.m. It will also be open Nov. 1 from 6 to 9 p.m.

There is no cost for admission.

"This is our second year bringing this project to life, and this year’s haunted house is bigger and better than last year’s. Seeing these students design, plan, build, and bring their ideas to reality has been an incredibly special experience," Gregg said. "I am beyond excited for the residents of Lisbon and our surrounding communities to experience what the talented students of Lisbon Junior/Senior High School have designed and built with their own hands. This project is about so much more than scares and Halloween decorations. It is about teamwork, learning, community pride, and giving our students the opportunity to create something they can be proud of."

Gregg, who coaches the junior high basketball and football teams, said that while he builds the framing and helps build props, that the haunted house is entirely designed by students. He said that with the positive response the haunted house received in its first year, from both the students and the community, that they've more than doubled its size this year and that he hopes to continue expanding it annually.

Gregg said that he was inspired to begin the annual project last year as an opportunity for students to cultivate and express their imaginations and to develop social, artistic, and practical skills. He said that the students have been working on the haunted house for weeks now and that several come after work and after practicing with their athletic teams to work on the project.

"One of the most rewarding parts of this haunted house is watching these high school students take their creativity from a piece of paper and turn it into something real. Our goal is not just to build a haunted house, but to give these young men and women the opportunity to learn new skills, develop their creativity, work as a team, and discover what they can accomplish when they put their minds to something," Gregg said.

Gregg said he hopes the increase in scale this year will help attract people from other communities to see what the students have created. He also said he hopes that the community support the project has received will inspire the school district to support similar programming in the future. He said the community support has been incredible, with local businesses donating materials and community members donating props, and their own time and skills.

"This project would not be possible without the incredible support of our local businesses and community members. A huge thank-you to Global Pak for donating the pallets and wall liners, and to Ron Jackson for generously donating his time and helping fabricate materials for this project. We are truly grateful to everyone who has contributed and supported our vision," Gregg said. "Thank you to every business, volunteer, and community member who has helped make this dream a reality. When a community comes together to support its young people, amazing things can happen."