Photo by Damani Edgington
The scary scenery at the MAACabre Haunted Attraction set the stage for a thrilling haunted attraction that raised money for the MAAC Foundation.
Bogathy Fright Productions provides terror for a good cause
By Damani Edgington
Staff writer
VALPARAISO, IND. – The MAACabre Haunted Attraction made nightmares come true.
Bogathy Fright Productions worked with the MAAC Foundation to make their annual haunted house another success.
From Oct. 13-15 and Oct. 20-21, the attraction raised more than $27,000. These proceeds all go to the MAAC Foundation, which splits the earnings between the various first responders training programs they have.
Bogathy Fright Productions general manager/haunt master Randal Bogathy was glad to raise funds for the foundation.
“It’s a great cause, and we’re raising money for the first responders so when you call 911 you get the best people coming to help you out,” he said.
The foundation offers training programs for firefighters, EMS and various law enforcement organizations. They all train in MAAC buildings similar to the one in which the haunted house took place.
Bogathy made it known that the money wasn’t all they were there for.
“We’re not here to make a buck,” he said. “We’re here to scare people.”
Surely, the haunted house was created to show off what Bogathy Fright Productions does best; wreak horrific havoc.
Jennifer Buck, who works as a monster mom – someone who gets the actors breaks, water and candy – detailed the attraction’s chilling strategies.
“We play on your natural fears,” she said. “We keep things dim so you’re already on edge when you’re going through it, because a lot of people are afraid of the dark.”
But, it wasn’t just the scare strategy that made this haunted attraction so successful. The crew’s teamwork made this possible. They clocked in 60 hours of build time and 12 hours of operation. An average of 60 volunteers per night all contributed to this achievement.
The sense of community is strong and diverse. The volunteers weren’t just adults; they had middle and high school students from across eight school districts.
From the frights to the funds, this year’s attraction was a complete success. Scare actor Shawn Hughes commented on the uniqueness of it all.
“It’s a great experience,’ he said. “And, you’re never gonna find anywhere else like it.”