A Spook-tacular Success: Students Haunt the Halls in Annual Scare Event

Despite a few hiccups, the haunted house put on by Link Crew left students screaming for more!

By: Liah Rodriguez

VISALIA, CA – With dimmed lights, chilling sounds, and actors dedicated to delivering fright, Link Crew’s annual haunted house event drew a crowd of thrill-seeking students last Friday night.

The event was held in a transformed school hallway, was the result of weeks of planning and creativity, and it didn’t disappoint. While organizers faced a few last-minute technical difficulties, the result was an experience that had students screaming, laughing, and, in some cases, running out in fear.

The Door to the Freak Show on Vista
Photo L.Rodriguez/Gigantea

One of the stars of the night was Jaymee Shupe ‘26, a first-time “scarer” at the event. Dressed as a menacing clown, Jaymee stationed herself at the end of a dark hallway, ready to strike fear into anyone daring to make their way through.

“The event was super fun! I’d definitely participate next year,” Shupe said, describing the thrill she felt in her role. “My favorite part was chasing people out,” she added, laughing. Her role involved both screaming and chasing, which proved effective in raising the scare level to what she rated as an “8/10.”

The setup of the haunted house was intense, with strobe lights, fog, and eerie music setting the tone. Each room presented a different theme, allowing “scarers” like Shupe to shine in terrifying their friends and classmates. “We did scare a handful of people, but there were a couple of party poopers,” Shupe said, noting that while some students were easily frightened, others were a bit harder to spook.

Mrs. Braun, the Link Crew Director who oversaw the event, was thrilled with how it turned out despite some challenges at the beginning. “We had a couple of hiccups to start with — the lights didn’t go off on time, and there were a few other things,” she explained. However, the dedicated team quickly adapted, ensuring that everything flowed smoothly after the initial mishaps. “My favorite part was my students’ creativity when creating the haunted house,” Mrs. Braun shared proudly.

Inside the Freak Show on Vista
Photo L.Rodriguez/Gigantea

Students were guided through the haunted house in small groups, each one braving a series of rooms with carefully staged jump scares, eerie props, and actors lurking around every corner. Many students emerged from the final hallway out of breath but eager to share their reactions, with some declaring it the best haunted house they’d seen yet. A few admitted that while they had been skeptical at first, they left thoroughly entertained and spooked.

Shupe and her fellow “scarers” stayed in character all night, ensuring that every group had an authentic experience. For Shupe, the role was an opportunity to let loose and play a part unlike anything she’d done before. “I was the clown at the end of the hallway, screaming and chasing people,” she said, describing the thrill of seeing her friends’ reactions.

By the end of the night, the haunted house proved to be a huge success, leaving students and organizers excited for the future. With each scare meticulously planned, Link Crew’s haunted house demonstrated the impact of teamwork, creativity, and a bit of frightful fun, promising a return next year to offer even more chills and thrills.