"Toy Store Possession" is the 2024 theme for the Night Fright Haunted Warehouse in Imbler.

IMBLER — The Haunted Warehouse is bigger, scarier and more elaborate than ever in this year’s Night Fright Haunted House in Imbler.

Production manager and creative genius Jeri Mackley said visitors will find creepy dolls, stuffed animals and clowns throughout the facility.

“It’s still the same haunted warehouse that we had last year, which is a repository for paranormally charged objects. Anything with a spirit attached to it is brought here for safekeeping,” she said.

The story goes that “agents” were contacted by Teddy’s Toy Emporium, which was experiencing paranormal activity.

“And then the owner, Teddy, was found dead in the store,” Mackley said, continuing the plot. “They went to investigate, and there was so much going on with spirits, they decided they needed to bring the entire toy store inventory here to the warehouse.”

Although the toys were originally kept in a contained room, they managed to escape and infiltrate the other rooms of the warehouse. Night Fright visitors will hear the story when they arrive as “backup” for the agents.

Mackley said there is a surprise at the end for how the story resolves.

“I won’t give it away, though,” she said.

A cast of 25

The production comes to life through months of work and dedicated staff and volunteers. There are 25 actors this year and another eight to 10 staff members to keep the production running.

“We’ve been working on this since February,” Mackley said. “I don’t think people realize how much work goes into this. Each room is like a set, so we’re building 28 sets.”

The haunt is 75% bigger than it was last year. The large warehouse is filled with new twists, turns and surprises, so both new attendees and those who attended last year will be surprised.

Mackley said they visit many haunts and try to bring in features found at larger haunted houses to give the audience new scares. The haunt is open to all ages, but it is designed to be scary.

“We recommend it for ages 8 and up; however, everyone is welcome. For younger kids, who might be a little scared, we give them a glow stick. If they have that glow stick, our scare actors know not to jump out and be a little less scary,” Mackley said.

Those actors — and three makeup artists — arrive two hours before the haunt opens to get into character.

Participants are taken into the warehouse in groups, and the Night Fright crew tries to keep a separation between each group. With the new rooms and features, they expect it to take about 30 minutes, depending on how quickly the group moves.

The haunted house was closed for three years because of COVID-19, but it made a big return last year with the second-highest attendance they have ever had.

Mackley said the biggest complaint she received last year was about the long wait, and they’ve tried to solve that with the option to purchase tickets online, to avoid the ticket line, a virtual queue and activities for those in line. Refreshments will also be available for purchase.

For Mackley, this year is a big milestone: This is her 20th year of creating public haunted houses.

Also, Mackley said it can be chilly in Imbler in October, so she recommends dressing for the weather. The warehouse is out of the wind and the rain, but it is not heated. There will be a portable bathroom onsite but there are no restroom facilities.

‘Toy Store Possession’

The Night Fright Haunted House runs 7-10 p.m. every Friday and Saturday in October, as well as Halloween night. Anyone who has a ticket in hand by 10 p.m. will be able to participate in the haunt.

The Night Fright Haunted House is at 410 Railroad Ave., Imbler. Tickets are $18 per person.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Night Fright Haunted House Facebook page, facebook.com/nightfrightproductions.