Fund-raising fun

A line of people waiting to get in to the Post Falls Haunted House winds back and forth as the rip of a chain saw sends someone screaming home. Fans are greeted by a misty-mouthed gargoyle and led inside, where narrow walls and creaky doors funnel each person past a series of spooks. “It’s enough to wet your pants,” said Ken Cook, president of the Post Falls Lions Club.

The Lions have been using haunted houses for fund-raising for 28 years. The group has used a house on Fourth Street for 20 years.

The house has tripled in size since Idaho Veneer donated the building and property. Newer additions are outfitted with decaying wood siding. But the building only comes to life 10 days out of the year to house spooks and ghouls.

In the days leading up to Halloween, the event covers about 85 percent of the Lions’ annual fund-raising efforts. The Lions also raise money through a booth at the North Idaho Fair and by selling a holiday sign board.

“It’s fun, it works and everybody is waiting for it,” Cook said. “They come through the school and can’t wait until they’re old enough to become one of the spooks.”

Last year, turnout at the haunted house was low, but the group still raised $30,000. About two years ago the event helped raise $42,000, and Cook hopes to match that amount this year.

Cook said funds raised through the event are returned to the community through scholarships and donations to Post Falls High School cheerleaders, band members and sports teams. The group also pays for about 100 eye exams a year and improves or repairs city structures, he said.

About 20 members of the Post Falls Lions Club volunteer each night at the haunted house and about 40 students from Post Falls High School don makeup, fake blood, fangs and pointy fingertips.

They work in shifts to keep the screams coming.

“We go through a lot of cough drops,” Cook said. “Especially for the screamers.”

Cook said the event gets bigger each year and a few changes have been added this year, including a giant spider and a new rock wall in the swamp area. Sometimes haunted house patrons are sent away when the long lines are cut short as midnight draws near.

Younger crowds and people new to the haunted house are reminded that it’s not real. But even burly bikers have been spooked with a haunted-house boo, Cook said.

Behind the scenes, students get in character by shouting, sneaking and stuttering their routines.

Cameron Tucker, a sophomore, has portrayed nearly all the spooks in the haunted house in his three years of volunteering. He started off this Halloween season as a death-row inmate. When he reaches out a hand to fellow ghouls behind the building, his whole body shakes in his orange Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department coveralls.

“I shake and rattle and roll,” he said.

He said the best spook is Dracula because he helps move people along. As a student, he’s glad to see his volunteer work help the school. “The best part is to know you helped out the school and know the school actually gets somewhere,” he said.

Amber Penkunis, a junior, is facing her fear by dressing as a clown along with her friend, Nikki Smith, a senior. Both have been volunteers for four years and have the clown routine down to a twisted science.

“I’m scared to death of clowns, but I still do it,” said Penkunis.

“There’s lots of people that are afraid of clowns – especially singing clowns,” Smith added.

The girls swing on an overhead bar in a small room, singing “Mary Had a Little Lamb” and asking kids if they want to come play games, like Kid-napoly. Sometimes they throw in a scary laugh or a loud scream to add to the scene.

“It’s really fun once it gets going,” she said.

Megan Dunstan, 14, of Coeur d’Alene, waited in line on opening night. She skipped out on seeing “Princess Diaries” in the movie theater to brave the haunted house instead.

“I love Halloween and I just wanted to feel the Halloween spirit,” she said. “I’m into scary stuff, but now that it’s real-life I’m kind of scared to go in.”

The house will be open from 6 p.m. until midnight on Halloween and the tour takes about 15 minutes. Cost is $5 at the door.