2023 Preview Night Dates
You can stop by at any point in any of the timeframes.
IMPORTANT: We kindly ask that after you RSVP you let us know which night you will be attending so we can plan accordingly. Thank you.
Saturday, October 21st, 7PM-9PM
Sunday, October 22nd, 7PM-9PM
Sunday, October 29th, 7PM-9PM
To let us know when you'll be attending, text 980-355-1228 or message us through Poply (the invitation service).
Frequently asked questions
What is the Maple Haunt?
The Maple Haunt is a display home-haunt. This is NOT a full walkthrough haunted house. Our haunt primarily consists of small buildings and includes live acting.
What is a Preview Night?
A Preview Night is an opportunity for everyone to come check out the haunt as it would be on Halloween. We run everything exactly the same as Halloween, plus we give a behind the scenes tour, pulling back the curtain on our creative process.
How long will I be at Preview Night?
Generally, you won't be at Preview Night for more than 20-30 minutes, however you're welcome to stick around if you'd like!
Can I invite my friends/family?
YES! Your invitation will give you the opportunity to invite any friends or family you'd like to bring along.
When should I show up?
You can show up at any point within the two-hour timeframe, however earlier is typically busier, so we recommend coming later when there are less people for a better experience.
Why am I invited to this?
You're invited to Preview Night either because you expressed interest or we thought you'd be interested in coming out to support our work.
About Us
The Maple Haunt is a home haunt entirely thought of, designed, built, assembled, painted, wired, funded, and- well you get the point- by high schoolers. From trigonometry to writing backstories, creating this haunt takes a tremendous amount of year-round effort. This year we've stepped up every part of the display to make our last year our best year. The goal of the haunt is to create an amazing experience on Halloween, for us to show our skills, and to gain experience with everything from designing, to painting, to acting.
The Maple Haunt was co-created in 2020 by two high school students- Alex Hooper & Carson Karkow. At the time, Alex was 15, and Carson was 14. The haunt didn’t have a name, and no one really understood what it would be but immediately following the 2021 season would become known as “The Maple Haunt” in reference to the two maple trees in the front yard of where the haunt takes place annually.
The 2020 season consisted of a variety of store bought props that had been obtained over the course of several years. Additionally, a small scene where demons had appeared out of radioactive waste was present exclusively on Halloween.
The 2021 season marked a major expansion for the haunt. Alex obtained a job in June 2021 and was able to expand the budget from a mere $100 to ~ $1000. With the new level of funding, the haunt was able to buy new materials and create the first building- the shed. Although certainly achieving its aesthetic purposes, being that it was constructed entirely out of PVC pipe and foam board painted to look like wood, it was definitely a risky first build. Luckily, the shed pulled through until the end of the 2021 season. Other key builds for the 2021 season included a 10ft scarecrow made of cornstalks, components from a basketball hoop, and a giant pumpkin head, two entrance columns- also constructed out of foam, and 4 light posts made of PVC pipe and plastic bowls.
During the 2021-2022 offseason, Alex was able to utilize his earnings from work in order to purchase the tools needed to move the haunt from hand saws and screwdrivers to powered saws and drills. In other words, the haunt would move to wooden construction- the industry standard. After the 2021 season, so much foam board was being stored that the theme had to somehow use most- if not all of the foam board, but also convert the building to a wooden structure, add additional buildings, and bring a theme together. The idea? A cemetery theme. Cut and repaint the foam board to gravestones, then carve in letters. And who better of a subject for the tombstones than the friends of the creators. Each person received their gravestone after the season and the haunt had less foam in its possession- success. Key builds for the 2022 season included the crypt (replacing the shed), two monuments, and 16 gravestones.
Once again, when the off-season rolled around, new power tools were acquired including a table saw, air compressor, air tools, an additional tool cabinet, amongst many other smaller items.
And now, we’re getting ready to launch into our biggest year yet and also, our final year before our indefinite hiatus from home haunting.
Welcome to the town of Whispering Ridge.