On Nov. 2, students had the opportunity to experience the first Haunted Trail, organized by the dorm and day leaders and the Student Activities Committee (SAC). This year, the event was moved from the Old Gym, where it had occurred in previous years, to Coyote Trail. After the Haunted Trail, students were encouraged to stay and enjoy s’mores and hot dogs in the Cove with Joe Pitts and Elizabeth Bruce, Neville and Thornwood’s heads of house. This annual tradition brings a festive and spooky feeling to campus. There were some mixed feelings about the change of location; however, many of the leaders and participants were pleased with the change.
“I think it is going to be different and I think a lot of people, including me, are nervous to see how it works because we are used to the Haunted House and it being in a more enclosed space which is easier for scaring,” junior Sophie Piller said. “I think it’s going to be different and we will see how it works out.”
Piller explains as a previous Regester leader and now Day Head Prefect how the Haunted Trail works.
“All the years leading up to this one we have done the Haunted House in the Old Gym. However, this year, we are doing the Haunted Trail on Coyote. The house leaders of each house are the ones who are in charge of it and set everything up. It is a big process and there is a lot of planning that goes into it. Each house takes a section of the trail and some brother-sister houses work together to do their section.”
Piller also stated how she was excited for the Haunted Trail because this year there was a storyline.
“One thing about the Haunted Trail this year is that it has a storyline,” Piller said. “It is about the ghost in Cooper named Emily. It is the story of how she died and everything surrounding that. So, it has a storyline which the haunted houses in the past have not and that is just something else that will be different.”
When junior Lee Donahue was asked what he thought of the Haunted Trail, he mentioned the opportunities that the Haunted Trail could offer. He also mentioned that the trial had a storyline.
“There is going to be an actual storyline and more opportunities for jump scares. We are going to have a hay ride. We can have people hiding in trees, and in the fields,” Donahue said.
When Piller was asked what she thought about the location change she thought overall it was a good idea.
“I think the location change is going to be good just to see how everything goes and to see if this is something we want to continue with or if we want to go back to doing the Haunted House.”