4A ❚ WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2019 ❚ APPEAL TRIBUNE
Life in the Valley
Brian Christin in the "Maze" at the Nightmare Factory at the Oregon School for the Deaf in Salem on Oct. 1, 2019. The Nightmare Factory runs 7 to 11 p.m. Oct. 4-5,
11-12, 18-19, 25-26 and 7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 29-31; "blackout" Nov. 1-2. Students design and build the sets for the haunted house. PHOTOS BY ANNA REED / STATESMAN JOURNAL
Nightmare Factory: Meet
students behind the scenes
Abby Luschei
Salem Statesman Journal
USA TODAY NETWORK
Their goal is to scare you as much as
possible.
Students dressed in decrepit cos-
tumes, wearing neon face masks and
wielding bloody, plastic weapons lurk in
the Nightmare Factory — the longest-
running haunted house in Oregon.
The attraction, returning for the 32nd
time this October, is also the Oregon
School for the Deaf's primary fundrais-
er.
Ed Roberts, founder and co-director
of the Nightmare Factory, said he didn't
imagine the attraction becoming what it
is today when it began in 1987.
"It has become more than just a
haunted house," he said. "It teaches
skills to our students, and it shows the
hearing world what … the deaf commu-
nity can do."
People who go through the Nightmare
Factory can expect to see something
new each year. Kivo LeFevre, co-director
of the Nightmare Factory, said some
new additions to the 32nd haunt include
a toxic room and movie theater. New
characters will be making their debut, as
well.
It takes about 20 to 35 minutes to get
through the haunt depending on the line
and how scared you are, LeFevre said.
And they hope you're really scared.
"You pay us money to scare you, and
we are going to do our job," Roberts said.
Students at the Oregon School for the
Deaf play a big role in designing and cre-
ating the Nightmare Factory — whether
they paint, build or come up with new
concepts. And most have a character
that lurks in the haunt.
Get to know a few of them before at-
tending this year:
Jaden Lee
Helped with: Butcher shop, other
rooms
Favorite part of the Nightmare Fac-
tory: "I’m here to scare people."
Jolinda Mathis
Helped with: Painting and drawing
in the clown areas
Favorite part of the Nightmare Fac-
tory: "It's fun to make (people) feel
something and scare them."
Shyla Ferguson
Helped with: Painting walls, making
props
Favorite part of the Nightmare Fac-
tory: "I love the black lights and making
it feel like it's 3D."
Mario Andrade
Helped with: The maze
Favorite part of the Nightmare Fac-
tory: "I just love scaring people."
If you go
When: 7 to 11 p.m. Oct. 4-5, 11-12,
18-19, 25-26 and 7 to 10 p.m. Oct.
29-31; "blackout" Nov. 1-2
Location: Oregon School for the
Deaf, 999 Locust St. N
Cost: $15 per person, $25 VIP
(shorter line); $10 general admis-
sion flashback weekend Oct. 4-5;
$40 Booger's Ride (strapped in
wheelchair, must be made in ad-
vance), group rates for 20 or more
are available in advance by calling
503-378-3827
Tickets: osd-k12.ticketforce.com
Jolinda Mathis in the "clown sewer" at the Nightmare Factory at the Oregon
School for the Deaf in Salem.
Madison DeCamp
Helped with: Painted the walls,
floors and the decorations in the ice
cream shop/birthday party room
Favorite part of the Nightmare Fac-
tory: "I like to scare people — especially
my family when they come through."
Trevor Robertson
Helped with: The arcade area
Favorite part of the Nightmare Fac-
tory: "When I was a kid growing up, my
family always tried to scare each other.
Then I came to school here. Seeing the
Nightmare Factory was just really awe-
some, and I got hooked."
Jamila Walker
Helped with: Designing the living
room area
Favorite part of the Nightmare Fac-
tory: "I like to scare people and see their
reactions. I also like getting my emotions
out sometimes — to express myself."
Shyla Ferguson, a senior, as Ace in the "Magic Shop" at the Nightmare Factory at
the Oregon School for the Deaf in Salem.
Caritina Velador
Helped with: Building and painting
the hallway area
Favorite part of the Nightmare Fac-
tory: "I like to scare people and see their
reactions. I’ve been through it, and I
wanted to be part of it."
Brian Christin
Caritina Velador, a senior, as Big Star in
the "Hallway."
Madison DeCamp, a junior, as Melter in
the "Birthday Party Room."
Trevor Robertson, a senior, as Clootie
in the "Arcade."
Jamila Walker as Sally the Screamer in
the "Living Room."
Helped with: Building and framing
Favorite part of the Nightmare Fac-
tory: "It's just fun. It’s a whole lot of fun."
Abby Luschei is the arts and enter-
tainment reporter for the Statesman
Journal and can be reached at alus-
chei@statesmanjournal.com or 503-
399-6747.
Interested in telling at one of the up-
coming Salem Storytellers Project
events?
Submit
your
story:
www.storytellersproject.com/tell