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Changes are welcome for haunted site | statesmanjournal.com | Statesman Journal
Ed Roberts may be the happiest person on the Oregon School for the Deaf campus, although he surely has plenty of competition.
His dream came true when "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" arrived Monday afternoon and announced it was there to work on the school's popular Nightmare Factory haunted house.
"I've been dreaming about this since the show went on the air," Roberts said. "Wouldn't that be nice if they could help with the haunted house?"
Help is probably an understatement, because word is that some specialists in the field will be brought in to lend their expertise in the makeover.
"They've kind of kept me in the dark because they want to surprise me, too, and I don't want to give up too much for the kids," Roberts said. "Some of the top names in the haunted industry are coming to help us out, I can say that."
The Nightmare Factory has been a Halloween tradition in the Salem community since 1987. Only once since then, in 1996, has it not been held because it was being fully remodeled, and even then people showed up hoping it would be open.
Roberts is the mastermind behind the event, which was created to raise money for the school's residential program and to teach students how to run a successful business.
The Nightmare Factory was a success from the start, earning $4,000 the first year during a four-night run in an unused wing of Lindstrom Hall, the boys' dormitory. The following year it was relocated to the unfinished basement of the dorm, where it has been ever since.
Last year it raised about $68,000, based on attendance of 8,500.
Proceeds are used to purchase everything from kitchens to playground equipment, from computers to athletic uniforms.
Staff and students also try to upgrade the features of the haunted house, which they try to make different every year, but money is usually tight.
"Do you buy a new tchotchke for the haunted house or fund a program that impacts a wide range of kids?" Roberts said. "It's kind of the last thing that gets the new toys."
That all changes this week, with "Extreme Makeover" on site.
The show also plans to build a new dorm on campus.
The school, celebrating its 140th anniversary, could use some new construction. Many of its buildings date to the 1950s.
Ed Roberts may be the happiest person on the Oregon School for the Deaf campus, although he surely has plenty of competition.
His dream came true when "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" arrived Monday afternoon and announced it was there to work on the school's popular Nightmare Factory haunted house.
"I've been dreaming about this since the show went on the air," Roberts said. "Wouldn't that be nice if they could help with the haunted house?"
Help is probably an understatement, because word is that some specialists in the field will be brought in to lend their expertise in the makeover.
"They've kind of kept me in the dark because they want to surprise me, too, and I don't want to give up too much for the kids," Roberts said. "Some of the top names in the haunted industry are coming to help us out, I can say that."
The Nightmare Factory has been a Halloween tradition in the Salem community since 1987. Only once since then, in 1996, has it not been held because it was being fully remodeled, and even then people showed up hoping it would be open.
Roberts is the mastermind behind the event, which was created to raise money for the school's residential program and to teach students how to run a successful business.
The Nightmare Factory was a success from the start, earning $4,000 the first year during a four-night run in an unused wing of Lindstrom Hall, the boys' dormitory. The following year it was relocated to the unfinished basement of the dorm, where it has been ever since.
Last year it raised about $68,000, based on attendance of 8,500.
Proceeds are used to purchase everything from kitchens to playground equipment, from computers to athletic uniforms.
Staff and students also try to upgrade the features of the haunted house, which they try to make different every year, but money is usually tight.
"Do you buy a new tchotchke for the haunted house or fund a program that impacts a wide range of kids?" Roberts said. "It's kind of the last thing that gets the new toys."
That all changes this week, with "Extreme Makeover" on site.
The show also plans to build a new dorm on campus.
The school, celebrating its 140th anniversary, could use some new construction. Many of its buildings date to the 1950s.