About Us 🎃

Haunted Lake County is a 501c3 non profit volunteer organization that raises money every year for other local non profit causes. Together we have helped raise over $100,000 to various local non profits around the lake. Including but not limited to Fairground foundation, Lakeport Volunteer Fire Fighters Association, Fire fund, SPCA, Sponsoring Survivorship, CLHS boosters, Operation Tango Mike, 4-H, and many more! 

🧛 Join Us! 

As we get closer to October we meet monthly, come introduce yourself and get involved in an ever growing community of volunteers raising money for a different local cause each year. Makeup artists, set designers, seamstresses, audio engineers, prop builders, painters, and more! We have a very dynamic team of industry leaders and reoccurring members who come to learn and have fun. At these early meetings we talk about previous years, introduce new ideas and help set the stage for our next production. We are a volunteer to scare based group, everyone must play their part. Many of us have been part of the production for years!

What We Offer 📚

Free pizza at early meetings, occasional free snacks, water, or meals during long shifts.  Free professional horror makeup and costume use—great for social media or portfolio shots. Industry connections! A lot of our board members and staff have industry experience working at Universal Studios, Great America, X-Games and more! Portfolio help; Letters of Recommendation: Useful for school, work, or future volunteering. Volunteer Hours: Logged time that can count for school or organizational service requirements. Merch or Swag: T-shirts, hoodies, or themed gear. Resume Builder: Especially relevant for anyone interested in entertainment, events, or production. 

🧠 Skills Gained by Volunteering

1. Performance & Improvisation

Scare acting teaches timing, body language, voice control, and staying in character.

Helps build confidence in public speaking and performance.

2. Teamwork & Communication

Coordinating with makeup artists, tech crews, and other actors to execute scenes.

Learning cues, positioning, and safety protocols.

3. Customer Interaction

Reading body language and responding to diverse reactions.

Managing scared, confused, or even aggressive guests calmly and professionally.

4. Makeup & Costuming

Learn basic SFX makeup, prosthetics, fake blood, and costume assembly.

5. Set Design & Prop Handling

Assisting with setup or tear down teaches practical construction and artistic skills.

6. Problem Solving Under Pressure

Thinking fast when props malfunction or when guests act unpredictably.

7. Time Management & Responsibility

Sticking to call times, preparing before doors open, and managing breaks during high-traffic nights.

8. Event Production Insight

Exposure to lighting, sound, crowd control, and overall event flow.

Our Story 🛤️

Lake County has always been home—but lets be honest its a rural community with limited access to industry, entertainment, or creative opportunity. Growing up here, we often felt the absence of things to do and places to engage. What started as a personal passion project was born out of that void: a desire to bring something exciting, meaningful, and fun to our hometown.

Thirteen years ago, we built our very first haunted house in our own backyard. With minimal resources but a strong creative vision, we constructed scenes, invited friends to volunteer, and welcomed curious neighbors. Each year, it grew. Word spread. Crowds doubled. Volunteers returned. And what was once a scary home renovation, quickly evolved into something bigger: a true community tradition.

Today, our haunted house stands as a locally loved experience and a platform for impact. 

Beyond delivering thrills, we are committed to:

• Creating opportunities for young people and adults to learn valuable skills. Whether in performance, set design, makeup artistry, audio engineering, construction, sound design, lighting or event coordination! We are here to help you help us and have fun while doing it!
  
  
  

• Providing a safe, inclusive space for creative expression, collaboration, and community building.
  
  
  

• Raising funds and awareness for causes that matter, because we believe entertainment can also be a force for good.
  
  
  

In a region with limited pathways for hands on experience or creative outlets, we’re proud to offer something unique. Every scare, every scream, and every shared moment represents growth—not just for our haunted house, but for the people behind it and the community that supports it.

What began as a backyard attraction has become a movement to uplift, engage, and inspire! 

We strive to become bigger and better every year.