The year: 2001. The Place: Mira Mesa. Two friends with a simple dream, to start an all-volunteer, charity haunted house. And that is how Monster Manor got started. The two friends, Tim Allen and John Hart, met at a Haunt builder enthusiast gathering in 1999 and in 2001, they got together to discuss starting a charity haunted house.
Started in the parking lot between Callahan’s Pub & Brewery and El Torito Mexican Grill, Monster Manor has become a Halloween staple, not only in the Mira Mesa community, but also in the region. From its humble origins, Monster Manor has grown to become known as one of the best haunted attractions in the region.
“Our originality comes from the volunteers,” Barkley said. “We’re not bound by anything, other than the laws of physics, so our designers can let their imaginations run wild.” This year’s Monster Manor theme is “Ghastley Studios: Murder, Mayhem and Gore … It’s only movie magic … right?”
“The Ghastley Family, the SCARY residents of Monster Manor, cashed in on fame and Hollywood by opening their own movie studio in 1911,” Barkley said. “And audiences were captivated by the realism in their horror movies. Little did they know that what they saw on the screen was real. That’s when the fun begins.”
Another Monster Manor original is the daytime attraction for kids. Started in 2003, Lite Frite was a way for kids and families to experience Halloween fun without the fright. “We saw a need in the community for a family friendly Halloween attraction and we responded with Lite Frite,” Barkley said.
This year’s Lite Frite is “Scooby-Doo and the Mystery of the Backlot Phantom.” The Mystery Inc. gang has been asked to visit Ghastley Studios to investigate the strange happenings at the studio backlot. Kids and parents are encouraged to join Shaggy, Velma, Fred and Daphne in their investigation, as they encounter ghouls, goblins and a few bad guys from the past.
Throughout all the changes in the past 10 seasons, Monster Manor, at its core, is still a community charity haunted house. The funds it raises go towards the Mira Mesa 4th of July fireworks display and Mira Mesa Theatre Guild’s longtime goal of building its own theatre. Looking back on that October in 2001, Hart, though he is no longer a part of Monster Manor, recalls fondly that it was a beginning of something unique. “(October 2001) was the first time in a long time that October had two full moons that month,” Hart said. “Monster Manor was truly once in a blue moon.”
Monster Manor opens Oct. 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23 and 27-31 at 7 p.m. “Lite Frite” opens Oct. 23, 24, 30, 31 from noon to 4 p.m. Monster Manor is located 8235 Mira Mesa Blvd., at the corner of Camino Ruiz and Mira Mesa Blvd. in the Target Shopping Center. Ticket prices are $12 for Monster Manor and $5 for Lite Frite.