Werewolves, scarecrows and a chilling combination of the two — scarewolves — will haunt those brave enough to venture into Rex’s Haunted House in Ridgefield this month.
This free haunted house experience will be open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 25, Saturday, Oct. 26, and Thursday, Oct. 31, at 1018 NW 179th St. in Ridgefield. Parking is available on the road opposite the haunted maze.
Miranda Jensen and her family have hosted the haunted house at their home for six years. Growing up in a rural area, Jensen shared that her family rarely had visitors. After moving to their current home, they decided to create a new haunted maze each year with a completely different theme. The family named the haunted house after “Rex,” their iconic Halloween mascot.
During their first Halloween in Ridgefield, they displayed Rex as a decoration for trick-or-treaters. Rex later became a year-round fixture, adorned with a turkey leg for Thanksgiving and dressed in a Santa outfit for Christmas.
“He stayed up ever since,” Jensen shared. “My sister became obsessed with decorating him.”
Jensen’s sister would decorate Rex for every holiday, from Valentine’s Day to National Dog Day. The family continues this tradition in her memory after her passing a few years ago.
“She got scared really easy, so she would sit at the window and just watch us scare everybody, but she would try to help us out sometimes … So we kind of try to do it in her memory, too, and try to do some things that she would be scared of,” Jensen said. “... We try to keep it a family-fun thing to do every year together.”
In 2018, the family began to host a haunted house on the property. Each year, Jensen and her group of volunteers adopt a new theme for Rex’s Haunted House. Jensen said last year’s “Child Asylum” theme brought 300 guests on Halloween. This year, Rex will don a scarecrow costume to fit the theme of the haunted corn maze. Jensen is excited to see how guests react to Rex’s spooky transformation.
This year's haunted house will feature an ambitious upgrade with a split path, leading guests to a dead end first. Scarecrows, werewolves and spiders will frighten visitors, with actors in costume ready to deliver jumpscares. For the first time, volunteers will also use a fog machine to enhance the eerie atmosphere.
On Halloween night, candy will be distributed to guests. Jensen noted that the haunted house has become a favorite stop for families trick-or-treating in the neighborhood. Jensen shared in the far future, she would love to continue scaring guests in a brick-and-mortar haunted house.
Those interested in volunteering can reach out via facebook.com/rexon179th. Donations are also welcome for those attending the haunted house.
