Frightening times call for some good scares

By Becky Bosshart, Cassie Tomlin

Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008 | 12:01 a.m.

The world is a scary place — home foreclosures, ghastly high fuel prices and a nightmare on Wall Street. As Halloween approaches, fans of the year's most frightening holiday said there's no better time to escape into the realm of fantasy.

"Why not do something that will allow us to forget about what's going on," said Michael Matulis, of Spring Valley, who was shopping recently for a costume at a Summerlin party store.

It's estimated that consumers will spend $5.8 billion on Halloween this year, according to the National Retail Federation's annual Halloween consumer survey.

The average person plans to spend $66, slightly more than in 2007. And more people plan to celebrate the holiday this year compared to last.

They'll hit up parties, hand out candy, take children trick-or-treating and tour haunted houses. One local costume purveyor, who sees much of his profit in October, called Halloween depression-proof.

"When people stop spending money because of a scare like this, usually the things they cut out are vacations and fun stuff," said Brian Pignatello, owner of Halloween Town, 7351 W. Lake Mead Blvd. "But people are still doing the decorating and spending money on their kids for Halloween."

So far, his bottom line is steady from last year. If costumes are an indication of expendable income, then many Las Vegans are shelling out as much as $55 to $65 to dress as the Joker, a gangster or a burlesque dancer.

For a little less, about $25, you can don a famous political face — but good luck finding one. "I don't think you can find an Obama mask in town. They are gone," Pignatello said.

Political costumes are sixth on the list of most popular costumes for national shoppers, according to the retail federation. The witch is still No. 1.

Chris Holmes was costume shopping at the Halloween Pro! store, 4145 S. Grand Canyon Drive, with his 7-year-old son Kaleb and 5-year-old daughter Taylor. She'll be Alice from "Alice in Wonderland," and Kaleb will be Dracula.

Holmes said his family, like most others, is feeling the pinch of the poor economy. "But I'm not going to let that stop me from having fun," he said.

If a scare at a haunted house is your idea of some hair-raising fun, then there's no lack of opportunities. From Henderson to Summerlin, the seasonal commercial spook houses are up and running.

Boulder City resident Kelley Bryant, who in past years has built an elaborate haunted house at his home, took things a step further this year with the Bonnie Screams Wicked West Halloween Fest at the Red Rock Canyon National Recreation Area.

The production includes five haunted houses throughout the old ghost town, a carnival, a train ride, a magic show and a quarter-mile haunted trail. Visitors can even stay the night in a nearby hotel with haunted-theme rooms.

For the last seven years, Bryant built his haunted house in his yard and garage, and visitors lined up. His last clown-themed haunted house had 15 rooms and he spent about $5,000 to open it on Halloween night.

But this year, he wanted to do something bigger and more ambitious. "I decided this would be my last year out of my home. I want to take a chance," he said.

So, how much time has he invested in all of it?

"If I told you, it would scare you," he said.

Green Valley High School student Kevin Brekke is also a haunted house fanatic. For the last five years, the 15-year-old sophomore has transformed his family's garage into a maze-like haunted house.

No Way Out is his theme this year, and he invites anybody to come on three nights for "the most horrifically disillusioning experience," he said. "The whole theme is weakening people's defenses by delivering double-scares."

His father, John Brekke, said, "There's a science to scaring, and he's learning it." His son comes up with the ideas, he said, and dad figures out whether it's buildable or not.

Then for two months, John and Paula Brekke park in the driveway while the family crafts the haunted house, which usually costs about $650 to put together.

Whether professional or amateur, though, the idea is the same.

"In adverse times, people want an escape," said Rich Strelak, a haunted house consultant and creator of the Asylum haunted house at Boca Park in Summerlin and the Hotel Fear in North Las Vegas. "It's a safe release for pent-up frustrations when things are going wrong."

Becky Bosshart can be reached at 990-7748 or [email protected]. Cassie Tomlin can be reached at 948-2073 or [email protected].