Backyard maze turns screams into Thanksgiving donations
By Aliyah Chavez
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ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (KOAT) — The Halloween season has officially kicked off at the Huskisson House in Albuquerque’s Northeast Heights, where owner Bryan Huskisson has crafted a spooky experience in his backyard for the community using hours of work and personal funds.
7-year-old Presley and 9-year-old Maximus were the first brave souls to walk through this year’s haunted maze, and their reactions are part of the reason Huskisson continues to build the display.
The haunted house can be found at 7725 William Moyers Ave NE Albuquerque, NM 87122.
“I do a little something in the morning, a little something in the evening, and every weekend,” Huskisson said, describing the effort it takes to construct the display, which takes 12 weeks to build and 2 to 3 months to dismantle.
He has been doing this for the last 12 years, using money from his own pocket. “It’s a spooky number… and it’s not just the animatronics. It’s the spray paint, duct tape, the screws. I spent four hundred dollars on screws because we have over 500 pallets in this build,” he said.
The house features spiders popping out, rotten pumpkins, and spooky skeletons, creating a thrilling experience for visitors.
“We’ve reached a peak here,” Huskisson said. A team of 12 dedicated volunteers helps bring the display to life.
The house is open from Oct. 28 through Oct. 31 from dusk to 9:30 p.m. On Halloween, it will remain open until the last person shows up.
The experience is free, but Huskisson asks visitors to bring non-perishable food donations, which are turned over to the YMCA to make gift baskets for Thanksgiving for needy families.
“If I can create something that brings a little bit of joy, especially in our day and age with all that’s going on by doing all this, I’ll continue to do it as long as people show up,” Huskisson said.
Presley and Maximus preferred this year’s house over last year’s because “it was longer and scarier.” Last year, Huskisson collected more than 2,000 food donations and hopes to gather even more this year. He also asks visitors to be respectful of his neighbors.
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