Be prepared for a good scare at Wildwood's Haunted Gym & Trunk or Treat event in New Jersey
On Friday night, the city of Wildwood hosted a Trunk or Treat event at Maxwell Field. It was a one-stop shop for kids to go trick-or-treating safely, but the big thrill is on Saturday night.
From the outside, the Byrne Community Center seems harmless. A few skeletons are sticking out of the garden, but once you walk through the doors organizers say be prepared for a good scare.
"A lot of the tougher kids that think they're pretty tough, they won't be so tough when they leave the door at the end of this thing, I promise you that," said Rich Hans, superintendent of Wildwood Parks and Recreation.
The city's Parks and Recreation Department spent all week decorating the space from top to bottom, and CBS News Philadelphia went on a tour.
"It's great because everywhere you go in this building there's a corner so you never know what's going to jump out at you," Hans said.
Once you walk up the stairs, you head into the haunted movie theater. Then, past skeletons working out on treadmills and stationary bikes, and back down the steps you will be led toward an alley filled with flying ghosts.
Each room has a different theme, and volunteers have been helping staff members turn the building into a spooky and safe space for kids ahead of Halloween.
"Our community is great, we all come together really well and put on big events like this, it's really awesome," said volunteer Torsten Denke.
This is the second year the community center has been turned into a free haunted attraction. Organizers are going bigger and bolder with more than 200 creepy characters in place for a night of terror.
"The goal is to make sure everyone is having fun, having laughter, just getting in the Halloween spirit," said Ray Bartee, a rec staff member.
"We want the kids to be safe and we want them to have a fun time and I think we provide both of those things here," Hans said.
Last year, the haunted gym attracted between 1,500 to 2,000 kids. Organizers are expecting an even larger turnout this year.
The Haunted Gym will be open Saturday night from 5-9 p.m.
