Park City teen builds haunted house

Park City, Utah — As far as one Park City teen is concerned, Halloween is the best day of the year.

“I have always loved scary things,” said 14-year-old Elliot Caulder. “I don’t remember how many years ago, it was a while ago, my dad took me to a Halloween store and I totally loved it even though I was terrified of everything. I have loved it ever since.”

Elliot has collected every ghost, goblin, and ghoul he comes across in stores over the years.

In January, Elliot started designing a haunted house. Since then, he has been building wooden structures, constructing decorations, and putting together the most spine-chilling space on the block.

“It’s fun to see where you started from and where you ended at,” Elliot said.

According to Elliot, the haunted house will be open on Halloween night. Everyone is invited to take the terrifying walk through the maze — if they can muster the courage.

“You go into the next hallway, there is a bedroom-type thing. There is a little girl whose head pops up,” he described.

While he is passionate about sharing his enthusiasm for the holiday, he is also supporting a good cause.

“It’s free but if you want to, we have donations for ‘Spirit of Children,’ which makes hospitals less scary for kids,” he said.

Elliot says those donations will help bring Halloween to kids in the hospital – meaning every scare and fright is for a good cause.

“I feel like it’s good to help people who need the help most,” Elliot said. “To have fun doing it by creating haunted houses, it’s a good way to do that.”