Almaden Resident
Community
Photograph by Vicki Thompson
Spooky Effects: Alyx Eckenrode is one of the cast members who will be waiting for guests at Goulsville this Halloween. The Schmal and Higgin families have spent four months turning their home at 856 Hampswood Way into a haunted house.
Ghouls return to Almaden home for Halloween scare
By Monica Heger
Entering the house on 856 Hampswood Way, you can tell something is not right. An old grandmother, rocking slowly in her chair, begins to tell a story about her granddaughter who was born with magical powers. But instead of using the powers for good, the granddaughter used them for evil. The grandmother said they had to lock her into a magic box, and the house hasn't been the same since.
No, it's not Poltergeist; it's Ghoulsville 2006. After a two-year hiatus the Schmal and Higgin families have resumed their Halloween tradition of constructing a haunted house at their Almaden Valley home. The house is geared for people of all ages--there is no blood and guts, and the "scare factor" can be increased or decreased depending on who is traipsing through. The house is more than just creepy creatures jumping out at you, though. There is a story line that goes along with it.
Mark Schmal, the creator of Ghoulsville, began the haunted house about 10 years ago. He said he's always liked Halloween and used to be involved with drama and theater. That plus his propensity for anything tech-related helped make Ghoulsville what it is today.
Ghoulsville is more than just a one-man job. Both the Schmal and Higgin families pitch in from July to Halloween, turning the Higgins' front porch into a control room, their garage into the haunted house and the front yard into a graveyard.
The question could be asked why the families goes to all this trouble for one weekend out of the year.
"It's to see how happy the kids are," Becky Schmal said. "They don't even want the candy; they just want to go through the haunted house."
"The kids' faces are all lit up," her husband Mark added.
Ron's computer code enables Mark and Shawn Higgin to operate everything that goes on inside the haunted house with remote controls. Pat Higgin, Ron's wife, does all the paintings.
"When she can't sleep, she'll come downstairs and paint at 2 a.m.," Ron said.
Mark said building the haunted house, aside from being fun for him and enjoyable for the kids, is a good way to bring family and friends together. He said friends often help out here and there and that their family always spends weekends working on it, as well as a few hours during the week.
The event itself involves more than just the Schmals and Higgins. They have friends who perform a show in the front yard, which is converted into a graveyard with a fog machine and laser sky to add an eerie effect.
"It's very collaborative," Ron said. "Everyone brings something unique to the table, and it brings people together."
Ghoulsville has broad appeal within Almaden Valley and also for families all over San Jose, averaging an attendance of 400-500 people per night. At its busiest, the line outside can last around 40 minutes.
"We've got kids who've been coming since they were little, and then as teenagers, they'll come and bring their friends," Becky said.
Ghoulsville is open Oct. 27-28 from 7:30 to 10 p.m. and on Oct. 31 from 6 to 10 p.m. The haunted house is at 856 Hampswood Way. For more information, visit www.ghoulsville.com.
