The Children’s Museum Guild set another twenty-year attendance record welcoming more than 65, 034 visitors to the annual Haunted House: Vampire Vacation! Now in its 48th year, the Haunted House is organized and implemented by The Children’s Museum Guild, and presented by PNC, as a fundraiser on behalf of The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.
"We are excited to set another attendance record for this year’s Haunted House topping the 2010 twenty-year record attendance by more than 2, 600 visitors, " said Anne Steinberg, president, The Children’s Museum Guild. "The Haunted House has become an annual tradition for a growing number of Central Indiana families and we are honored that so many visitors return each year to visit the house and enjoy a Halloween experience with us."
"This year’s theme – Vampire Vacation – took a new approach to the popularity of vampires today, " said Amy Clark, co-chair of The Children’s Museum Guild’s Haunted House. "In Vampire Vacation, young vampire siblings ‘Vic’ and ‘Viv’ traveled to different "dead-stinations" around the U.S. including New Gore-leans, the Ghoulish Gate Bridge and Count Rushmore. We had a lot of fun finding unique ways to represent the theme throughout the 15+ rooms of the house and visitors commented to us how much they enjoyed seeing the detail work that goes into each one."
The Children’s Museum Guild’s Haunted House takes a unique approach to the typical haunted house by offering both IPL’s Lights-On Hours and Defender Direct’s Frightening Hours. Visitors can choose either a friendly haunted house experience during lights-on hours when friendly-faced "haunters" greet them in each room, or visitors may choose a traditional lights-off frightening experience for those who dare to be scared. In both 2010 and 2011, additional lights-on hours were added to meet increasing demand for a no-scare Haunted House event.
The annual Haunted House is the Guild’s most successful fundraiser on behalf of the museum raising close to $8.3 million and welcoming more than 2.6 million visitors in its 48 year history. "Each year, the 100 active women of the Guild volunteer more than 12, 000 hours over a 13 month period toward the creation and implementation of the Haunted House, " said Steinberg. "Planning for the 2012 event is already underway as the new co-chairs begin choosing their theme for the 49th annual Haunted House."
In 2010, The Children’s Museum Guild’s Haunted House was chosen by Rand McNally as one of the Top 10 Haunted Houses in the U.S. Haunted attractions on the list represented some of the scariest haunted houses throughout the nation with The Children’s Museum’s Haunted House as the only one included that offered a lights-on opportunity in addition to the traditional frightening visit.
Funds raised by The Children’s Museum Guild’s Haunted House help support The Children’s Museum’s mission to create extraordinary learning opportunities. In addition to the Haunted House, the Museum Guild also supports The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis by volunteering within exhibits and events, and through outreach programs to area hospitals and charitable organizations.
About The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is a nonprofit institution committed to creating extraordinary family learning experiences that have the power to transform the lives of children and families across the arts, sciences and humanities.
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