One of California’s ‘scariest haunted houses’ closes in SLO County. Here’s why
One of the last traditional haunted houses in San Luis Obispo County won’t be welcoming guests this spooky season.
Since its creation 10 years ago, Nightmare on Main Street has offered a walk-through haunted house experience every Halloween, featuring spooky scenes against the backdrop of a 120-year-old house.
The Templeton haunt — once named one of the scariest haunted houses in California — was unable to open for Halloween this year, however, after the property owner sold the house.
“It was on the market for a while and ... it sold right around the first of July,” Nightmare on Main Street co-founder Natalie Klock told The Tribune on Wednesday. “So obviously we miss this Halloween season.”
Nightmare on Main Street was one of the last classic haunted house attractions in San Luis Obispo County.
Most other walk-through haunts have either closed entirely or been available only on a temporary, one-time basis, Klock explained.
“Really, this area does not have very many,” she said.
The Haunt in Atascadero is currently the only other well-known, permanent horror experience in San Luis Obispo County.
Never fear. Nightmare on Main Street is expected to return next year — as long as organizers can find a new location.
Klock said the nonprofit foundation that runs the haunted house has been searching for a new location for the attraction, but has not yet had much luck in locating a good space.
According to Klock, a previous property owner “generously donated” the house at 99 Main St. to the organization in 2011.
That first year, the haunted house was operated a fundraiser for the Templeton Recreation Department.
Over the decade, it grew into an way to donate thousands of dollars to various community organizations — a tradition Klock said she’d like to continue if she can find a new space.
Though organizers were initially focusing their efforts on Templeton, Klock said they’ve now expanding their search to Paso Robles and Atascadero.
“We’ve been trying to find someplace in Templeton, but it’s proving harder than we thought,” she said.
Anyone who has commercial property and is interested in working with the Nightmare on Main Street crew should contact them through their website, www.nightmareonmain.com, Klock said.
No matter what, the organization wants to stay in North County, she added.
“We had somebody drive last year for hours to come see us,” she said. “That really blows your mind away. .. When you hear about a good haunt, you usually have to drive to it. We’re not always fortunate to have them in your neck of the woods.”
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