NORFOLK, Va. — Every year, a haunted attraction in Hampton Roads opens its doors to spook willing victims. Behind the gory makeup and monster masks is a group of people who have opened their hearts to those struggling mentally and emotionally.
Two years ago, the attraction known as 'Spooky Acres' nearly had to close due to one of the owners having a very serious stroke. However, the attraction was so beloved by the young volunteers that it was taken over until the owner, Darren Barton, made a huge recovery.
Inside the MacArthur Center is the attraction made of nightmares, first created by Darren and his wife Paige in 1994.
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"We started for our son's football league instead of selling candy and stuff and then after that, we were asked to go out to Chuckatuck and start the haunted house out there," explained Paige Barton. "Since then, we've kind of moved it along and moved it through the Hampton Roads area."
With the help of 45 volunteers, the Bartons have been able to build and break down this massive maze of monsters, spooks and spirits.
But two years ago, they nearly had to say R-I-P to their playhouse of horror and panic.
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"I woke up on the floor. My son found me on the floor. I had a stroke and that's when my entire left side was gone," said Darren Barton.
Darren Barton's brush with death had spooked him more than any part of their haunted attraction. He says it limited him from doing everyday, basic tasks.
"I couldn't walk. I literally had to be held to go to the restroom, to get a drink and get some food brought to me," explained Darren Barton.
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While he recovered, the group of ghoulish volunteers kept the lights on and flickering.
"They took over the building, tearing it down and moving everything from where we were to MacArthur Center. There is a group of them who will take it over when we step out," explained Paige Barton.
Two years ago, Darren said he didn't think he would be alive today. When we asked the couple why they kept going after this medical scare, they said Spooky Acres is more than a haunted house. The attraction is an outlet for some of the kids.
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"It keeps these knuckleheads off the streets," said Darren Barton.
"I'm a second chance kind of person for everybody, so it's not like I'm going to boot them just because they got in trouble once. It's not fair, it's life," added Paige Barton.
One of the volunteers given a second chance was 17-year-old Tracy Leach.
"Recently, I just got locked up. I did six months and it messed with my mental health," said Leach.
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The love and care put into this attraction goes beyond the fake blood and the blood-curdling screams, according to Leach. He says Spooky Acres has not only kept him grounded, but has helped him deal with some painful grief.
"Two years ago I lost my brother—it was a shooting that happened on Crammer Road and it's another month without him today," he explained. "When I think about it, it messes with me a little bit."
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Since joining the Spooky Acres team, Leach says he's come out of a dark place.
"This is what's helping me push through and everything because I know people in here care for me; my family cares for me," said Leach.
Leach isn't the only one who feels the support from the Bartons. The couple believes that fake blood can be thicker than water.
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"There are a lot of these kids that have somewhat of an unstable home life. Not all of them, but some of them," said Paige Barton. "There's a lot of them that kind of go down a rough road. I've had the phone calls at 1 a.m. trying to talk them out of doing something crazy."
While the attraction aims to scare, it's also helping the community. Some money raised goes towards 'March of Dimes'.
If you'd like to give back, it'll only cost a scream or two.
