KHTS is getting a sneak peek of some of the top haunted houses in Santa Clarita, with the special three-part series continuing at “Shiver Haunt SCV,” set to open Oct. 18.

The 1,100-square-foot home haunt is returning to Montolla Lane in Valencia for the third time, with haunt organizers going bigger — and even more terrifying — this year than ever before.

Shiver Haunt SCV 2019. Photo by David Melnarik, KHTS.

“The synopsis is, the circus came to town, but left the clowns behind,” said David Rosenthal, who co-created Shiver Haunt SCV with his fiance, Gwen Zimlin. “So the clowns travel through the forest, through the cemetery, to the Zimlins’ residence to find that they’re having their annual Halloween party. And then the clowns proceed to take over the house.” 

Related: KHTS Gets Sneak Peek Of Haunted Houses In Santa Clarita: Part One – ‘Beware The Dark Realm’

Recommended for children 13 and up, Shiver Haunt SCV features a combination of blood and gore in addition to bone-chilling suspense, with a “raw” feel to it that Rosenthal says was inspired by filmmaker Rob Zombie.   

“It’s more raw and down and dirty, as opposed to everything clean and perfect,” Rosenthal said. “There’s a lot of details to check out. You can go through it a couple times and probably notice something new each time.” 

While the haunted house in Santa Clarita drew about 500 people last year, Rosenthal is now expecting an even bigger crowd due to positive home haunt reviews and added publicity. 

In preparation for the extra attention, Rosenthal and Zimlin are placing even more terrifying actors throughout the haunt to scare attendees, and have upped their set decoration while relying less on props and animatronics.

Shiver Haunt SCV 2019. Photo by David Melnarik, KHTS.

Rosenthal recalled how his neighborhood had only a handful of trick-or-treaters before they started hosting Shiver Haunt SCV, and now his neighbors even come out to take in the festivities while hundreds of excited Halloween enthusiasts mill around on the street.

Related: Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station To Host 30th Annual Haunted Jail House

“(It’s been) really cool to see, because all of our neighbors said … they haven’t seen anything here for Halloween in years, and now it’s starting to come back,” he said. “People are starting to meet each other and enjoy the night and just have a good time. That’s what it’s all about to us, is just community and meeting people and having fun.”

One 7-year-old girl who was particularly captivated by the haunt last year even asked if she could join the actors inside, and with her parents’ permission, was allowed to scare people for a few hours that night, creating memories that will likely last a lifetime.

“She loved it,” Rosenthal said. “Just seeing a lot of these kids happy and laughing and screaming and everything was just a great feeling, because they have such a good time.” 

Shiver Haunt SCV 2019. Photo by David Melnarik, KHTS.

While Shiver Haunt SCV is free to attend, front-of-the-line passes can be purchased for $5, with 100 percent of proceeds set to go to the nonprofit dog rescue Mutt Match LA in honor of Rosenthal and Zimlin’s three-legged rescue dog, Spoolie. 

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Spoolie, a now 7-year-old chihuahua mix, was a former hoarding dog saved from the shelter by Mutt Match LA when he was about a year old, and adopted by Rosenthal not long afterward.

“He is just an awesome little guy that they sprung from a high-kill shelter who probably would have been put down because he was born with three and a half legs,” Rosenthal said. “I think they’re a charity worthy of anything we can do to help.” 

Shiver Haunt SCV, located at 26154 Montolla Lane in Valencia, is expected to open for the 2019 Halloween season on Friday, Oct. 18 and run from 7 to 10 p.m. on Oct. 18, 19, 25, 26 and 31. For more information, click here. 

Check back with KHTS throughout the month of October for a sneak peek of more haunted houses in Santa Clarita during the special three-part Halloween series. 

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