It’s time again for the people of Yelm to enjoy some scares.
Once again, Yell Manor is offering people a haunted house experience, which also features two escape rooms this year.
Yell Manor started in 2017 as a partnership between Triad Theater and the Standing Room Only Theatre Company in Yelm. Escape rooms were added in 2018 and 2019. While COVID-19 shut down the haunted house in 2020 and 2021, this year’s haunted house is a partnership between Gordon’s Garden Center and Standing Room Only.
“The organizers are all big fans of Halloween and haunted houses,” Steve Harshfield, president of Standing Room Only theater group in Yelm, said. “People should expect a fun and frightful journey for all the senses. This year, a swamp has overrun the manor, so we’re leading people through that and taking them to some areas they haven’t seen at the manor, like the family mausoleum and cemetery.”
Escape rooms are back this year, and a few nights are sold out already. Harshfield said people should book those as soon as possible since they always sell out.
Harshfield said that planning for Yell Manor starts months in advance.
“We settle on a layout and theme. Then a team of volunteers spends most of the month of October building it,” Harshfield said.
He added that Kellie Petersen, a partner for the event, has been a big supporter of the arts over the years, not only as a business owner but as a performer and producer.
“She’s a gracious host that loves to help as much as she can with SRO productions to ensure the community continues to have access to the arts right here in Yelm,” Harshfield said. “This is our fifth annual haunted house. We intend to keep it going and are always looking for new blood (so to speak) to help with this and other events throughout the year. We’re also looking for a new place to call home since the Triad Theater closed in 2019.”
Harshfield said the event wouldn’t be possible without the tireless efforts of his fellow board members: Dawn Young, vice president, and Yvette O’Keefe, secretary, as well as board members Dale Sharp and Rae Simpson.
Yell Manor will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Oct. 26-31. Tickets can be purchased at srotheater.org.
“Feedback has been amazing,” Harshfield said. “It’s nice having something else to do in Yelm that’s not only fun but affordable. And everyone has been excited to hear that we’re bringing escape rooms back this year.”
