Students seek thrills in haunted houses
- Photo by Jessie O’Cheltree
Creaking floors, broken windows, strange noises and fear are what make abandoned “haunted” houses so creepy and fun for students.
Many teens enjoy going to haunted houses for the fear and that paranoid feeling that they are being watched by some unknown force. Abandoned/haunted houses are where young adults like to hang out these days.
“I love haunted houses because you never know what to expect around the corner, and it is fun watching your friends get scared,” junior Caleb Hutchison said.The haunted house that is very well known amongst students is on the street Calle Lejos, which is also the name of the house. It is an old abandoned house that has scared teens at night from the outside, as well as the inside.
“Every time we go there, we close the door and when we come back the door is open,” junior Stefan Dudzinski said. “Same as the garage; the light was on.”
Calle Lejos is able to scare students because of its outward appearance. It is a large house that was foreclosed years ago with a large fence on county land with no streetlights.
“I try to go to the darkest spot [in Calle Lejos] so I can say I did it, and it’s something to tell my friends about,” Hutchison said.
Aside from Calle Lejos, there are other places that are abandoned and creepy that teens enjoy going to, such as the birdcage, which is a structure that resembles a birdcage and is located in the desert, as well as the creepy, dark tunnels on Bell.
Students go in these haunted houses to look around and explore. Another reason would be to scare themselves.
“It’s like a scary movie, [but] in real life,” Dudzinski said. “You know nothing bad is going to happen, but you want to go anyway.”
Nails, broken glass and plenty of other safety hazards make going into these abandoned houses somewhat dangerous.
“They’re old and everything is breakable,” junior Jenna Rabe said. “And there are creepy spirits roaming around.”
It is impossible to discern what is around the next corner but that is what keeps the teens’ interest in these places.
“It could be dangerous because there could be a crazy guy waiting inside to kill you,” Hutchison said.
No matter what, students will continue to go to these abandoned/haunted houses, whether it is for the thrill or the possibility of seeing a ghost walking around.
According to Arizona Revised Statutes 13-1504, “Entering or remaining unlawfully in or on a residential structure” is considered criminal trespassing.
Students who wish to seek thrills in “haunted” houses, remember that is it at a risk and be fully aware of the consequences if caught.
It’s not the David Anthony house, that house is on 83rd and pinnacle peak, not calle lejo. But where are the dark tunnels on bell and the birdcage??
What is the story behind this house?
This house wouldn’t happen to be the David Anthony murder house would it? The story behind it sounds close. Husband killed wife and two kids, but raped someone before doing so, and buried them in the back yard. Most of that story is true, sans the buried in back yard part.
Thank you for your comment, our staff was really intrigued by it. What drew you to the conclusion that it was David Anthony’s house?
I got some pics in that house and the outside and they are unexplainable made me think my camera was broken but I would only get the messed up pics at the calle lejose house
Curious as to where the birdcage structure is located, as well as the dark tunnels on bell. I have not heard of either of those and am interested in researching them more.
is this house really haunted?
i believe so
I think it’s kind of funny how some people find themselves to be almost invisible.I personally believe that ghosts are real,so I don’t get why someone would say ‘nothing bad is going to happen.’ What if they were caught by someone?Or you know,what if they anger the spirits and get attacked? I really enjoyed reading this story.Very well written & interesting!:)