Did you know you that you can be frightened for a good cause? At least at Halloween you can. Most people love Halloween for the candy, the costumes, the make up and a good scare.

The best place for a good scare is a haunted house. There are haunted houses everywhere. They are big, small, professional or put on by neighborhoods or schools. They can range in intensity from ones that have clowns and things that go bump, to those that require you to sign a waiver before you enter. But only in Fort Worth, Texas, can you find the largest charity haunted house in the nation. All of the carpenters, concessions workers, actors, ticket takers, security guards, make up artists and costumers are volunteers. And all of the profit goes to local charities.

Hangman’s House of Horrors, located in Fort Worth on I-30 and Forest Park Boulevard, was started 22 years ago and has entertained over half a million visitors since its opening. Hangman’s has also contributed more than $1.5 million to local charities. The 2010 beneficiaries include the American Cancer Society, a Wish with Wings (for children with serious illnesses), Cenikor Foundation (assistance for people struggling with substance abuse), Rocky Top Therapy Center (equestrian therapy) and SafeHaven of Tarrant County (domestic violence).

If you’re interested in volunteering, Hangman’s needs more than 30,000 volunteer hours to build the house and run it through Halloween. There is a form to fill out on their website and an orientation for any new volunteers.

Emily Carter, sophomore Middle Eastern Studies major, volunteered at Hangman’s last year and loved the experience. She said, “The best part of Hangman’s was the makeup! It was so cool looking, dead and gory. I had this massive gash on my neck, and dead looking skin. It was awesome.” Carter talked about how it was “a little nerve racking going through the ‘house’ before the whole things started,” but that she loved “everyone’s faces when I did scare them.”

Senior history and economics major Jaclyn Fedors, when told about volunteering at Hangman’s says, “I am personally not a fan of haunted houses, however, I believe if I was, it would be an extremely entertaining way to get volunteer hours.

According to their website, “Hangman’s has been recently featured on the Travel Channel’s ‘America’s Scariest Halloween Attractions,’ a television special showcasing the nation’s top haunts. Additionally, Family Circle magazine named Hangman’s as one of the nation’s ‘Halloween Hot Spots!’ Most recently, the house was voted ‘Best Place to get Spooked’ by the readers of Fort Worth Magazine and named as a ‘Best of Fort Worth’ tourist attraction by the U.S. Local Business Association.”

It takes more than half an hour to go through the main house on the Hangman’s property, and this year they also have three side attractions. There is the Swinery, Obscurities and 3-D Wonderland. There are also live bands, concessions, midways rides and games, karaoke and much more. There is more information about ticket pricing and volunteering on their website. www.hangmans.com

Volunteers at Hangman's House of Horrors. Photos by Page Grossman

Emily Carter after make up

Emily Carter before make up