For Halloween 2009 the theme was Zombie Kitchen. A group of friends who have been collaborating on Halloween events for years moved to a new venue in the same neighborhood of Sunnyvale, CA. Construction started on Friday and was finished about 5:30 PM on Saturday, Halloween.

What evolved was introduced by a brightly lighted reception area. Nearby was a passageway where small groups of visitors (nominally up to 4) were queried for the level of "scare" they were willing to experience. An announcement of the desired experience was made and the group, with night blindness wiped out by the bright lights and a flashing strobe near the entrance, entered the venue. Their ankles were tickled by pneumatic tubes whipping around as they proceeded down the narrow passageway. They found two figures at the turn to the left, one a zombie and another about which one could not be so sure in the UV lighting. After turning left they passed a wall with air jets randomly blowing a different heights. Directly ahead was their first view of the Kitchen, the stove. The top of the stove popped open and a figure with UV makeup noisly emerged. Meanwhile, the zombie character followed them down the hall to surprise with a touch here, a nudge there.

As the visitors reacted to the stove zombie, hands grabbed ankles from behind. Another left turn revealed a rocking char with only hands visible, a refrigerator, and another appliance. The rocker started rocking and the other cast members encourage them on. Another zombie popped out of the appliance on the right, the refrigerator to the left came alive, and the rocker turned out to be occupied by a player as well. Past the threats and out the door to the right led to the kettle full of Halloween candy, guarded by a motion sensing snake. Reachin for the candy caused the snake to strike with lit-up eyes and rattling tail.

On out the gate to the lighted exit path led to a video monitor (using an IR camera) showing the next group arriving to greet the hall zombie and air jets.

At the reception area, greeters monitored the progress of the group toward the exit using another IR video camera, and started the next group inside.

The cast members were from the Homestead High School Water Polo teams. The house was supplied by Andrew Lynch. Photos (C) George Hamma are available for download and use by participants (First time with a new camera so more to learn)