By Julianne Homokay
Special to the Alpine Mountaineer
There’s an exciting new event on the mountain, just in time for Halloween. “Wraith House,” produced by Murphey Arts and Charitable Entertainment (MACE), runs from Oct. 18 to Oct. 27 at the Lake Gregory Education Center, and promises to haunt its audiences in an unparalleled way.
Some of the unsettling companions accompanying you on the tour. (by Julianne Homokay)
Using a wing of the education center previously only used for storage, the Murpheys have transformed the space into a fun and terrifying labyrinth with the use of professional-grade props, animatronics and effects.
The level of gory detail a patron can expect. (by Julianne Homokay)
Wraith House, which bills itself as “the Inland Empire’s most terrifying haunted experience (wraithhouse.net),” sprang from the fertile imagination of one of its co-directors, Payton “Tito” Murphey. Her parents, co-director and MACE board president Matt and board secretary Meghan, are both lawyers who run a successful firm together. They were in the habit of throwing a Halloween party every year for their clients; back in 2017, daughter Payton came to them wanting to put on a haunted house as part of the party. The idea caught on for Matt especially and, before long, the whole family was involved in producing what evolved into one of the most successful home haunt events in Orange County. It was one of two home haunts featured in the documentary series Halloween Obsessed.
Payton works with the students. (contributed by Payton Murphey)
A fun and family-like atmosphere behind the scenes. (contributed by Payton Murphey)
The Murpheys have also managed to foster a creative and family-like culture around the annual event. “It’s a labor of love,” said Matt. “Friends come down and help, family comes down to help… It’s always a great time.” In addition to a loyal crew of actors and builders who are coming up from Orange County, MACE held local auditions this year that resulted in almost 10 kids from Mary Putnam Henck Intermediate School joining the team.
This will be Wraith House’s inaugural year here on the mountain. In keeping with the family and company’s charitable goals, proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the theater programs at MPH and Rim of the World High School. As well, Matt has already created community partnerships by collaborating with sponsors Bennett Construction and Lake Arrowhead Brewing Company, where the Murpheys will put up a smaller version of Wraith House over Halloween weekend.
So what prompted the move to Lake Arrowhead from Orange County? “We bought a vacation home in 2012,” said Matt. He grew up on a farm in Ohio, and the natural beauty and character of the community is “just like my childhood.” In fact, he and Meghan got married on the mountain. Recently, the whole family relocated, with one daughter now a student at Rim High and one at MPH.
Their ideas are not limited to the Halloween season, however. Payton has been running a successful summer theater camp that she may want to bring to the mountain. They also have ideas for a future Krampus-themed Christmas event, or possibly a “My Bloody Valentine” haunt in a future February, depending on community response to Wraith House.
When people ask Matt why he puts so much time and energy into Wraith House given his demanding career: “It’s a passion thing for Meg and I… it’s for the kids.”
For more information and to get tickets for the event, visit wraithhouse.net.
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