Former Biker Clubhouse Becomes Haunted House

Scenes of severed heads, mutilated bodies and blood-splattered walls await those entering .

Located at 936 Ford Ave., Lockdown is designed as a prison for zombies, an attempt to stop the walking dead and other creatures from roaming about Downriver.

Inside, , or “haunts.” While wandering through the dark maze, visitors encounter horrific spectacles such an infirmary gone awry, a “butcher shop,” a toxic chemical zone–and, of course, many surprises.

The Wyandotte Jaycees, , put on the event with the help of many volunteers. Money raised from entrance fees is used to help the Jaycees in their support of community service projects.

Wyandotte Jaycees Management Vice President John Dehring said this is the 35th consecutive year the group has put on a haunted house as a fundraiser.

To do so, he said, the allows the Jaycees to use a building that is scheduled for demolition, and in return the group only pays the costs of utilities.

“We come in, we gut the building (and) we prep the building for what we need to do," Dehring said. "When we’re done, the city demolishes the building afterward."

In the past, the Jaycees have converted the former Wyandotte Police Station, the former Wyandotte Theater and several residential homes into a haunted house.

This year’s location, last used as a clubhouse by the Outlaws Motorcycle Club, is a drab, ominous building with metal doors and glass block windows. A high fence, topped with barbed wire, contains a small yard on the property.

Those features inspired this year’s penitentiary theme, Dehring said.

“With the building and the fencing around it, we went with a zombie prison," he said. 

Wyandotte Jaycees Management Director Allan Joseph said the group began working on the haunted house in early September. It opened to the public Oct. 8.

Joseph said the hard work and planning that goes into designing a haunted house every year is key to how much the public will enjoy it.

“We have to evolve as our customers do,” he said. “You can't just have a guy standing around in a black cloak with a plastic sickle anymore.”

Aside from Jaycees members donating their time, several volunteers from the community also are involved each year. The local helpers, Joseph said, are primarily young people, aged 13 and older, who serve as the scary characters inside.  

“They have been fantastic,” Joseph said. “They don't always get the haunts that they want, but they usually have fun with the spots we give them.”

The Jaycees have partnered with the this year, which is located only a few blocks west of the haunted house.

Five Out of the Box actors or actresses work at the haunted house each night and in return, the Jaycees give the theater group a percentage of that night’s profits, Joseph said.

Their partnership is expanding to customers this weekend. On Friday and Saturday, a combination ticket is available for both the theater’s production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show and entry into the haunted house.

The ticket can be purchased for $20, a $4 savings. The Rocky Horror Picture Show will be shown at midnight Friday and at 8 p.m. and midnight Saturday.

Lockdown is open from 7 to 10 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays and from 7 p.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays, through Oct. 30.

The cost is $12 per person. Cash or credit is accepted. For discount information, visit the Jaycees online or call 734-288-7024.