Surrey’s Cougar Creek House of Horrors celebrates 25 years with five haunted houses, 45 actors, and new scares for Halloween 2025.
From Garden Shop to Haunted Attraction
Surrey’s Cougar Creek House of Horrors is celebrating its 25th Halloween season this October. Originally a garden shop, the Newton attraction was first transformed into a seasonal haunt in 2001 and has since grown into one of the region’s most popular fright experiences.
Thousands of Thrills, Dozens of Actors
Managing Director Chris Pershick oversees nearly 120 staff members across five themed haunted houses—Abomination, New Year’s Evil, Echoes of Abbath, Zycho Zerkus, and Sinneraria—located on 72 Avenue in Newton. On peak nights, up to 45 actors in full makeup interact with ticket-buyers, delivering scares that have made the attraction a Halloween staple.
“Back in the day it was chaos, just madness,” Pershick recalled. “Now it’s really well organized … but you want to keep it exciting. People come for that rush of fear and adrenaline.”
Meet the Monsters
Actors like Sam Gilbert, who plays Jamboree the Clown, say the event feels like a second family. “I love talking to visitors, even when they Facetime friends while being scared,” Gilbert shared.
Ivana Franz, portraying Billy Bob from New Year’s Evil, added humor to her character: “I accidentally let a witch into one of our rooms and she cursed us … now we spend an eternity partying on New Year’s Eve.” Franz also noted safety precautions: “Sometimes people freeze or fight when scared—they might hit us by accident. Management makes sure we’re OK.”
Krista Maniezzo, playing a cult member, described scaring people as a form of “paid therapy” and enjoys the rotating character roles that keep the work fresh and engaging.
New Features for 2025
This year introduces “Touch of Fear Thursdays,” where consenting guests can experience light touches from actors in approved zones, from shoulders up. Non-consenting visitors can still enjoy the haunted houses.
For families, Horrors Jr. runs weekends from 2 to 5 p.m., offering a less intense, daytime walkthrough at $19.99 per person.
Technical and creative upgrades include a UV‑light floor, additional animatronics, new sounds, a redesigned lineup area, and a stage show featuring Burns the Dragon’s Caravan of Curiosities, alongside returning entertainer Danny of the Dead.
A Quarter-Century of Fear
Over 25 years, House of Horrors has continually evolved to keep guests returning. “We always have new characters inside the houses … it’s never the same every year,” Pershick said. The combination of innovation, storytelling, and interactive scares ensures that Surrey’s haunted landmark remains a Halloween must-visit.
Tickets and more information are available at cougarcreekhouseofhorrors.com or by calling 604‑572‑7706.
