The same state fire codes that stopped plans for a haunted house in Athens have forced Scare University designer John Coen to deconstruct the Nelsonville haunted house project and move it to a new location, just days before it was scheduled to open.
The project, which was scheduled to launch this weekend in the old high school building on Fayette Street, came to a halt when the Nelsonville Fire Department learned that the building did not meet the codes required for operation. The fire department met with Coen and members of the Nelsonville School Restoration Foundation Sunday evening to discuss the dilemma and which actions they need to take in order to keep the project going.
Dan Pfeiffer, public information officer for the fire department, said that recent developments with a similar project in Athens brought the special codes to their attention.
We inspected the building last year
and at the time it met the codes we were aware of he said. This year things have changed
and we are aware of the new codes.
He explained that the building lacked several key things that would bring it up to code, including a sprinkler system, emergency direction lights and a hard-wired alarm system leading back to a manned central alarm area either on or off the site.
The timing and the current condition of the building prevented the project from running in the old high school site.
We have to meet requirements that were never really designed for haunted houses but more for amusement park buildings
Coen said. They want sprinkler systems and lighted walkways that just aren't practical. They just don't work for the situation of a temporary haunter.
But instead of calling it quits, he decided to move the haunted house outdoors just behind the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway.
All of these codes that are shutting us down are for haunted houses inside existing structures. Because we're outside
the codes don't really apply
Coen said. He explained that things such as ventilation systems wouldn't be a problem because of the new location. Now their main concern is general safety, rather then special amusement fire and building codes.
In addition to a change of location, the financial standing of the project was another concern of the group. Coen has personally invested over $20,000 in the project. Similar to the Athens haunted house project, the profits from Scare University will be split. Sixty percent will go back to Coen, and the remaining 40 percent will benefit the Nelsonville School Restoration Foundation and the Avalon Animal Shelter.
Dorothy Gettle, chairwoman for the foundation, expressed disappointment with the recent trouble the project has run into but understood that the circumstances were beyond their control.
Of course it's disappointing. But we just pick up and go
she said. We want to save the building
and that's what we'll keep doing.
Gettle was not aware of any future plans for the building.
To any other designer, dealing with a number of roadblocks would be discouraging. But Coen, a long-time veteran of the haunted house business, did not seem deterred by them. He spent most of yesterday afternoon taking down props and decorations inside the building.
At this point it's either throw in the towel or swim like crazy
said Coen. And we're going to swim.
To deal with the major setback, he has planned a major reconstruction day this Saturday and is encouraging members of the community to come out and help.
Even if you have no carpentry skills
you can just stand there and hold a wall up while somebody else nails it in place
