Holly Spahr is the co-owner and co-operator of the Dark Corner Haunted House, located in the National Bowling Stadium in downtown Reno. For most of the year, the venue—one of the giant orbs in the downtown skyline—is occupied by bowlers from across the country and globe, but during Halloween season, this 32,000-square-foot scare fest takes over. For Spahr, while managing the haunted house is a lot of fun and games, it is also a serious pursuit. She’s found that honing her interest in makeup, props and showmanship has given her a community—and an outlet that helps with her anxiety and depression. Dark Corner Haunted House runs through Nov. 2. For tickets and information, visit www.darkcornerhaunt.com.
Tell us wannabe ghouls about yourself.
I am a sculptor, painter, scenic artist, costume addict and Halloween enthusiast. For the past three years, I’ve been the co-owner of Dark Corner and now spend 100% of my time building the biggest haunted house in Reno. You might remember me from my time costuming at Junkee Midtown Reno, my art/deco work around town with Dream Machine Design, or from last October when I was featured on HBO’s Craftopia.
Where do you come from? What crypt did you crawl out of? And what is your background?
I grew up as the only child of a military family, moving all over the United States. However, much of my inspiration for becoming the haunter I am today came from my time attending SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design) and working at the No. 1 haunted house in the nation, Netherworld. It wasn’t until I found a job doing makeup and acting at the haunted house that I finally felt part of a community of people just as strange, outcast and awkward as me. That experience changed my life forever.
How did you start this event in Reno?
I was a working artist in Reno, creating immersive environments with Dream Machine, when I met Dustin Ring and some local haunters in Mogul in 2021. Seeing these talented artists, their creations and their passion for horror reignited my own. With the support of my mentor Jessica Schneider from Junkee, Dark Corner Haunt was born. We’re now in our third year, and I’m proud to continue growing both our physical haunt footprint and our haunt family.
How did you get into the horror genre?
I’m a creative, proud weirdo, and I struggle with anxiety and depression. The horror genre just seems to fit. The people who gravitate toward this industry are some of the best I’ve ever met—tough on the outside, soft on the inside types. I got my start at Netherworld during college, but I’ve spent the past three years studying under the owner of the biggest horror props company in the U.S., Ghost Ride Productions. Through that, I’ve had the opportunity to travel, build booths and sell props at conventions. Knowing that my sculptures and creations are in haunted houses across the world is surreal. The family of lovable outcasts I found here solidified my lifetime love of all things horror, and the rest is history.
Do you have a favorite horror movie? What are your influences?
This year, the team is really inspired by Fallout (the post-apocalyptic drama television series), but personally, I’ve always been a huge fan of dark, whimsical influences like Jim Henson and movies such as The Dark Crystal.
For this year’s resurrection of Dark Corner, what is the theme? Has it changed from last year?
The theme has transformed. After last year’s introduction of Dark Lane Mall, a twist on Reno’s past, we are now set in an apocalyptic future. With the mutation of the “shadow plague infection,” it’s clear that no doctor in the hospital has cured the disease. The infection has evolved, encouraged by experiments from Dr. Stain in a new outdoor mad-scientist zone. Inside the mall, survival has led to cannibalism.