AUGUST 1, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wallingford, CT – September 26th marks the start of the 32nd year for Wallingford’s Trail of Terror. The very popular, non-profit has donated over $2.7 Million benefitting local charities, individuals and community projects in need.
The 32nd year of terror, “Spark Your Fear”:
The Spark was never just a power source for Central Valley Hospital—it fueled Dr. Malcolm Donner’s Redaction Process. As the Hospital’s research turned increasingly forbidden, Donner developed a way to preserve the minds of those whose knowledge could not be lost. He bound the consciousnesses of the Hospital’s brightest doctors, researchers, and patients into a vast living mainframe, creating an intelligence designed to store secrets, suppress discoveries, and steer the Hospital’s darkest work.
These minds were harvested and woven into the system beneath Wraithborne Estate, Donner’s private residence and hidden control center. The mainframe drew on the Sparks impossible energy to sustain the imprisoned consciousnesses. Together, they cataloged breakthroughs, erased evidence, and buried the Hospital’s most dangerous truths.
For decades, the Redaction Process held. Now, the Spark is changing. The archived minds are awakening, the system is failing, and the horrors it was built to contain are beginning to surface.
The non-profit Trail of Terror was started by Wayne Barneschi in 1994 with the help of his family and friends in his front yard as an elaborate Halloween decoration. Over three decades later, the haunted attraction covers 4 acres of woods, is staffed with 200 volunteers a night, and entertains over 20,000 frightened guests every October. Halloween enthusiasts travel from all over the United States to visit the attraction.
The Scare Crew Productions Advisory Board searches for local charities in need and tries to help them any way they can. Focusing on homeless shelters, youth programs, veteran groups, volunteer fire departments, drug and alcohol awareness and animal rescue organizations. They even are in the process of saving a historic building in the area.
“Our slogan is We Scare Because We Care”, stated Wayne Barneschi. “We love Halloween and we love our town.”
“I’ve been with the Trail of Terror for more than 20 years now and I’ve seen first hand what having this organization in our town has done for the town and its volunteers.” Said volunteer Bruce Snyder. “Year after year people may see me in a Trail of Terror Boo Crew sweatshirt and thank me for making a difference. I can’t explain the sense of pride that gives me to be associated with such an amazing organization.”
Visit the Trail of Terror on September 26th, October 2, 3, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 30th. Tickets available online starting August 1st.
To learn more about the Trail of Terror and the charitable work of Scare Crew Productions, please visit http://scarecrew.org/donations
CONTACT:
Wayne Barneschi
Executive Director
wayne@scarecrew.org
203-623-9647
CONTACT:
Christopher Grande
Content & Media
chris@scarecrew.org