Whitehall's Haunted House Gives Youth a Creative Outlet While Saving the Star

Recognized by Travel Pulse Magazine as Montana's top haunted house destination in 2022, Whitehall's Screams Come True Haunted House is preparing for its seventh season of scares and community spirit. Once again, the haunt will transform the Whitehall Community Center (11 N Division) into a nightmare-filled attraction across three weekends: October 17-18, 24–25, and 30-31.

While the blood-curdling screams and eerie sets draw crowds from across the state, the true heart of Screams Come True lies in its mission. Operated by Gold Junction Presents (GJP)-a Whitehall-based nonprofit dedicated to the arts and preservation of the historic Star Theatre-the haunted house serves as both a fundraiser and a creative workshop for the community's youth.

A Safe, Creative Outlet for Whitehall's Youth:

For more than a month each fall, dozens of local youth (and adults of all ages) dedicate themselves to building, designing, and performing inside the haunted house. The project provides them with a safe, constructive, and imaginative outlet, where they can learn practical skills such as set design, sound, lighting, stage makeup, and acting.

From anchoring walls and painting sets to creating their own terrifying characters, young volunteers are immersed in a rare theatrical opportunity-one that blends teamwork, responsibility, and creativity. For many, it is the largest and most elaborate stage production they will ever be part of. This isn't just a haunted house, it's a place where kids and adults alike can learn, grow, and shine-while having a blast scaring the socks off of people.

Every Dollar Benefits the Community: What makes Screams Come True stand apart is its financial model: no individual pockets the proceeds. After donating a portion of the revenue to the Whitehall Community Center for the use of the space, every remaining dollar is reinvested directly back into the community through Gold Junction Presents.

Those funds have made a real difference. Thanks to the haunted house, the Star Theatre was able to install a new roof this year, ensuring the historic building's preservation for future generations. The proceeds also support free programming, theatre classes, and movie events-all of which are accessible to the Whitehall community.

This all-volunteer effort, featuring more than 40 "scarers" ranging in age from 6 to 86, highlights the event's communal spirit. It is truly a labor of love, with every scream feeding back into Whitehall's cultural and artistic heartbeat.

Details and Tickets:

Each year, Screams Come True reinvents itself, introducing new room themes, chilling effects, and interactive elements. Past seasons have included hay mazes, escape rooms, and immersive photo booths, ensuring that no two visits are ever the same.

Tickets for the 2025 season are available at http://www.screamscometruemt.com. Pre-purchasing is highly recommended, as lines for at-the-door tickets have stretched past two hours in past seasons. However, the Screams Crew GUARANTEES entry if you are in line by 10:30 PM - everyone will gain entrance, no matter how late into the wee hours of the morning the cast needs to go.

General admission tickets are $20, while VIP (read: skip-the-line) Tickets are $50, including a $15 merchandise credit.

Whether under the haunting glow of night or during a behind-the-scenes lights-on tour, Screams Come True is more than a Halloween attraction-it's proof of what a small town can do when creativity, community, and tradition collide.

Don't miss your chance to be part of the screams, the fun, and the future of Whitehall's Star Theatre this October.