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A trail guide stands by a campfire at the entrance of the Wicked Woods. Proceeds of the event are donated to the Red Cross, Carpool and the Brazos Valley Food Bank.

Fraternity constructs haunted trail

By: Brooke Lein

Posted: 10/27/08

The Kappa Sigma fraternity has organized a haunted trail to give scare to its patrons and raise funds for the Red Cross, CARPOOL and the Brazos Valley Food Bank.

Wicked Woods is an outdoor haunted path on five acres behind the Kappa Sigma fraternity house. The trail includes six to nine constructed scenes.

"A lot of it is your traditional Halloween stuff," said senior management major Tim Gollihar, internal chairman for the event. "But we try to throw in a few surprises. We change it up from year to year to keep things fresh."

All members of the fraternity participate in the development and construction of the scenes in the haunted path.

"Clown scene brothers dress as clowns, and chainsaw theme brothers dress like guys from Texas Chainsaw Massacre," said senior industrial distribution major Matthew Philen, president of the Mu Gamma chapter. "Also, this year there is a redneck campsite scene where all the brothers dress in flannel clothing and hunting gear around the fire."

Because there are 25 members and 10 pledges for the fraternity, volunteer help is needed to make the event successful.

Brothers in the organization dress up in costumes and compose a majority of the entertainment at the event, while volunteers act as guides. These guides, who include friends and girlfriends of the members and participants from sororities, lead groups of 10 to 15 people through the trail at a time. One of the objectives is to intensify the frightful experience at each different scene.

"We can't do it without them," Gollihar said, "they are a great help."

The planning committee for the event is lead by the chapter's vice president, Anthony Loeffel. Loeffel said there are three people who serve under him to coordinate the event to reach the highest possible standards.

Gollihar is responsible for construction, planning and gathering materials needed to build effective scenes. There are two external chairman, Jeff Kehm and Peter Noto, who are responsible for advertising the event and raising funds needed to buy supplies through sponsorships and donations.

"It's quite a bit of work, but it's worth it," Gollihar said. "One girl was telling me that she has been coming to Wicked Woods since she was 8 years old. Families love it, the community loves it, and we love it. In fact, I don't see us ever stopping Wicked Woods; it has been very successful, and it does a lot of great work for charity."

The fraternity puts the haunted trail on as part of yearly philanthropy events.

Philen said that they chose to give part of the funds to CARPOOL because they wanted to give back to an organization within the Texas A&M Community and promote responsibility.

Tickets for the event cost $10, however with a canned good, $2 are deducted from the price. All non-perishable items received will be sent to the Brazos Valley Food Bank.

Philen said that each year, college students, families, Aggie athletes and professors come together to benefit the community. They pass through the haunted trail in search of a scare and simultaneously help those who cannot help themselves.