ORANGE PARK — The Halloween season has officially begun. And you know what that means: pumpkins, candy, costumes and ghostly company.

Guess that means it's time to be prepared ... to be scared.

In Orange Park, Amanda and Roy Glass are ready to do that and much more when the two will welcome the community to their custom haunted trail and escape room beginning Oct. 10.

The Pergamum Haunt and Escape Room, at 2909 Barbara Lane, will be opening for its third consecutive year. Known as Jacksonville's highest-ranked haunt, the four-day event will feature darkness that brings you closer to your nightmares and horrors beyond your imagination.

"It is quite scary," Amanda said. "Depending on the people going through, there are definitely screams in almost every group."

Whether solving clues to break their way out of a secret crypt or walking along the creepy pathway, Amanda said guests will be placed into an experience to remember every Saturday in October.

Following a 15-minute trail, she said guests that dare to enter will encounter twisted clowns, flesh-hungry zombies, lurking creatures, deranged surgeons and restless spirits – all played by 20 to 30 volunteer actors.

"It looks very unassuming at first, but they will eventually weave through the property where they will be entranced in various creepy, elaborate scenes," Amanda said.

Or they can try their hand at a unique escape room, The Secret of the Crypt, where they will become detectives and enter a mausoleum to determine what happened to a caretaker that has suddenly gone missing. 

While both experiences are separate, guests will have the option to do both, Amanda said.

"One of the best parts about the whole thing is when you hear the groups go through and they start to scream and laugh at each other for what's happening," she said. "It's a great opportunity for families, or a date night, or groups, friends, coworkers to go through and have that experience."

Amanda said she and Roy both felt called to start the yearly event as a way to not only bring joy to the local community but benefit a deserving cause. While it took them a couple years to figure out what that would look like, they were ultimately inspired by a haunted trail they visited at Liberty University in Virginia.

"My husband and I were able to go and visit that location, and we really just loved the idea of using the Halloween season, one, to bring entertainment to people [and], two, to really just have fun with it."

They hosted their first one 10 years ago in Ohio, where they ran for six years as a 501 (c) 3 charity. When they moved to Florida in 2023, they brought the idea with them and relaunched with an escape room to elevate the experience.

"It's just awesome to be able to hear people come and laugh and have a good time. So, we really get to enjoy that."

The money from ticket sales, Amanda said, is donated back to the Clay County community through various initiatives. For the past few years, they've partnered with First Coast Women's Services, where they purchased diapers, formula, bassinets, wipes and other items to help mothers facing unexpected pregnancies.

This year, she said, the money will be donated to Mercy Support Services, a nonprofit that provides stability to families facing homelessness and crisis in Clay County.

"We're excited to just be able to use this event to bring joy, but then also help people in our community as well," Amanda said.

The Glasses start the preparation process months before the spooky season, building their own sets from the ground up and handmaking props. That sometimes means being creative and resourceful in ways they never knew were possible.

Each year, scenes and storylines are also changed out so there is always something new and fresh, Amanda said. 

"It is a crazy amount of work every year to set it up," Amanda said. "I start to lose my mind by the end of it. So, the first night, when you hear the first group go through and scream a little bit, it's like 'Okay, it's worth it. We did it.'"

During their first year in Orange Park, they welcomed about 120 people. Since then, she said, the event has continued to grow.  And as a result, they have come up with savvy ways to tame the crowds. 

That includes limiting the size of groups allowed at one time. Guests are required to book their "appointment" online so they can come at certain time slots. This, she said, leaves for a more intimate experience.

"That's also great for the guests because then, they don't have to stand in a long queue anywhere waiting in line," she said. "They can book through appointment, come here and get almost like a private experience."

In addition to Oct. 10, the event will run on Oct. 17, 24 and 31 from 7-11 p.m.

Guests should wear closed-toed shoes, and dress for night-time weather. While they do operate in the rain, Amanda said heavy rains may cause a delay.

Though the experience is open to everyone, most scenes are intense, so they recommend the experience for ages 12 and older. 

And while the escape room is mostly accessible, Amanda said to be mindful that the trail is not.

General admission for both the haunted trail and escape room is $10 each, and can be purchased at pergamumhaunt.com ... if you dare.