New haunted house in Bolton brings terror to Town

King City Nightmares was built by enterprising 18-year-old Antonio Raine

By ZACHARY ROMAN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Caledon residents looking for a good scare don't have to travel far.

King City Nightmares, a new haunted house, has opened up in Bolton at 34 Nixon Road.

The terrifying attraction was built almost entirely by Antonio Raine, an 18-year-old actor who has been making haunted houses since the age of 12.

“I lived in Brampton back then… I started a little garage walkthrough,” said Raine. “Every year I would add new things, make it scarier — anything to entertain the neighbourhood.”

As his haunted houses kept improving, Raine saw more guests coming out to experience them. Before moving from Brampton, he even had the Mayor of Brampton out to visit for the grand opening of one of his haunted houses. 

Last year, Raine ran his first professional haunted house.

“It was a 140-year-old farmhouse and I turned the entire thing into a walkthrough,” said Raine, adding that it went really well.

This year, Raine wanted an even bigger location, which led to him coming to Bolton. In just a five-week span, Raine worked every single day to get his 2023 haunted house ready for its September 28 opening day.

“I build everything myself: all the sets, all the designing, all the little details you see are done by me,” said Raine. 

Halloween has always resonated with Raine and he's always had a passion for it. He said he finds great joy in building haunted houses and being an actor in them.

Raine said people have been enjoying King City Nightmares so far this year. He has a team of 14 actors working with him in the haunted house, a huge increase from the four actors in his 2022 haunted house.

Each year, Raine wants to continue to make his haunted houses bigger and better.

“This year, it's a pretty intense walkthrough and definitely longer than last year's,” said Raine. “When you enter, you go through a whole cabin, like a ‘Cabin in the Woods' type thing.”

While he hasn't yet picked a charity for this year's haunted house, Raine said he plans on donating a portion of haunted house proceeds to an organization that serves children in need.

King City Nightmares is open from 7 to 11 p.m. on Thursdays and Sundays, and from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. 

Raine said he's looking forward to welcoming guests to his haunted house.

Anyone looking to learn more or purchase tickets can visit kingcitynightmares.com.