MAXTON — The Insanitarium put on by Scotland County Parks and Recreation and the Laurinburg-Scotland County Area Chamber of Commerce has only been held for three years, but there’s one local athletic team that has always been willing to volunteer.
The St. Andrews University men’s volleyball team has donned masks, fake blood and carried chainsaws since the event began at the old Wagram prison in 2017.
“We wanted to be more involved in the community… a former player reached out to me and asked if we would be interested in volunteering because he was involved with Parks and Rec for a school project,” said head coach Nick Rawls. “I thought it was a really good opportunity for the guys to go out and do something and give back; the opportunity to give back was really important to us.”
Each year the team has moved with the event bringing the energy to the old prison, Main Street and now into the Badlands at the Laurinburg-Maxton Airport.
“These guys bring a lot of energy to the event,” said Parks and Recreation Director Bryan Graham.“They’re excited and they bring a lot to the table. It’s a long day and they give everyone a boost.”
This year the guys are donning wigs and military gear in the Badlands along with others, turning into the typical haunted house frights.
“The guys are excited about it … they ask me about it beforehand, wanting to come out and do it again,” Rawls said. “They tell freshmen and we even use it as a recruiting tool, like, hey we get to do this school thing.
“We’re glad we’ve built the relationship with Bryan and he trusts us to come every year and we’re excited to help,” he added, “and now it’s grown with even more St. Andrews students participating.”
This year the team is joined at the Insanitarium by the university’s soccer and dance teams, who are bringing the scares through the maze of terrors.
“They love it, they love getting out there and giving scares and providing a good atmosphere,” Rawls said. “It’s our way of contributing to help Laurinburg and the city.”
The energy that the team brings to the haunted house doesn’t go unnoticed. Behind the scenes, the returning players offered some advice as well as pepping everyone up.
“It’s great to always get them out there,” Graham said. “And it’s great for us to be able to give back to their program. We give a donation every year to thank them for their participation (so) it’s a win for the event but also for them.”
The volleyball team will kick off its season in January and the schedule can be found on St. Andrews University’s website.
The Insanitarium: The Badlands will run Friday and Saturday from 8 p.m. to midnight along with the zombie paintball. Each event costs $10 and Fastpass tickets are $20. There are concessions at the event as well.
Reach Katelin Gandee at 910-506-3171 or at kgandee@laurinburgexch.wpenginepowered.com
