WALLINGFORD - For the second straight year, the Trail of Terror has donated a frighteningly large amount of money to the Meriden-Wallingford branch of the American Red Cross.

The group of volunteers, led by Wallingford resident and trail creator Wayne Barneschi, donated $100,000, with $60,000 designated for programs and $40,000 for the capital renovation campaign. It donated the same amount last year and $40,000 in 2005.

"That's the part that makes all the work worthwhile," Barneschi said. "We always have our doubts prior to opening that people may not show up or they may not like the show. We're never satisfied with it, but it's a good feeling once you finally hand over that check and see their faces."

The trail, which runs each weekend in October in back of the Polish National Alliance Park on North Plains Highway, takes patrons on a 45-minute walk through the woods.

Volunteers jump out from every possible hiding spot and remake scenes from classic and newer horror films. Barneschi's "Boo Crew" had roughly 300 volunteers this year.

"What they do for us is amazing," said Mary Jayne Somers, an administrative assistant at the local Red Cross branch at 144 S. Main St. "They are a very dedicated group who work very hard and we reap the rewards of that."

The Red Cross began its capital renovation campaign three years ago, with the goal of raising $200,000 for electrical and plumbing repairs and overall renovations to its training center. Somers said the roof has been re-placed and the training center has been updated along with the electrical and plumbing systems. The interior of the building is now being painted and the exterior will be painted in the spring.

The Trail of Terror began when Barneschi started running a haunted house inside his Pomeroy Avenue home 13 years ago, before moving it to a building on North Colony Street for eight years, where it grew in popularity. He moved it to North Plains Highway five years ago when the crowds continued to grow.

This year's event grew so large, there were complaints of people waiting in line for more than four hours to get into the trail. Barneschi said he is already looking into selling tickets online next year for specific time slots to help alleviate some of those problems. He said roughly 20,000 people walked the trail this season.

Barneschi and his volunteers donate all the proceeds from the event to the Red Cross after he pays for building materials and electronics.

"I hope the volunteers feel like they've accomplished something," he said. "It's nice to help something so close to home."

dchampagne@record-journal.com

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