The Arvada Jaycees, a local chapter of the national Junior Chamber movement that had been dormant for about two decades, are staging a haunted house Oct. 30 at Jaycee Hall, 5640 Yukon Street, as part of this year’s Trick-or-Treat Street festivities.
The effort is one of the first major public projects for the revived chapter and represents a deliberate push by organizers to reconnect young professionals with community service and neighborhood activities in Olde Town Arvada.
From dormancy to hands-on community building
Jaycees President Heather Burger said reviving the chapter was intended to provide local young professionals with resources and a vehicle for civic projects. The newly reconstituted group, separate from the Arvada Junior Chamber Foundation that operates the Arvada Harvest Festival, has drawn roughly 30 members and has been working weekly to transform the hall into an accessible, family-oriented haunted attraction.
“We want to connect with the community,” Burger said. “Historically, Jaycees have been known for keeping an eye, an ear out for what the community wants and helping fund that project and make it happen.”
According to Burger, the haunted house concept originated with the Olde Town Arvada Business Improvement District, which wanted to add a spooky element to Trick-or-Treat Street but lacked the volunteer capacity to produce it. The Jaycees agreed to take on the project — a move Burger described as “easily our biggest lift to date.”
What attendees can expect
Volunteers have spent recent Thursday nights outfitting the hall with themed scenes intended to be spooky but suitable for children. Attractions described by organizers include vampires, skeletons, a mad scientist’s lab and live “scarers.” An outdoor component will be tailored to younger visitors, offering a less intense experience adjacent to the hall.
- Date: Oct. 30
- Location: Jaycee Hall, 5640 Yukon Street, Olde Town Arvada
- Organizer: Arvada Jaycees (local chapter of the Junior Chamber)
- Community partner: Olde Town Arvada Business Improvement District
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Chapter membership | About 30 members |
| Hall address | 5640 Yukon Street |
| Event date | Oct. 30 |
Local implications beyond the frights
For Arvada’s small-business district and neighborhood organizations, the Jaycees’ return could have ripple effects. Volunteer-led attractions increase foot traffic for nearby retailers during holiday events, and a reinvigorated civic group can mobilize local labor and funding for future projects that support safety, beautification and economic vibrancy. Burger said the group intends to be responsive to community needs and to support projects identified by residents or partners.
The chapter’s resurgence was aided by members with Jaycee experience elsewhere; Burger worked with Rebecca Heatherington, who previously belonged to an Arizona chapter, to reestablish the Arvada group. The collaboration underscores how local chapters often depend on both returning and newly recruited volunteers to rebuild institutional know-how and programming capacity.
Organizers emphasized that the Jaycees are distinct from the Arvada Junior Chamber Foundation, which is known for running the Arvada Harvest Festival. That separation matters for residents tracking which organizations operate which events and how volunteer resources are distributed across the city.
As the haunted house opens this weekend, its success will be a practical test of the group’s ability to coordinate volunteers, manage a public attraction and raise its profile among Arvada residents. If the event draws strong attendance and smooth operations, the Jaycees may find more opportunities to partner with local businesses and civic groups on projects that combine community engagement with modest economic benefits for Olde Town.
Organizers say they hope the haunted house will grow awareness of the chapter and build momentum for further community projects — a sign that civic institutions, even ones inactive for decades, can be reassembled with local leadership and cross-sector cooperation.
