“I woke up to flames six feet from my bed,” JoAnn Holcomb said. “I could spend hours listing the things lost, I want to list the things we have received. We are blessed to have homeowners’ insurance. While it may not cover the cost of everything, it gives us hope that rebuilding our home is possible.” 

JoAnn and David Holcomb are the owner-operators of David’s Haunted Manor, the only haunted house attraction in Del Norte County. Every year they and their two kids spend weeks putting on a show for the community, and donate a portion of their proceeds to a scholarship fund in collaboration with the Humboldt Area Foundation. 

On Feb. 12, the master bedroom and hallway of their family home was engulfed in flames, forcing them to flee. Luckily, the Holcombs survived with minimal injury.

“Our Haunt family reached out immediately to ask what they could do for us. Some brought clothing, others gave us a place to keep our reptiles and amphibians until a long-term solution is found. Others have offered their hands and all have sent their love,” Holcomb said via text Thursday.

Hundreds of volunteers have joined the haunt and found a safe place to be themselves over the years. I’ve been working as a volunteer with David’s Haunted Manor for 6 years, as both a sound tech and a scare actor. Jennifer Hart is another volunteer, who I worked with last year.

“As someone who has loved horror my whole life,” Hart said, “finding this team, this family, has been incredible. Far from being dark and spooky – I mean, it’s a little spooky – it’s one of the most open, welcoming, and accepting spaces I’ve ever been part of. And through it, we’ve met even more amazing people to call friends.”

The haunt is a hub for outcasts and people who just feel like they don’t fit in. The Holcombs do this for a love of the show, and a love of the people who put it on. Every year they spend hundreds of dollars out of their own pocket feeding their volunteers. They support youth in our community who are unconventional with no expectation of recompense. 

“The day I walked into the location for David’s Haunted Manor 2022 I had no idea what to expect,” said Adrianna Harris, a volunteer with David’s Haunted Manor and owner of Hot Rollers Salon in Crescent City. “They put out a call for helpers and I was like, ‘sure, ok, but hopefully they don’t try to scare me.’ I’m actually pretty easily startled. However, I instantly felt comfortable with their whole family. This was a great community event. I couldn’t believe how many different people were involved. I’ve been involved in many large community events, projects, and non-profits but this was something totally different, it was a family!”

“We have not felt alone for a single minute since the fire occurred. Palm Industries has signed on to clean items that can be salvaged. Then their contractors will rebuild our home. While the building we call home is filled with toxic fumes and ash, our community has made us feel at home wherever we go,” Holcomb told Redwood Voice Community News.

“We don’t know what costs insurance will cover or what costs we will be responsible for,” she continued. “We do not know how many of our possessions are salvageable or how many are unsalvageable. We do not know where we will live or how long we will be away from our home. We are living one moment, one task and one day at a time through the rebuilding of our life. The outpouring of love and support has made this crisis bearable.”

The Holcombs and their pets are currently seeking better accommodations while their family home is being repaired. If you would like to support them during this ongoing hardship, a GoFundMe campaign has been started to help with expenses.