Anchorage Haunt Draws Crowds to Learn Native Legends Through Seven Dark Tunnels

Visitors in Anchorage have until 9 p.m. on October 30 to experience a haunted attraction that blends traditional folklore with theatrical scares. The event, known as the Trials of Aangaayuk, takes place at the Alaska Native Cultural Charter School. The name translates from the Yugtun language to mean spirits of the dead. This gathering serves as the final night for families to explore the dark tunnels set up within the school's library.

The attraction centers on seven specific narratives drawn from various Alaska Native cultures. Rather than relying on generic ghosts, the experience features characters such as Alaska Big Foot, Otter Monsters, and the Little People. At the school entrance, students and parents can read summaries of these stories before entering. The narrative structure guides visitors through a portal into a spirit realm, past a witch's hut and a cemetery, and into catacombs and an ice cave. These sections include sound effects such as howling, thunder, and sinister laughing to enhance the atmosphere.

Manuel Acuña, a parent and vice president of the Friends of the Alaska Native Cultural Charter School nonprofit, initiated the project. He stated that the stories in Alaska Native culture were originally created to keep children safe and teach life lessons. Acuña described the event as more than just spooky, noting that it instills pride in Alaska Native students and those living in the state. He said the concept began as a small haunt in his yard before growing too large for his home. This marks the fourth year the school has hosted the event.

More than 40 volunteers and students constructed the maze inside the library. They built sets and props using materials like papier-mâché, monster mud, and foam. The team also modified animatronics to create the characters. Over a dozen students from the charter school and Kusilvak Career Academy worked as scare actors. Tanisha Charles, president of the school's Parent Teacher Organization, said the project provides students with a new skill set. She noted that participants are building characters and setting up lights, which offers a practical learning experience.

One specific character in the ice cave represents Qalupalik, a figure from Inuit culture described by Acuña as the northern version of the boogeyman. Later in the tour, visitors pass through a tunnel filled with hanging seaweed, representing the Ottermen from Tlingit culture. The path then leads to a village of Little People, known as Ircenrraat, where glowing red eyes float in the darkness. Parent Ruthie Hale said the story of the Little People is common in Alaska Native cultures. Her daughter, Elizabeth Weaver, 12, described the section as cave-like and scary, but appreciated the opportunity to learn about the legends.

Alyson Ruley, who lives in Anchorage but is originally from Napakiak in the Bethel area, visited with her husband and two children. She said the organizers did a good job incorporating old stories into the different rooms. Each section of the haunt has a distinct visual style. The event relies on a community effort to preserve and share these cultural narratives in an interactive format. The school library serves as the venue for this annual tradition, which continues until the end of the evening on October 30.