When leaves turn red and the air begins to cool, community members travel far and wide for fun fall activities. Among every pumpkin patch, haunted house and cider mill, Grosse Pointe’s own Haunted Garage Productions, ran and hosted by former Grosse Pointe Schools gym teacher, Glen Williams, wins the hearts of many locals.
Taking place every weekend of October, Williams’ Haunted Garage has been not only a staple for autumn in the neighborhood, but an asset to our school system. When he started the Haunted Garage 18 years ago, he hoped to make money to help Maire Elementary School’s Parent Teacher Organization at the beginning of the school year. Since then, the Haunted Garage has brought in an estimated $500,000 towards several schools in our district.
“I love the fact that we were able to help raise money for the community and bring in some kids from the community who are able to help with the show,” Williams said. “And we’re still doing that. A lot of my former students are still here helping me.”
At this point, many South students have been attending the Haunted Garage for their entire lives and many come back to work there as well. Viviana Cilano ’26 looks forward to it every year because of the nostalgia she feels when she returns.
“I like going back regardless of whether it’s with my siblings or I’m volunteering because I like being in the atmosphere again and it reminds me of when I was a kid,” Cilano said. “It makes me happy to see all of the other little kids excited to go through it.”
The event attracts an audience of all ages, so Williams works hard to engage with his audience to keep each scene fresh and exciting.
“[People] come back here because they just know that we’re going to change and they look forward to the changes,” Williams said. “I think they still like their favorites, and we still have some of their favorites that are there. You can’t change everything 100 percent. But we do attempt to change 25 percent each year, which is a moment beyond any haunts that are out there.”
Williams’ undying commitment to his community has not gone unnoticed. Returning volunteer Morgan Duff ’26 admires the thoughtfully catered environment Williams has created.
“I’ve spoken to him a few times and you can tell he takes it very seriously,” Duff said. “You can tell he actually cares and he wants to make it good for the kids and also give back to the community.
