Though The 13th Gate is most popular during October, employees work year-round to make one of the scariest haunted houses in America a memorable Halloween extravaganza.
Owner Dwayne Sanburn has wanted to open a haunted house since he was a child, he said. After moving to the Capital City in 1998, the Alexandria native took three years to find the ideal building for hosting his annual nightmare in the heart of downtown Baton Rouge.
However, finding the location was only half the endeavor; Sanburn also needed a committed crew to help him put the production on every year.
“I’m very proud of the staff,” he said. “I found so many people that are dedicated to this place.”
One of those dedicated workers is 23-year-old local actress Erica Porter, who has worked at The 13th Gate for five years. This year marks her sixth season as an actress.
“I work on my characters’ stories all year,” Porter said. “I like being able to really embellish my characters and make them who they are.”
Porter’s enthusiasm in bringing her characters to life is part of why the attraction is so successful, as it makes the experience feel more realistic, Sanburn said.
Porter is taking online classes in film and production, and hopes to further her acting career, she said. Unlike most of the other actors, she developed a storyline for all four characters she portrays and is currently working with a 14-year-old character named Matilda Barkley.
“Matilda, or Tilly, has split personality disorder, and one of those personalities is a clown,” Porter said. “Her mom told her she couldn’t be a clown, which is the reason she dresses up as one. She wants to prove to her mom that she can be whatever she wants.”
Porter also created a family in which she portrays the mother and both children.
“Tabatha Ray was one of those jealous type moms,” Porter said. “She was pure evil. She hated her step-daughter Alvah Ray, but Emily Ray was her baby.”
Each of the house’s 13 themed areas are redone annually so returners have a new frightening adventure every season.
In 2016, Sanburn opened The 13th Gate escape room, which visitors can use to interact with the spooky sets during the off season. Eight people enter and are provided with an iPad of clues on how to escape the room.
“People think after Halloween, it’s over,” Sanburn said. “We work [all] year long. The people who work for me are very talented, and it shows.”
