Father fights to keep haunted house fundraiser open for daughter in hospice care

In San Bernardino, a father’s Halloween tradition meant to bring both fright and hope to his community is now facing an uncertain future.

Augie Cowan, creator of Caitlin Manor Haunted House, says the city is threatening to shut down his haunted attraction. The seasonal fundraiser helps support his 17-year-old daughter, Andrea, who is in hospice care with a rare genetic disorder.

“I feel sad. I feel angry,” Cowan told KTLA, standing outside the gates of the new haunted house space he spent months preparing.

For years, Caitlin Manor has been a neighborhood fixture in San Bernardino, known for its elaborate decorations and community spirit. But behind the screams and strobe lights lies a deeper mission: helping Cowan raise money for Andrea, who has lived with Metachromatic leukodystrophy, a rare and terminal genetic disease, for most of her life.

“This is how we pay for her stuff,” Cowan said. “It’s very hard to do that just on our pay, so it helps us a lot.”

Five years ago, the city asked Cowan to move the haunted house out of his neighborhood following noise complaints. He relocated to a space on 4th Street in downtown San Bernardino, hoping to continue the family tradition in a more suitable location.

But days before this year’s grand opening, city inspectors visited the new site and found several issues. According to city officials, the permits for construction had not been approved. They also identified “electrical and access issues that would put people’s safety at risk,” leading to the building being yellow-tagged and deemed unfit for public gatherings.

Cowan says obtaining the required event permit would take 30 to 40 days, far too long to open in time for Halloween.

Despite the setback, city officials told KTLA they are willing to work with the Cowan family to find a safe solution.

Cowan, meanwhile, is urging city leaders to show compassion and consider the larger purpose behind his haunted house.

“Do the right thing,” he said. “Help this little girl out. And also help us. We’re trying to get started. I’m trying to keep it here in San Bernardino. This is where it started.”

In a statement to KTLA, the City of San Bernardino confirmed that Caitlin Manor Haunted House had not received approval for the construction work conducted inside the new building.

“No permits were requested for the construction work to turn this empty building into a haunted house, and City inspectors identified electrical and access issues that would put people’s safety at risk,” the city stated. “As a result, the building was yellow-tagged.”

The city added that a re-inspection was scheduled for Thursday at 4 p.m. but was canceled at the Cowans’ request.

Rachel Menitoff’s reporting contributed to this article.