06/11/2025
To all of our Volunteers, Sponsors, Participants, Recipients, Family, Friends and the Henderson Community
As many may know, Terror on the Trail has seen exponential growth over the last few years.
This in part is due to one of our faithful Sponsors using their gifts and talents to assist with our marketing endeavors. While we have all been excited and surprised by the speed of growth we were not prepared for it.
In any organization growth brings with it different challenges, new lessons to be learned, as well as exposing faults in systems and processes. Being a completely volunteer-run organization from the very top down has always been our choice but it also creates a unique dynamic.
Being completely volunteer ran means our Director and every board member work full-time jobs in other industries. Because of this fact; managing hundreds of volunteers, building projects, scheduling, networking with sponsors, designing props, training young leaders, planning for the next year, and trying to be present in our families lives is a lot to navigate.
We have been learning every step of the way. As many may know in 2019 we had faced some issues involving code violations. We at that time worked with Henderson County to resolve many of the issues brought to our attention. Then the entire world had to navigate the COVID pandemic and the ever changing expectations that came with it. A lot has changed in 6 years.
Recently we have been working with the Henderson County Codes Department on some new concerns that some of the community has raised. The Codes Board has been nothing but understanding of the challenges that have come from our exponential growth.
We collectively agree that there have been some violations as well as we understand that in many ways we are in uncharted territory. (Most cities and counties do not have specific codes for outdoor Haunted Attractions.) We are working diligently with Henderson County, the TOTT Board of Directors and some community partners to chart a way forward.
It has been brought to our attention that a passionate supporter of TOTT has started a petition outside of our knowledge. While we are encouraged and humbled by the sentiment and the desire to rally support we are not in a place where a petition is necessary. The Codes Board of Henderson County does NOT wish to shut us down.
Lastly, due to the need for new systems, processes, and some community concerns the Terror on the Trail Board of Directors has decided to cancel this year's Event so that we can come back stronger, and better than ever in 2026.
