UNCW Theatre Students Open The Backrooms Haunted House
The annual Halloween attraction returns to the UNCW Cultural Arts Center for its second year of operation.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Paranormal
UNCW theatre students have transformed the universitys Cultural Arts Center into an immersive haunted house experience titled The Backrooms. Cicily Hammers recently toured the facility to attempt an escape through the student-designed structure.
Why it matters
The event serves as a practical showcase for university students to apply their engineering and performance skills in a real-world, interactive setting. It marks the second consecutive year that organizers Erin Kelley and Anah Rae have produced a Halloween-themed attraction at the campus.
The Backrooms is currently in its second year of production. The attraction was engineered entirely by UNCW theatre students.
The players
Cicily Hammers
She is a participant who toured The Backrooms to test her ability to navigate and escape the haunted house facility.
Erin Kelley
She is one of the primary organizers responsible for the second annual production of the Halloween experience.
Anah Rae
She is a lead organizer who collaborated to bring the haunted house attraction to the campus for the second consecutive year.
The details
The experience relies on complex set designs created by theatre students to simulate a claustrophobic, horror-themed environment. Participants like Cicily Hammers move through the space while engaging with the various manufactured obstacles and scenarios.
Timeline
October 2026: Cicily Hammers visited the haunted house attraction.
Culture Shift
This attraction reflects a growing trend of university arts programs leveraging immersive experiences to bridge the gap between academic performance and public engagement. By building upon the second annual UNCW Halloween production, the project signals a shift toward professionalized, student-led seasonal entertainment.
Residents in the Wilmington area can visit the UNCW Cultural Arts Center to participate in the student-engineered experience during its seasonal run. Visitors should be prepared for an interactive environment designed to test their ability to navigate the complex layout.
The takeaway
Immersive experiences like this provide a unique look at how students integrate technical design with performance art. For those planning to visit, the experience is a direct opportunity to support collegiate arts programs during the Halloween season.
Further reading
Explore more local Paranormal activity and seasonal attractions in the Wilmington area.
