Paso Robles High students bring La Llorona to life in Haunted Maze

By Camille DeVaul · Thu Oct 23 2025

“Ghost Stories” returns Oct. 29–31, offering frights, fun, and hands-on learning for students while supporting local youth programs

PASO ROBLES — Paso Robles High School is turning up the fright factor this Halloween season with the return of “Ghost Stories: A Haunted Maze” (Ghost Stories), an immersive student-led event inspired by the legend of La Llorona. The maze, open Oct. 29 through 31 from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Paso Robles High School (PRHS) student parking lot, is the result of a collaboration between the Paso Robles Lions Club, Paso Robles Main Street Association, and several of the school’s clubs, including Drama, Leadership, Business, and Art.

This year’s maze will again tell the haunting story of La Llorona, beginning with a peaceful setting that slowly descends into darkness. Last year was the first time PRHS theater students collaborated with the Paso Robles Lions Club to build a haunted maze from scratch. Paso Robles Press was invited to take a look at this year's construction progress.

“It follows the story starting off kind of nice and peaceful, and then it starts getting darker and darker,” explained Adelaide (Addie) Coelho, a 2025 PRHS graduate who returned to help lead the project.

Coelho, now an art major at Cuesta College, says she was eager to continue supporting the program when asked.

More than just a Halloween attraction, Ghost Stories is a hands-on learning opportunity for students across multiple disciplines. Coelho says one of her favorite parts is watching students learn new skills, sometimes for the first time.

“It gives a lot of kids opportunities to learn new skills because some of these kids have never held a drill,” she said. "They learned how to use a drill ... it also gives the Acting One kids a big opportunity to act because they don't have a lot of that."

Students from various clubs have come together to construct and decorate the maze.

"We're taking other clubs and bringing them in for it," Coelho explained. “They're all pretty hard workers. They're all getting stuff done."

The maze has also moved from its location on Spring Street to now being hosted at PRHS in the student parking lot. The new location has not only made it easier for students to collaborate on the project but also gives the haunted maze more visibility to the public.

"The high school [is] definitely a lot better because there's a lot more people that see it that [want to be a part of it because] the high school's putting on," Coelho said.

Visitors can expect a mix of frights and fun, with the maze designed to be an “enter at your own risk” experience. Guests can even choose their level of scare — whether to face the maze alone or alongside friends. Admission is $3 for children 10 and under, and $5 for ages 11 and up. Proceeds will benefit Paso Robles youth programs. Attendees can also enjoy popcorn, cotton candy, and other treats while they wait to enter.

Ghost Stories: A Haunted Maze will take place October 29–31 from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Paso Robles High School Student Parking Lot at 801 Niblick Road. Admission is $3 for ages 10 and under and $5 for ages 11 and up, with snacks available for purchase.