A group of friends is bringing the Bum Steer back to life this weekend as Tucson's newest haunt.
The long-shuttered local landmark will open Friday as Night Terrorz, a haunted maze that will run through Nov. 4.
"It's a very strange and unique place," said Charles Perez, a spokesman for Scared Stiff Entertainment, which has agreed to lease the space from R&F Investors for 18 months. Ultimately, he said, the group would like to buy it.
"We're planning on doing this, hopefully, every year," said Perez, who also hinted at other special events.
Night Terrorz is a company made up of a group of friends that includes a Hollywood set designer and several current and former city parks department employees with years of experience crafting haunted houses, said Perez, a recreation assistant who creates programming for seniors and children.
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"We've been talking about this for a long time now," he said. "We love scaring people."
After a lengthy search for the right venue, they focused on the Bum Steer, which had been closed more than two years.
"We remember going through there and we loved everything it it. It has the perfect look," said Perez, who used to go to there for hamburgers. "It just fell into place."
Once a popular haunt for college students, the Bum Steer is perfect for a maze with a mix of objects suspended throughout three floors of what the Tucson Citizen's Charlotte Lowe described in a dining review nearly 20 years ago as a "messy mansion."
Perez said the group drew inspiration from the eclectic interior in crafting a suspenseful storyline that centers on twin sisters - one missing and one suffering night terrors - in the early 1900s."It's not going to be blood and guts … but it is going to be scary," Perez said, promising elaborate effects.
The group recently held a casting call at R-Galaxy, the comic book shop at 2420 N. Campbell Ave., for certain roles. Most of the cast and crew are volunteers, he said.
Night Terrorz' success could give the area a boost.
"We really want to revitalize that area," Perez said. "The Wildcat across the street just closed and the Bum Steer has been closed. These are historical places for Tucson."
If you go
Night Terrorz
• When: 7 p.m.-midnight Friday through Saturday, 7-11 p.m. Sunday.
7-11 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays, 7-midnight Fridays, Saturdays and Halloween, Oct. 18-21; Oct. 25-28; Oct. 31; Nov. 2-4.
• Where: Bum Steer, 1910 N. Stone Ave.
• Cost: $20; discounts available.