Antonio Pastore’s love for horror began humbly in his family garage.
At 14, he transformed his childhood passion of setting up Halloween lawn displays into a homemade haunted house that ignited his lifelong dream.
What started as a garage haunt soon led him to Martino Manor, where Pastore found a mentor who showed him the professional side of the haunted house industry.
At just 19, Pastore has now turned his childhood passion into a professional career, and King City Nightmares is a testament to his creativity and dedication.
From Garage Haunt to Pro Haunter
Pastore’s fascination with haunted houses grew stronger over the years, leading him to seek guidance from Fernando Martino, the owner of Martino Manor in Toronto.
Martino, a veteran in the haunt industry, became Pastore’s mentor and provided the young haunter with an inside look at the professional side of haunted attractions.
“He was the only guy who gave me a full tour of the place,” Pastore said, referring to Martino Manor.
“He opened my eyes to what I could actually grow and do.” This eye-opening experience set the stage for Pastore’s transformation into a professional haunter.
Brampton Success Leads to Bigger Dreams
By 2021, Pastore’s home haunt in Brampton was drawing patrons. One night, after a surprise visit and promotion from Mayor Patrick Brown, 400 people came to experience the scares.
It was clear that his passion had outgrown his home haunt, and he knew it was time to take things to the next level.
A family friend offered Pastore the use of an old farmhouse in Nobleton, Ont. He rebuilt the structure from the ground up and transformed it into his first professional haunt in 2022. This marked the birth of King City Nightmares, which eventually moved to a larger warehouse in Bolton before settling at its current location.
The Story Behind King City Nightmares
King City Nightmares offers guests a spooky experience, with the ghosts of a serial killer’s victims guiding patrons through the haunt.
These spirits act as narrators, warning visitors to escape before the killer strikes again. Each part of the haunt is designed to immerse guests in a terrifying narrative.
“I’ve always loved the way haunted houses are built and designed,” Pastore says.
“Designing and building, and all the creativity that goes into these haunts—I knew this was something I wanted to do.”
Inspired by the 150-year-old farmhouse that served as his first haunt, Pastore ensures that every detail of King City Nightmares feels real.
Real-Life Ghostly Encounters
Although Pastore claims that nothing scares him, he has had his fair share of eerie experiences while building his haunts.
“When I was working on the farmhouse, I heard footsteps,” he recalls. On another occasion at his former home, a cupboard mysteriously opened by itself, witnessed by both Pastore and his mother.
Whether real or imagined, these experiences only fuel his desire to create an immersive and spooky environment for his guests.
Expanding Beyond Halloween: The Krampus Haunted Christmas
King City Nightmares doesn’t stop at Halloween.
Each year, the haunt transforms for the Krampus Haunted Christmas event, where thousands of lights illuminate the haunt, and Krampus himself stalks the grounds, looking to kidnap the naughty.
Pastore’s love for horror extends throughout the year, ensuring there’s always a reason to be scared.
Future Collaborations and Horror Inspirations
A fan of horror greats like Stephen King, and of film production company, Blumhouse, Pastore dreams of collaborating with them to create future, narrative-driven haunts.
His journey from building a haunted garage to becoming a professional haunter shows how passion and creativity can build a truly terrifying attraction, one scream at a time.
If you’re looking for an immersive, creepy experience this Halloween season, King City Nightmares promises to deliver.
Visit King City Nightmares This Halloween Season
Location:
King City Nightmares is located at 680 Hardwick Rd, Bolton (Caledon), Ontario.
Dates & Times:
The haunt runs from September 27 to November 1, every Thursday to Sunday from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m.
Additionally, the Krampus Christmas Haunt will take place on Nov. 29-30, Dec. 6-7, and Dec. 13-14, from 6 to 11 p.m.
Ticket Prices for King City Nightmares
General admission: $25-$30 (Thursday to Sunday)
Kids under 12: $15 (with an adult ticket)
Payments can be made via cash or e-transfer.
For more information, email kingcitynightmares@gmail.com or visit their website.
Don’t miss your chance to experience one of Ontario’s premier haunted attractions this Halloween season.