Extreme Express Car Wash reopens annual 'Tunnel of Terror' haunted car wash in SJ, raising money for St. Jude
SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- Extreme Express Car Wash in San Jose started a Halloween tradition three years ago that is now as safe as it is scary during this holiday in a pandemic: "The Tunnel of Terror."
So, how does a haunted car wash work?
We sent ABC7 News South Bay Community Journalist Dustin Dorsey into the Tunnel of Terror on opening night Wednesday night to find out.
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At the Extreme Express Car Wash on San Carlos Street in Downtown San Jose, the seemingly normal car wash transformed to an extremely spooky wash with their third annual "Tunnel of Terror".
It's a car wash that some guests never saw coming.
"My wife told me to go here after the work day, so I didn't expect anything to be honest. But what I got, I was really surprised," Khris Razz said.
It may have come as a surprise to some, but people were lined up around the block to visit the haunted drive-thru.
Their normally $25 wash is discounted on Oct. 28 - 31 to $20 for the "spooky wash" and $5 of each purchased will go to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Additionally, every $5 membership card will also go directly to St. Jude.
It's a very important cause to owner Rob Gallaher.
"Last year we donated $1,800 and this year I got really aggressive with our goal," Gallaher said. "I want to donate three times that amount."
While getting your car squeaky clean, you sit through a 2-minute wash with Halloween lights highlighting the scarers hidden throughout the wash.
It's a unique way to enjoy Halloween in a safe way.
"With COVID and all the restrictions right now, we can't do trick-or-treating and we can't have a normal haunted house," Gallaher said. "This is outdoors and you're inside your car the whole time. We've done a lot of decorating and have a lot of extra people on staff right now to provide a spooky experience, so come on down and check it out."
Guests young and old cruised through the "Tunnel of Terror".
Their favorite part?
"I liked the scream at the end," One guest said.
"My favorite part was when the big roller came over our car," Another said.
"It was actually a little bit spooky and it was funny and scary at the same time," Krystal Lopez said.
"It was just an awesome way to celebrate Halloween socially distanced," Rachel Nielsen said.
As for Dustin Dorsey's thoughts, let's just say we're glad we had cameras rolling on his reaction.
"Just when you thought it wasn't that scary, boom, they get ya," Dorsey said. "Come check it out through Halloween night and it's all for a good cause."
The "Tunnel of Terror" runs through Halloween night from 5-8pm.
For more information, visit the Extreme Express Car Wash website here.
