Abilene Haunted Cemetery Raises Funds for Nonprofit
Local operators can leverage seasonal event programming to drive foot traffic while supporting community causes.
Updated on Oct. 25, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Pratt's Karate Club is hosting its annual Terrell-Bulls Haunted Cemetery this weekend in Abilene. The public attraction collects voluntary donations to support the foster care and adoption services of the nonprofit New Horizons.
Why it matters
The decade-old event demonstrates how small-scale local operators can leverage seasonal marketing and community engagement to drive awareness and support for local social service providers.
The event raised over $700 for charity last year and has been running for approximately 10 years, supporting New Horizons which has served the area for 50 years.
The players
Pratt's Karate Club
A local fitness and martial arts operator responsible for organizing and managing the recurring community haunted attraction.
Wayne Terrell
The lead organizer and designer responsible for the physical construction and staging of the cemetery displays.
New Horizons
A community nonprofit organization providing foster care and adoption services that has operated for 50 years.
The details
Wayne Terrell manages the construction of the cemetery displays at 117 and 118 Spur Trail, creating an immersive Halloween environment. The attraction functions as a community-driven charity effort, relying on voluntary contributions from visitors to fund the operational costs and service delivery of New Horizons.
Timeline
The haunted cemetery operates this Saturday and Sunday from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The project has been running for approximately 10 years, originating in 2016.
Last year's event in 2025 resulted in over $700 of charitable proceeds.
Market Landscape
This event reflects the broader shift toward small-business community-integrated cause marketing by prioritizing local social impact over traditional commercial advertising. It follows a recurring pattern where small operators partner with long-standing local nonprofits to deepen community ties.
Local business owners should view this as a low-cost, high-engagement model for building brand equity through community-aligned service. Tracking donation outcomes relative to foot traffic remains a key metric for evaluating the effectiveness of seasonal philanthropic campaigns.
The takeaway
Small operators can strengthen their community footprint by linking seasonal attractions to local nonprofit initiatives. Evaluate the conversion of foot traffic into charitable support to determine the sustainability of this engagement model for future holiday cycles.
Further reading
For more on how local businesses drive impact, see the latest news in Philanthropy.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KTXS.
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Do you support using seasonal community events to raise money for local nonprofit organizations?
