Out on the strip: thirty years of scares, stitches, and spinning walls at Carolina Fashions

By Barbara LeForge, Golden Strip News Editor

I’ve driven past Carolina Fashions a million times navigating around Mauldin. Yet in the six years our family has called this community home, I had somehow never stepped through the front door.

This past Saturday, October 17th, my twelve-year-old daughter and I decided it was time to fix that.

Calling Carolina Fashions a “hidden gem” of the Golden Strip almost feels like an understatement. The experience begins before you even cross the threshold: pulling into the parking lot, you’re greeted by a massive skull with glowing red eyes and a gaping mouth you have to physically walk through to get into the building. The moment you step inside, eerie music swells, and your eyes lock onto an animatronic display juggling skulls.

And then you take in the sheer scale of the place. The warehouse is enormous—far bigger than you’d ever guess from the curb.

Quick Guide: If You Go

• Location: 400 Bon Air St, Mauldin, SC

• October / Peak Season Store Hours:

  • Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

  • Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

  • Sunday: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM (Tip: Extended peak hours often run during the final two weeks of October; call ahead at (864) 281-0925 to check weekend haunt line wait times).

• Haunt Admission: Completely free (quick waiver required at the back door)

• What to Expect: Year-round theatrical/costume warehouse with an automated retro walk-through haunted house

• Best For: Families, nostalgia seekers, costume hunters, and anyone up for a fun jump scare

Wall-to-Wall Imagination

Just to the left of the lobby, a walk-through archway shaped like a medieval castle opens into a maze of theatrical flair. From there, it is wall-to-wall costumes, wigs, specialty makeup, props, and masks covering every era, subculture, and character imaginable.

Walking the aisles and admiring the inventory, it instantly made sense why Carolina Fashions operates year-round rather than packing up on November 1st. Whether you’re hunting down vintage renaissance garb, prepping for community theater, putting together a cosplay set, or outfitting a school production, they truly have everything you could possibly dream up.

The Ominous Door in the Back

After soaking in the rows of costumes, we made our way to the far back of the warehouse, where the main event awaited.

Sitting in a chair beside an ominous door marked “Haunted House” was a staff member waiting with clipboards. Yes, you do have to sign a waiver before crossing the threshold—but the admission price? Completely, genuinely free.

Let me tell you: I was utterly blown away by what was waiting behind that door.

Stepping inside felt like being transported straight back to the classic walk-through haunts of the—cough, cough—early nineties. It is equal parts vintage carnival funhouse and atmospheric scare. And I’ll readily admit it: it caught me completely off guard more than a few times. By far, my twelve-year-old’s favorite part of the entire afternoon was watching her mom shriek like a schoolgirl in the pitch-black corridors.

I won’t give away the best surprises or spoil the route for first-timers, but the absolute coolest set piece comes near the very end. The only hint I’ll give: you’ll have to spin your way out of the dark.

A Thirty-Year Community Tradition

In a season dominated by expensive commercial mega-haunts and crowded pop-up strip malls, finding a homegrown haunt with thirty years of heritage right in our backyard is rare. Carolina Fashions has managed to preserve the quirky, nostalgic soul of local Halloween—giving our community an accessible, unforgettable thrill that spans generations.

If you’ve driven past it on Bon Air Street for years like I did, make this the weekend you finally pull in. Grab your kids, pick up a costume, and see if you can make it through the back door without screaming.

About the Author

Barbara LeForge is a passionate storyteller, dedicated community leader, and active participant in the Mauldin community, where she serves as her neighborhood’s HOA board president. A former educator, Barbara now homeschools her four amazing children, balancing daily lessons with the vibrant chaos of a busy home. When she isn’t running community meetings or editing local news, you can find her tending to her backyard oasis as an experienced gardener or working on her next literary project as a published author. She loves sharing her practical tips, local insights, and a little Southern humor with her neighbors through her regular column space.