California Dad Loses Fight to Keep Haunted House Open That Funds Hospice Care for His Daughter

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — A California father’s beloved haunted house — one that helped pay for his daughter’s medical and hospice care — has been forced to shut down after city officials deemed it unsafe to operate.

For Augie Cowan, a 57-year-old retired psychiatric technician, the annual haunted attraction known as the Caitlin Manor Haunted House was more than just a Halloween tradition. It was a lifeline that helped cover the medical expenses for his 17-year-old daughter, Andrea, who suffers from metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) — a rare and fatal genetic disorder that causes severe neurological decline.

Haunted House Shut Down Over Safety Concerns

Cowan announced earlier this month that the city of San Bernardino had ordered the haunted house closed just days before its scheduled reopening after a two-year hiatus.

“There were some structural problems with the building,” Cowan told People. “Even if I were to fix that permit, they were not going to let me run the haunted house.”

In a statement shared with Patch, city officials cited “electrical and access issues that would put people’s safety at risk.” They added that they hope to work with Cowan to find a safe way to reopen the attraction in the future.

A Mission Born from a Family’s Fight Against a Rare Disease

Cowan and his wife, Maria, a registered nurse, first started the haunted house more than a decade ago — just a few years after Andrea’s diagnosis. At the time, their daughter was a toddler and showing early symptoms of MLD, which gradually robs patients of mobility and speech.

The couple traveled to Italy for a clinical trial when Andrea was 3 years old, but she was still asymptomatic and didn’t qualify. Soon after returning home, her condition worsened.

“She could still talk, but she couldn’t walk and could hardly move,” Cowan recalled.

There is no known cure for MLD, and most children diagnosed with its infantile form do not survive past age 5. Andrea, now 17, has surpassed all medical expectations thanks to her family’s round-the-clock care.

Haunted House Helped Pay $20,000 in Annual Medical Costs

Over the years, Cowan’s haunted house became a local Halloween landmark in San Bernardino — drawing visitors from across Southern California and raising thousands of dollars to fund Andrea’s care.

“Her medical care can cost up to $20,000 a year,” he said. “The haunted house helped us pay for her hospice care, make her room more accessible, and even buy a special van.”

Despite facing challenges with permits and occasional disruptions from unruly guests, Cowan said the community’s enthusiasm for the haunted house kept him motivated. “Every scare helped us care for her,” he said.

A Father’s Devotion That Never Fades

Today, Andrea has been in hospice care for five years. Though nonverbal, her father says she remains comfortable and surrounded by love.

“She’s pretty happy and not really in pain,” Cowan said. “When I get home, she’ll turn her head and look for me. When I hug her, she’ll fall asleep — like she feels safe.”

Cowan has since launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover Andrea’s care this year, as the haunted house remains shuttered. He hopes to find a new building in the near future and eventually create a foundation that supports other families who operate similar fundraisers.

For now, he remains focused on the daughter who inspires everything he does.

“She’s my reason,” he said. “Every time I look at her, I remember why I started this haunted house — to make sure she’s cared for, and to bring a little light into the darkness.”

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