Elon's Campus Recreation took students on a thrilling adventure around South Campus, telling the sometimes scary stories hidden in the university's past.  The Phoenix Fear event  held Oct. 26 and 27 included a short video, a trail around south campus and an option to make s'mores with S'mores Outdoors.

Groups were organized outside Harden Clubhouse. While groups waited to be called, students sat around a fire with members of S'mores Outdoors and ate the treats.

The event began with a brief video and pictures about Elon's past. It included mysteries that many students said they were not familiar with, including the tale of Mary, a student who is said to have died in West dormitory during the fire of 1923.

" With this story we have incorporated Elon University facts including Elon Homes for Children, which was an orphanage located where South Campus is today, to help tell the story of Phoenix Fear," said sophomore Derrick Joshua.

The secret history of Elon made the frightening trip more real for some students.

"The story was really cool, I didn't know it all," said sophomore Chiara Posati.

After the presentation, groups were led on a trail through the cross country course where the the story continued.

"(It was an) interactive story given by tour guides that correlates to the dark, spooky and terrifying experience that is called Phoenix Fear," Joshua said.

Screams echoed across the fields as the tours creeped along the trail.

"I thought it was scary," said freshman Jenn Baulieu. "There were some parts that we just walked so we got to calm down between it."

The most popular part of the experience seemed to be when people popped out unexpectedly. At one point during the trail, the ghostly Mary came back to life.

"She was just laying there and all of a sudden she popped up," said freshman Samantha Anderson. "She didn't scream, but she did this weird noise and it was creepy and she kind of hunched back. I was scared."

Campus Rec's Event Management Team, Campus Rec's Facilities team, Resident Student Association, and support from Student Givernment Association's Fun Fund made this event possible.

"It's great event that is perfect to get into the Halloween spirit," Joshua said.