A boxing gym in Mission has spent October scaring its neighbors on purpose. KALI Productions Training Facility, located at 7418 N. La Homa Rd., transformed part of its space into Nightmare on La Homa, a haunted house built around Mexican and Hispanic folklore and staffed largely by the gym's own young boxers.
The attraction debuted this October, drawing on legends like La Llorona and La Lechuza to build its scares, according to MyRGV.com. Nightmare on La Homa was founded by Kali Soto and Marty Rodriguez, and it features local urban legends told through theater and community participation rather than the jump-scare formula typical of corporate haunted houses. Presale tickets for the five-night run, which spanned October 23-25 and 30-31, were listed at $25 plus tax for general admission or $35 for a Fast Pass, according to topboxtickets.com, with the first tour starting at 7 p.m. and final admission at 11:30 p.m.
Folklore Monsters With Personal Stories
Visitors who make it past La Llorona must then face La Lechuza, an owl-witch from Mexican folklore associated with evil omens, misfortune, and as a precursor to death. Michelle Chavez, who portrays La Lechuza in the attraction, learned about the legend through stories her grandmother told her, per the same report from MyRGV.com. Those who survive both La Llorona and La Lechuza still have to contend with Bloody Mary, played by Rio Grande Valley musician Velvet, who also contributed original musical material to the production.
The attraction frames La Llorona not simply as a jump-scare prop but as a figure transformed by grief and regret. Gabriela San Miguel, who plays La Llorona, said the character regrets her actions and seeks new children. A caretaker character, portrayed by Gabriel Sanchez, carries a lantern that traps spirits and ghouls from horror legends and folklore, and narrates how the creatures escaped and now roam freely through the attraction. Sanchez, who also serves as McAllen's poet laureate, described the attraction as theater rather than only a Halloween experience.
Young Boxers Take On the Scare Roles
Many of the scare actors are affiliated with the boxing gym itself, including a youngest performer who is just 10 years old. Kali Soto, founder of KALI Productions, said involving children in the attraction supports creating champions both inside and outside the ring. He added that teamwork brings everyone together and keeps them in sync while having fun, framing the production as part of a broader effort by gym members to pass down cultural traditions and build teamwork among young boxers.
Soto said Nightmare on La Homa is just beginning, and KALI Productions plans to make it an annual tradition, with intentions to bring it back in 2027. The gym's members describe the project as a family-oriented haunted house built around community rather than a purely commercial scare attraction.
Folklore Rooted in the Valley
The legends animating Nightmare on La Homa draw from traditions with deep roots across South Texas. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's Border Studies Archive holds more than 100,000 items documenting traditional Mexican American folklore, including folktales and folk beliefs, according to a UTRGV library guide. That same guide notes that supernatural experiences remain prevalent in South Texas, describing La Llorona as a figure who scans the waters of the Rio Grande looking for her children.
Other coverage of the region's haunted reputation has touched on different landmarks. A Courier Texas report quoted associate professor David Bowles, author of Ghosts of the Rio Grande Valley, saying the San Juan Hotel is the most haunted building in the entire Valley. A 2016 MyRGV.com piece separately explored local legends tied to the Harlingen Insane Asylum, while ValleyCentral has reported on a local influencer highlighting the region's haunted locations and their history.
