College Town Halloween: Tales of Fake IDs, Haunted Screams, and “Kush Kush” Catastrophes at the Front Desk
Halloween in a college town: that magical season when the air is crisp, the costumes are skimpy, and the hotel lobby becomes a stage for the wildest cast of characters. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be the gatekeeper to a moderate hotel just steps from the town’s infamous bar scene, buckle up. This isn’t your standard “trick or treat”—it’s more like “trick, treat, and call the cops.”
u/Turbulent_Theory6532, a seasoned front desk warrior, recently shared their tales of Halloween shenanigans on Reddit’s r/TalesFromTheFrontDesk, and honestly? I laughed, I cringed, and I double-checked my own ID just for good measure. Let’s take a look at their weekend from the twilight zone, where costumes are optional but questionable decisions seem mandatory.
1. Fake IDs: The Real Halloween Masks
Leading off was a guest who tried to check in with an ID that declared her “barely legal”—18, when the hotel’s policy clearly requires 21. No problem, she thought, and promptly offered up her trusty fake ID. Apparently, it had “worked at every bar” in town. Sorry, honey, but hotel staff aren’t as easily fooled (and, you know, matching your reservation name helps). If your backup plan is a fake with a different name, maybe just try a sleepover instead.
2. “Do You Have Coke? Like… Towels?”
Next up, a guest approached the desk with the casual confidence of someone asking for extra pillows. Except she wasn’t after pillows—she was looking for a little party fuel (the powdery kind). While the staffer politely redirected her to the local nightlife “door guys,” it’s a reminder that hotel front desks truly see it all: lost keys, lost morals, and sometimes lost inhibitions.
3. Scream Masks and Identity Crises
Imagine a man in a full Scream mask trying to check in, sliding his ID across the counter. When asked to remove his mask, he hesitated—apparently, the mystique was just too important. Here’s a tip: if you’re not willing to show your face at check-in, you probably shouldn’t show it at the bars either. Halloween is about pretending to be someone else, but not when it comes to legal documents.
4. Haunted House Rehearsals: Practice Makes (Im)Perfect
Late one night, a blood-curdling scream echoed through the halls, prompting a guest to call in a panic. Was it a slasher flick next door? Nope—just a guest practicing her haunted house audition, in full fake-blood regalia, assuming the rooms were soundproof. Spoiler: they’re not. Still, points for commitment! Next time, maybe try the parking lot… or at least a quieter scream.
5. “Mean Girls” and Creepy Requests
Friday night brought a scene straight from a coming-of-age movie: a group of college girls in “Mean Girls” style costumes strutting past an older guest. His request? To be put in a room next to theirs. (Ew.) The front desk, demonstrating both professionalism and basic decency, “did their best”—which we hope meant a room on a different floor. Remember, folks: there’s appreciating a good costume, and then there’s being… that guy.
6. “Kush Kush” Chaos: Weed, Warnings, and the Cops
Finally, the pièce de résistance: a group of students checked in, and within minutes, the hotel was wafting with the unmistakable aroma of “Kush Kush.” Despite a fair warning about the legality (and odor), they couldn’t resist blazing up indoors. Cue a radio call, a non-emergency police visit (because the operator already knows the front desk by name), and a room so smoky it set off more than a few alarms. As the officers lined everyone up, confiscated enough weed for a semester’s worth of bad decisions, and escorted the crew out, the reason for indoor indulgence was revealed: “It was cold outside.” Classic.
College Town Chaos: Just Another Weekend
If you’re thinking this sounds like a once-in-a-lifetime Halloween, think again. According to our heroic hotelier, this is just another weekend in a college town. Fake IDs, drug requests, costume drama, and the occasional haunted house rehearsal—just part of the job description.
So next time you’re checking into a hotel on Halloween weekend—or any weekend, really—spare a thought for the front desk staff. They’re not just giving you keys; they’re holding the line between fun and felony, mystique and mayhem, and, most importantly, reality and the Twilight Zone.
What’s the wildest thing you’ve ever seen at a hotel? Drop your stories in the comments—let’s make this front desk diary even spookier!
Original Reddit Post: Halloween Shenanigans