PHOTOS: More Than 5,000 Turn Out To See New Tewksbury High School

Tewksbury School Department officials estimate more than 5,000 residents showed up on Saturday for a chance to tour the

"We had run off 3,000 maps and I said, 'this isn't going to be enough,'" said who said she wasn't surprised at all by the huge turnout. "People had said, 'oh, you're so optimistic.' But I said, 'I guarantee we're going to have to run off more.'"

Visitors included students in the school system, alumni, parents, grandparents and many people who had no children in the schools at all but

"People in this town couldn't wait to see their investment and I think they're very happy," said Regan.

As they entered the school, visitors were handed a map, which they could follow through a 12-station, self-guided tour. Not every part of the school was open to public viewing but as people followed the map, there were plenty of "oohs" and "aahs" as they caught their first glimpse of features such as the new Christine McGrath Theater/Auditorium, the television studio and the 1,000-seat gymnasium.

"As a graduate of the old high school, this is phenomenal. It's beyond anything I thought they could do," said alumnus Mike Smith, who has a daughter in the graduating class of 2013, as well as a and a son in the 6th Grade. "The technology is amazing. I never could have imagined it being this nice."

Smith attended the event with his mother, his wife and their children.

"I just think it's wonderful, what else can I say," said Beverly Smith, who had moved to Tewksbury just a few years after the former high school was built.

Jamey Cutelis, who served as , was wearing an ear-to-ear grin throughout the open house, as he chatted with guests and watched the steady stream of visitors making their way through the complex.

"We knew people were interested but not to this degree," said Cutelis. "We had a 100 people lined up outside before (the open house began at) 9 a.m. People seem to be happy so we're happy."