Prepare to be scared! These gruesome guys are eagerly waiting to awaken for the haunting on Third Street. They will be joined by other ghouls and goblins from 5 – 8 p.m. on October 29 – 31.
The first Haunted House on Third Street in 2011 was very successful with over 300 brave souls venturing into the dark abyss filled with ghosts and ghouls. There were excited visitors ranging from infancy to 90 years old. The second annual event promises to be even spookier!
Haunted House creators saved some of the scary stuff from last year and have been collecting more since then. Jane Ranum, who is donating her garage for the Haunted House as well as part of her driveway, as the haunting is being extended about 10 feet this year, is having a great time plotting the parts for the actors participating in the melee.
Her neighbor Pat Frost has been hard at work constructing gruesome props—a casket, a cage, dark dividing walls and more. Other volunteers who may appear as witches and goblins and other ghastly beings are Jaime and Kimberlee Dossey, Bill Dalin, Brandon Bockovich, Sam, Zack Sturm and Becky Sturm.
Ranum said more actors are welcome— contact her at 387-1877. “The more the scarier,” she said this week as she gave this squeamish reporter a tour.
Although the Haunted House is still being put together and there are no live inhabitants at this time, it was already frightening.
But, never fear. The haunting can be tamed down for younger children or the faint of heart. At the door, a caution will be issued if someone is especially nervous. Parents can go through the haunted house to see if they think their little ones would want to take part. But for those who think they are big and brave, the signal will be “Rock and Roll!” and the scaring will begin.
There are a few rules for visitors for everyone’s safety. Organizers ask that there be no drinking or smoking and no touching—by the ghouls or by the folks on the haunted tour. No hitting the abominable actors!
The goal, said Ranum, is for everyone to have a good time, which is a continuation of what she’s done—on a much smaller scale—for many years. She’s always enjoyed decorating her house for Halloween. Some may say her hobby is out of control, but it is all for a fabulous cause.
There is no charge to enter the second annual Haunted House at 121 West Third Street in Grand Marais. During the hours of 5 – 8 p.m. on Monday – Wednesday, October 29 – 31, everyone is welcome to join the fun. Participants are asked only to bring a non-perishable item for the Cook County Food Shelf.
In addition to just having fun with this, Ranum said organizers believe the food shelf is extremely important to the community. “My philosophy is we never know when we may have to turn to the food shelf. I’ve been fortunate to never have needed it, so I would like to give something back.”
Ranum said food items are preferred. Last year they collected over a hundred pounds of food and people also donated some cash. Ranum said it would be better if people donated cash directly to the food shelf at Cook County Food Shelf, P.O. Box 95, Grand Marais, MN 55604.
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