ELYSBURG - The Elysburg Haunted House is off to an "incredible" start in 2012 as it heads into the second weekend of operation tonight.
Long lines of people were on hand for last weekend's opening night, with more visitors than usual, said Harvey Boyer, Elysburg Fire Company president. Saturday featured a huge crowd as well, he said.
Now in its 37th year, the attraction, with new features inside and expanded scares on outdoor paths, continues to attract those from a wide geographic area. Boyer said visitors last week included folks from Jersey Shore, Williamsport, Wilkes-Barre, Las Vegas, Colorado, West Virginia, Delaware and Connecticut, and he had many people tell him they couldn't believe how terrific it was.
Talk in the parking lot as people were leaving was about how much better it is this year than in years past.
Fun, food while waiting
Organizers don't allow those waiting in line to get bored. Besides the traditional chainsaw ghouls, there's a bounce house for the kids this year and two new vendors, Arctic Igloo of Elysburg, selling a variety of food, and Pollock's Pizza, Berwick. They join Mason's hot cider, Gordy's french fries and the Elysburg Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services soup, hot dogs and hot chocolate stand. EMT Matt Siko said, "Come hungry."
Entrance witch Ceil Wislowski has been welcoming customers and offering helpful hints for survival for more years than she can remember. Young Justin Slodysko is helping out for the first time this year and is very excited about working with the giant spider.
Nicole Horsefield, of Lavelle, said she and her family have been coming to the house for years, only missing last year when it snowed on Halloween weekend. Horsefield said she enjoys the outdoor paths the most. Her mother, Marion, had quite a fright last year when she walked right into a ghillie-suited spook.
Haunted history
Wayne Horne, who was at the original event in 1976, said that it was first run by the Jaycees and Rotary Club as a fundraiser for the fire companies, before the companies themselves took it over.
Bob Dluge has been involved with the haunted house since day one. Dluge said that the first site of the house was near Shamrock Mills, Paxinos area. But during that first season, an arson fire destroyed it. Valley Gun and Country Club offered an old building to use the following year. The house was originally a 14-room home for a family up until the early 1960s, when the gun club took it over to use for storage. Seeing the need for a place to have the local fire companies' main fundraiser, the club donated the house for the event. No one ever said whether or not it was actually haunted.
The Haunted House, which is operated by and benefits the Elysburg and Ralpho Township fire companies, is open tonight and Saturday and next Friday and Saturday from 7 p.m. until the crowds are gone. Also, for the first time this year, it will be open from 7 to 10 p.m. Halloween night, Oct. 31.