The screams are silent this season at a popular Halloween destination in Fawn.
The Shadows, Alle-Kiski’s only outdoor haunted attraction, announced late last month on Facebook that it would not open for the season.
Co-owner Chuck Lynn said the decision not to open was made because of covid-19.
“It was a terribly hard decision to make, but we have some volunteers with medical conditions, and we didn’t think it would be safe,” Lynn said.
It would have been the ninth operating season for The Shadows, usually open Thursdays through Saturdays during October.
Lynn said he has received about 100 phone calls from people inquiring about whether The Shadows would open.
“We’re upset we can’t open, and the public is bummed,” Lynn said.
The quarter-mile haunted trail normally offers visitors a 20-minute, self-guided walk in the dark, through woods next to the Tour-Ed Mine & Museum.
Scare stations, illuminated by real campfires and limited lighting, have depicted a cemetery, shantytown, hospital, camp and more, manned by volunteer ghoul actors.
The Shadows is set amid 13 acres on land owned by the Alle-Kiski Valley Historical Society, leased annually by The Shadows.
Longtime volunteer Dolly Mistrik usually staffs the ticket booth. She’ll miss interacting with visitors.
“I’ll miss the reactions of the children coming and going,” Mistrik said. “I think it was the right move this year, though.”
Lynn said money raised goes back into the operating costs and are donated to local Pittsburgh-area charities.
Lynn expected to lose thousands of dollars by not opening this season.
“We plan to open next year and will work on building a better haunt,” he said.
