NEOSHO RAPIDS — The ghosts and goblins are preparing Neosho Rapids for the annual haunted house and hayrack right that will run on Oct. 17 and 18 and Oct. 24 and 25.
This is the 15th year for the haunted house which is sponsored by the Neosho Rapids Lions Club; Project Committee; and the Lyon County Fire District No. 5. The haunted house is the Neosho Rapids Lions Club’s major fundraiser for the year, said Tom Riley, president. The haunted house begins at the Neosho Rapids Community Center at dusk. Tickets to the Lions Club Haunted House and concessions by the Rinker 4-H Club are sold from 6 to 11 p.m.
The haunted house started by accident 15 years ago, Riley said. The fire department had a lot of leftover food it needed to get rid of. As a result, the haunted house event was born and the food was taken care of.
“It just continued to get bigger every year,” Riley said.
The haunted house started in an abandoned house further away from the community center, Riley said, but the individual’s insurance would not longer cover the event. A few years ago, the Lions Club purchased a house two blocks from the community center for the haunted house. Having the house so close to the community center adds to the effect.
“When people are in up there in line, they can hear the screams down here,” Riley said. “It really gets them going.”
It takes weeks each year to prepare for the haunted house. The house’s route is changed up each year and new props are added to keep it fresh.
It takes about 65-80 people from the age of 18 to more than 80 years old to put on the haunted house each night, Riley said. “Spooks” come from all around to give visitors a good scare. The event starts at the community center and participants are taken by hayrack to the haunted house. Along the way, spooks “greet” visitors leading to the house. Once at the haunted house, visitors are taken through a staged cemetery and a haunted maze. They then enter the haunted house where more surprises await them.
“There are so many spooks,” Riley said, adding that spooks come from all around but have to be 18 and older and no alcohol use is allowed by either participants or spooks. “We sure enjoy it. Here’s a bunch of people from 18 to 80 years old working out here — playing, whatever you want to call it.”
Riley said it’s unusual for a town the size of Neosho Rapids to put on such a large event. He added that it’s a good deal as well for the price.
“For seven dollars you can go to Kansas City or Topeka and pay $20 and probably stand in a long line,” Riley said. “We think it’s reasonable.”
Participants can get in for $6 if they bring a can of food for the Salvation Army Food Pantry, Riley added.
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