Plenty of ‘haunts’ around Back Mountain

Ghosts, goblins and creatures of the night are making their way to the Back Mountain this Halloween season.

They’re not looking for blood, but for funding needed to support charities. Several haunted houses in the Back Mountain are held each year to assist non-profit organizations.

The Luzerne County Fairgrounds come to life every September with animals, games, rides and food. But in October, they’re home to the spooky Brokenhearts Asylum. Proceeds from the event benefit the Harveys Lake Fire and Ambulance Co.

James Starosta, a member of Harveys Lake Fire and Ambulance Co., helps run the haunted house and says it has been on and off for years. It began at the fire department and eventually moved to the former Hanson’s Amusement Park.

By 2008, the haunted house had outgrown the grounds at Hanson’s and progressed to the Luzerne County Fairgrounds where Brokenhearts Asylum was born.

Starosta says Brokenhearts Asylum takes visitors indoors and outdoors through the “asylum,” where mad head surgeon Dr. Vanburen submerses them into common fears including the dark, clowns and spiders and then treats the fears. Smells such as popcorn and cotton candy in the clown room are pumped in to add to the effects. Touch is also encouraged.

“Obviously we hope that they’re scared,” Starosta said. “We are the scariest haunt in the area. You’re self-guided; you have to find your own way through the haunted house.”

Because of its fright factor, Brokenhearts Asylum is not recommended for children ages 10 and under, although they will be permitted. The cost is $10 per person.

Starosta says three separate side shows will be also available for an additional fee per show. In addition, there will be food vendors and entertainment nightly.

Brokenhearts Asylum will be held every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Nov. 1 and on Oct. 29. The hours are 7 to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 7 to 10 p.m. on Sundays and on Thursday, Oct. 29.

The Back Mountain Memorial Library in Dallas will once again be transformed into the “Haunted Library” for the seventh year. Nadine Young, director of the Haunted Library, says she came up with the event in 2003 as an additional way to raise money for the library when state funding was reduced.

This year’s theme is “Night Frights,” which is based on the story of girls who have a sleepover on Halloween.

“It’s a group of young girls who come back from Trick-or-Treating,” Young said. “They have all eaten a little too much candy and saw strange things while they were out. At least one girl has trouble falling asleep and you enter her nightmare.”

The haunted tour will take guests through the Slightly Read Bookshop into the basement and up through the auction barn and stage. Although “Night Frights” is geared toward people ages 5 and up, younger children who visit have the option to carry a small tap light that will be provided.

Young says 175 volunteers, many of whom are teenagers, signed up to help with the event. Eighteen of those volunteers are working on the Haunted Library to fulfill their senior completion project requirements.

According to Young, the Haunted Library raised $9,000 in 2008. With the addition of an extra night this year, Young hopes the event will bring in $10,000.

In addition to the Haunted Library, there will also be dance performances and crafts outside throughout the night and food will be available for purchase at a refreshment stand.

The Haunted Library runs Oct. 16 through Oct. 18, Oct. 23 through Oct. 25 and an extra day this year on Friday, Oct. 30. The hours are 6:30 to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 5 to 9 p.m. on Sundays. The cost is a $6 per person donation to the library.

The historic Hayfield House and campus grounds of Penn State Wilkes-Barre in Lehman Township are the site of the university’s 12th Annual Haunted Forest.

Former Penn State Student Government Association President Lance Marquardt founded the event in 1998 to support the Penn State Dance Marathon (THON), which raises money for the Four Diamonds Fund at Hershey Medical Center. The Four Diamonds Fund was established in 1972 to aid families battling pediatric cancer by providing innovative cancer research and treatment as well as support for the families.

Jason Oliver, chair of the Haunted Forest, says this year’s theme is a southern mansion with voodoo, cult villages and cemeteries that come alive.

“Every year we pick a different theme,” Oliver said. “Last year we did the insane asylum theme. Every year we also get different props. This year we’re going to have tunnels which are something new this year. We changed the path and made it a little deeper in the woods so you can’t see the lights from the street.”

Oliver says 30 students are on the Haunted Forest committee, but close to 60 students volunteer each night of the event. According to Oliver, the Haunted Forest raised $3,500 last year.

The Haunted Forest will be held from 7 to 10:40 p.m. on Oct. 15 through Oct. 17, Oct. 22 through Oct. 24 and Oct. 29 through Oct. 30. The cost is $7 for adults and children 12 and over; $6 for children under 12 and $5 per person for groups of 10 or more.

If you go

• Brokenhearts Asylum – every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Nov. 1, plus Thursday, Oct. 29. Hours: 7 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 7 to 10 p.m. Sundays and Thursday, Oct. 29. Luzerne County Fairgrounds, Route 118, Dallas. 760-8027.

• Haunted Forest – Oct. 15 through Oct. 17; Oct. 22 through Oct. 24; and Oct. 29 through Oct. 30. Hours: 7 p.m. to 10:40 p.m. nightly. Penn State Wilkes-Barre, Old Route 115, Lehman Township. 675-9284.

• Haunted Library – Oct. 16 through Oct. 18; Oct. 23 through Oct. 25; and Oct. 30. Hours: 6:30 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 5 to 9 p.m. Sundays. Back Mountain Memorial Library, 96 Huntsville Rd., Dallas. 675-1182.

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