INNISFIL — Looking for something to do in the dying days of March break?
The Gilford Haunted Mansion: Spirits of the Barn might just have the elixir to end your boredom. A Halloween favourite for hundreds of local families has reopened, just for this weekend.
Located on a property at 2008 Gilford Rd., guests are invited to experience their nightmare scenario — a doll room, a maze, a witch’s lair, an operating room and a hallway with giant spiders.
“I need a distraction; this is my peace,” organizer Bennie Dunsmoor said. “We’ll have regulars who we expect. It’s a good product. If you love haunted houses, this is the perfect thing to do. It’s something fun to do over the last weekend of March break that’s not expensive.”
The mansion was first organized for Halloween in 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when trick-or-treating was at risk of being cancelled over health concerns. Dunsmoor decked out his home and invited people inside, as long as they signed a waiver.
While the experience was neat, the family was surrounded by Halloween for close to three months while they built and dismantled displays.
So the next year, the mansion was relocated to the barn. This also allows Dunsmoor to keep the rooms intact or under renovation year-round. They’re constantly trying to improve the space, with many of its elements being constructed out of scrap material or purchased at liquidation or heavily discounted prices.
But this is the first time they’ve opened in March, inspired at least partly by a couple from France that showed up out of nowhere recently to check out the attraction.
“A few weeks ago, an RV came down the driveway,” Dunsmoor said. “They were speaking French. When they originally booked the trip, they looked up what was open in October. The drove from Niagara Falls all the way up here, just to see this.
"We turned the music on and got everything running. We got them really good. They thought it was scarier than anything they did in Niagara Falls. And because they drove so far, we (then) turned the lights on and showed them everything.”
Spirits of the Barn opens Friday from 4-10 p.m. (no actors from 4-7), Saturday from 2-10 p.m. (no actors from 2-7) and Sunday from 4-10 p.m. (no actors from 4-7).
Dunsmoor said the “cemetery” area is closed due to snow coverage, and parking is limited.
Admission is $8 for adults and $2 for kids. Only cash is accepted.
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