New London’s haunted house, haunted trail
By Jim Paul
Spooks on Spurr – a haunted house, haunted trail and live music venue – offers Halloween scares weekends in October.
Located at W10121 Spurr Road, northeast of New London, the local attraction has been scaring thousands of visitors for the past five years.
Robin Wilson and Pat Williams converted an old house built in the mid-1800s into the Mansion of Misery.
According to local legend, the mansion really is haunted by Aunt Helen and Uncle Luther, two former residents whose spirits live on.
Wilson and Williams have organized about 60 people to work as actors, bartenders, security, parking and tractor drivers, sell concession and tickets.
Spook on Spurr draws haunted house aficionados from all around, even coming from out of state.
Music, bonfire pits, food
The grounds include bonfire pits and a concession stand with burgers, brats and hot beef sandwiches.
A patio outside of the house is a stage where popular regional bands such as Nashville Pipeline, Grand Union and Bad Habits play a variety of music, including rock and country.
The haunted house and trail are constantly evolving to keep the frights fresh and terrifying so guests can go year after year.
This year also features a flamethrower that shoots out of the chimney and there are also fog machines and lasers that give the grounds an eerie feel.
Also new this year is Uncle Luther’s bar, named after a ghost that along Aunt Helen actually haunt the mansion. Luther has his own stool at the end of the bar.
Guests will find ample parking nearby and a tractor ride will take visitors to the haunted trail ride.
Every weekend in October the gates open at 6 p.m., the mansion and haunted trail begin at 7 p.m. and the bands play from 7:30-11 p.m. The last ticket is sold at 11 p.m., but the mansion and trail will run until everybody with a ticket has had an opportunity to be scared.
Ticket holders do not have to wait in line, there is a number system so people can wait by the bonfires and watch the bands play until their number is called.
There is a $5 cover charge just to see the bands and the price for the haunted house and trail are $20 each or $35 to do both.
All ages are welcome but parents should use their own judgment as to letting their children go through the attractions.
Family Day is from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday , Oct. 23. For five dollars the wagon takes children into the woods where there will be trick or treating, face painting and s’mores.