New Halloween attractions focus on family fun

Two new attractions have been added in Hancock County this fall to celebrate the Halloween season. Kaleidoscope Farms is partnering with the music department at Cory-Rawson High School to offer its first ever haunted trail hike, while Ghost Town debuts a Findlay corn maze. The haunted trail will be held from 6-10 p.m. Oct. 20-21 at Kaleidoscope Farms, 14841 County Road 54, Mount Cory. Tickets — $15 per person or $13 per person for groups of six or more — can be purchased on Kaleidoscope's website and Facebook page. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Cory-Rawson Music Boosters. Matt Reese grew up on the farm with his three brothers. They all attended Cory-Rawson School where they participated in band, choir and show choir. The students, he said, will provide their acting skills as the "ghosts" haunting a couple of miles of wooded, spooky trains on the farm. "I kind of want to just leave it to them to figure how they want to dress up and they've got lines they've got to deliver. But we want them to take a little bit of ownership in the event and hopefully learn about that, too, but mostly have fun," he said. A writer, Reese wrote the murder mystery based on an actual tombstone in Clymer Cemetery located down the road from the tree farm. Visitors will have to find clues along the trails to solve a fictional century-old murder with origins in the cemetery. "We are descendants of the Clymers and the Clymer Cemetery is where George Clymer, my grandpa, is buried along with his two wives who were sisters," he said. "That part is all true and then the rest, I just made it all up." Visitors will have to hike the five trails and find the ghosts to determine which natural poison growing on the farm was used to commit the crime and solve the "Mystery of Clymers Passed." "It's a giant living Clue game," said Reese. While growing up on the farm, Reese said they found out there's nothing much spookier than walking through the trails at night. "The real star of the show is just the trail," he said. "And basically we just wanted to provide an opportunity for folks to get out there and enjoy the woods in autumn. It's beautiful and you can get pretty scared just by being out there." This is a family-friendly event will be held rain or shine and is recommended for youth groups, junior high and high school sports team building, families with children over 12, college students and even couples for a unique date night. Ghost Town Ghost Town, 10630 County Road 40, has created its first corn maze this Halloween. The maze is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and 1-5 p.m. on Sundays Oct. 14-15, 21-22 and 28-29. "We've put a lot into it," said John Larbus, one of the owners of Ghost Town. "I mean we're trying to bring something to Hancock County that hasn't been here before that we're aware of." Larbus said he's been rebuilding the replica 1880's era ghost town for several years. "We own the farm ground that Ghost Town is on and we always talked about it (a corn maze) and it just kept getting pushed back and pushed back and pushed back. And then this year; we finally decided if we're ever going to do it, it's got to be now," he said. The maze covers a five-acre area which this year features a western theme with a star, horse and cowboy hat. "We kind of like bringing certain things back to Findlay that slipped away," said Larbus. The figures are part of a scavenger hunt where participants are encouraged to find each picture and mark it on their map. Anyone who finds all of the locations qualifies for a prize. "Kids seem the most interested in doing the scavenger hunt type of thing," Larbus said. Other activities at Ghost Town include a hayride, kids barrel train ride, games, duck races, hamster rollers, corn crib, mining sluice and photo opportunities along with a corn canon and a climbing wall that resembles an ear of corn. "That claim to fame was bought by the state of Ohio and welcomed guests at the Ohio State Fair. We saw it for sale but we didn't know it was a climbing wall. I said that'd make a great sign for a corn maze," he said. A 50/50 event will also be held. Anyone who hits the target with a pumpkin chucker will win half of the cash prize which the other half will benefit the Bethlehem Experience and Wreaths Across America, he said. "It's a lot of clean family fun for not a lot of money, and a lot of different opportunities," said Larbus.