(Posted Oct. 5, 2016)
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
Ghoul School is back in session with more special effects, a longer tour, and an additional weekend to take in all of the spooky fun.
For the second year, the Mount Sterling Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Madison-Plains Local Schools, has transformed the former Mount Sterling Elementary school building into a hauntingly creepy Halloween attraction. Admission is $10. Hours are 7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 14-15, Oct. 21-22, and Oct. 28-29. The school is located at 94 W. Main St.
Chamber member Rebecca Burns expects huge crowds this year. One indication: the event’s promotional poster was shared over 1,500 times shortly after it was posted on Facebook.
“The momentum is growing. It’s going to be awesome!” she said.
While the Chamber handles publicity and buys the fake blood, liquid latex, cobwebs and other supplies, Burns said its the Madison-Plains student volunteers and local Halloween enthusiast Mike May who really bring Ghoul School to life.
“The students are the actors and they help to come up with the themes for the different rooms. They also supply two makeup artists. They do a terrific job,” she said.
May, who lent his expertise last year, has been hard at work for several weeks on this year’s set-up. An electric chair and an embalming table are just a few of the many props he is using to set the scenes.
Like last year, the tour includes a half-dozen transformed classrooms on the school’s main floor—all designed to make your spine tingle—and a zombie prom in the auditorium. Unlike last year, the tour also includes the basement, which Burns said is “creepy as it is,” but doubly so, now that May has worked his Halloween magic.
Also new are more amplifiers for sound effects and hologram special effects to simulate apparitions coming out of the walls and up from the creaky floors.
Ghoul School is open to all ages, though Burns said parents of young children should use their discretion. Children ages 12 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Costumed guides lead tours of 15 to 20 people at a time.
Proceeds are split evenly between the Chamber of Commerce and the Madison-Plains High School drama department.
