Minnesota State University Reporter

Issue date: 10/9/08 Section: Student Life

Media Credit: Raymond Starin The two-story, 100-year-old Dark Shadows Mansion has been run by Beverly and Warren Smith since 2002.

As the leaves on the trees begin to fade into vibrant colors of yellow and orange, the cool fall breeze makes many want to put on their sweatshirts and store their flips-flops in the closet. With the excitement of a new season comes apple picking, pumpkin carving, and that highly-anticipated holiday, Halloween, that is just around the corner.

Beverly and Warren Smith plan almost their entire year around the spooky holiday. The two have been the masterminds behind The Dark Shadows Mansion since 2002.

"I start thinking of creative ideas in January, and by February all my plans are finished," said Beverly. "So if you are brave enough to go through the mansion, your heart will beat faster, your hands will clam up, as you wait for the unexpected, which make all their hard work and effort a success.

Beverly definitely seems to have a knack for coming up with scary yet creative displays in the haunted house, such as the upside down Santa room.

"It's funny, because I don't like watching scary movies, it's not my thing," Beverly said. "But I like designing, moving mannequins around, hanging severed heads and baskets full of hands - but I avoid scary movies."

Ashley McCall, a student at Minnesota State and a fellow employee, explained her favorite thing about working at The Dark Shadows Mansion.

"The best part is getting to see people's reactions of being scared, and getting to scare people in general - it's kind of fun," McCall said. She added she also gets a kick out of something else: "And when you see people you know going through, and then you say their name."

The two-story, 100-year-old mansion, not including the basement, is no ordinary haunted house. Just when visitors think they've had enough, there are trails that lead from the mansion to five buildings outside, including the very scary "Clown College."

In the past, people have been known to crawl on their hands and knees to avoid the clowns.

The trail also leads visitors to the green house, which is another creative addition to all the haunted attractions.

But it is the dark shadows, a tiny hallway set up like a maze that is pitch black, that terrifies people the most.

"They can't see, for one thing," Beverly explained. "We hear a lot of screaming in the dark shadows."

She laughs. "Well actually, we hear a lot of screams all over the place." 

McCall said the scariest part of the haunted house might be the anticipation of what's coming next.

"They work on it all year long to make it different so it's the unexpected," she said. "You walk into an empty room and you don't think anyone is there until they pop out at you."

For people who do decide to go, it's inevitable that they'll experience many heart-pounding moments followed by loud screams.

"If you don't like being scared you are probably not going to have fun," Beverly said. "This is serious scary, we are not doing kiddy stuff."

Reactions from visitors after going through the haunted house are reportedly positive. "When they come out, it seems like they are on a natural high, laughing and giggling and saying how much fun they had," Beverly said.

The best advice to keep in mind?

"Don't go alone," said McCall.

The mansion is located on 295 St. Andrews Drive, behind Drummer's Garden Center, and is open for six nights only. Opening weekend is this Friday and Saturday. The mansion is also open Oct. 17 and 18, and Oct. 24 and 25, from 7:00 p.m. until 10:30 p.m.

Admission is $8.


Brittany Larson is a Reporter staff writer

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