Yesterday (Friday, 10/9) was the start of the second weekend of haunted houses in the area. Visits to this website were over double what we saw the first weekend, so let’s hope that’s a good sign for haunts getting more business.
Author: Allen
Ames Tribune article about Ames Haunted Forest
Some official confirmation about the Ames Haunted Forest this year:
The official website has now been updated to read “2020 Dates & Hours” as TBA. Interesting. Maybe they are still thinking about doing something later this month?
VOTE: Will you go to a Haunted House this year?
We have a survey in the “Haunted Houses around Des Moines, Iowa Reviews and Discussion” group on Facebook. We are wondering what conditions have to apply before you would go to a haunted house this year.
So far, it looks like only 10% won’t be going at all, while 74% will go just like normal. Others have conditions — like only if mask usage is enforced.
What say you? Drop by and vote.
No Ames Haunted Forest this year :(
Last night would have been the normal opening night for the Ames Haunted Forest. With no official announcement or dates posted to their website, we assumed they were not operating this year. This newspaper article finally confirms it:
See you in 2021, Ames Haunted Forest!
Opening night!
Tonight (Friday, October 2, 2020) is opening night for haunted houses around Des Moines. This year has been quiet and I haven’t heard from many of the haunts that usually contact me, which is probably just an indication of how many are not operating this year.
For those ready to not scream (screaming is bad on spreading SARS-CoV-2, the CDC says), tonight you can visit:
- Ankeny Haunted Barn
- The Slaughterhouse (tickets must be bought in advance online — no ticket sales at the haunt)
Both open at 7 p.m.
Be sure to post your rating to this site when you are done not screaming!
Iowa Department of Health haunted house guidance.
Moderate Risk: Haunted Walks
- Going to an open-air, one-way, walk-through haunted forest where appropriate mask use is enforced, and people can remain more than 6 feet apart
- If screaming will likely occur, greater distancing is advised. The greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus.
Note that having an outdoor movie night with social distancing, and going to a pumpkin patch, are also considered moderate risk.
High risk: Haunted Houses
- Going to an indoor haunted house where people may be crowded together and screaming.
Note that traditional “trick-or-treating” where kids go door to door for candy is also considered high risk.
Protected: dsm4kids article
Waukee posts Beggar’s Night guidelines.
The City of Waukee recently announced it was cancelling this year’s haunted house, but noted that Beggar’s Night was still a go. Today they updated their website with CDC guidance about how this year’s trick-or-treating will go. Check it out here:
https://www.waukee.org/885/Beggars-Night
The Iowa Department of Public Health has a tip sheet with recomendations:
“Stay safe!” (What an odd thing to say when a clown with a chainsaw is going to be chasing you…)
Happy October!
October begins today. You may now start decorating for Halloween. (Yeah, I know some of you have had decorations up since early September.)
This has been a public service announcement from Des Moines Haunted Houses dot com.
DMHH calendar updated
Each year, I maintain a Google Calendar that has daily entries for each haunted house. You can subscribe to this on your phone and always know what haunt is operating that night, as well as the hours.
It has been updated again, and now includes the dates and times for the haunts I have heard from so far: The Slaughterhouse, Ankeny Haunted Barn and Tormented Souls.