Rumors! Exciting rumors about the long-defunct Funtown Haunted Mansion!!

 Okay, things have been pretty quiet here on the blog while I've been working away at interviews and research, but this little tidbit is too exciting not to talk about.

Back when I was a little kid, my family used to drive down to Biddeford regularly to visit with all our cousins, aunts and uncles.  If we took US Route 1, we would drive past the corridor where Funtown and Aquaboggan lived, in Saco, and I would always stare out the window and wonder about the creepy-looking house that backed onto Route 1 in front of Funtown.  

Years later, I found out that it wasn't just an abandoned house in the middle of all that summer fun -- it was actually a local haunt attraction!  Back when I was little I wouldn't have dared go in, after getting the junk scared out of me at a local haunted house put on by one of the TV stations here in Portland (maybe WGME? I think it was out by the Northgate shopping center at Allen and Washington Aves).  But as a teenager, my little goth self was very intrigued, but was rarely out that way on my own.  The Haunted Mansion was shut down in 1996 as Funtown began tightening up on potential risk factors at the amusement park.

Now, according to a post on WCYY (source: https://wcyy.com/funtown-hints-at-the-return-of-the-haunted-mansion-in-2023/), there are hints that Funtown is going to resuscitate the long-dead attraction, and resurrect the Haunted Mansion -- or something scary, at least.  HOW COOL WOULD THAT BE??? 

Here's the breadcrumb everyone is following: a post on Funtown's own Facebook page!

 If you never knew the Haunted Mansion, or are curious about it, there used to be a great website run by Dave Gagne, one of the many folks who worked there over the years who loved the attraction, but unfortunately thehauntedmansion.org appears to be defunct.  So you'll have to make do with WCYY's post about it here: https://wcyy.com/long-lost-attraction-the-infamous-haunted-mansion-at-funtown-in-saco-maine/

Here's hoping we'll get a new local haunt attraction out of these rumblings from the grave!!!

The Gauntlet haunt ride review

Hello all -- I'd been wondering about The Gauntlet, a new haunt attraction that set up in Mechanic Falls for this Halloween season. Mark LaFlamme did a great write-up on it for the Lewiston Sun Journal if you have been curious too:

http://www.sunjournal.com/bplus/story/921801

Fright at the Fort footage

The folks at Fort Knox's haunt attraction thought you all might enjoy this. So here you go!



Fort Knox is a State Historic Site owned and operated by the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands.
To Find Them: Enter "711 Fort Knox Road, Prospect, Maine 04981" into GPS unit, Mapquest or Google Maps

From Belfast: Proceed north on US Rte 1, through Searsport and Stockton Springs, immediately before crossing the Penobscot Narrows Bridge, take a left onto Rte. 174. Fort Knox will be approximately 1/4 mile up on your right.

From Bar Harbor: Follow US Rte. 1 south across the Penobscot Narrows bridge, immediately adjacent to the town of Bucksport. Once over the bridge take a right onto Rte. 174. Fort Knox will be approximately 1/4 mile up on your right.

From Bangor: On Rte. 1A South....follow Rte 1A South through the towns of Hampden, Winterport, Frankfort and Prospect. In Prospect Center, take a left onto Rte. 174. Follow Rte 174 approximately 4 miles. Fort Knox will be on your left. On Rte 15 South....follow Rte 15 South through the city of Brewer and the towns of Orrington and Bucksport. In Bucksport, take a right onto US Rte.1 South and proceed over the Penobscot Narrows bridge. Immediately upon exiting the bridge take a right onto Rte. 174. Fort Knox will be approximately 1/4 mile up on your right

Calling all haunters!

In past years (see 2006 article here), I have posted about the highly recommended Maine haunt attraction, Fright at the Fort, held each October at historic, haunted Fort Knox. This year is no different (except in that I expect to actually visit it myself this Halloween).

The Friends of Fort Knox are beginning to ramp up for their annual horrific event by seeking additional volunteers. These volunteers are being sought to help haunt the dark passageways and spaces of the venerable old Fort during what has come to be known as one of Maine’s largest Halloween season events. Even if you find yourself unable to muster the appropriate ghoulish spirit to scare the pants of shivering mortals, you may still help out by serving as group tour guides or as security helpers.

Fright at the Fort has attracted over 10,000 visitors in the past and event organizers hope to top that number this year. This year, for the first time Fright will be held on five different nights, concluding on Halloween, Friday, October 31. Fright will also be conducted on Fridays/Saturdays, October 17, 18, 24 and 25, from 5:30 to 9 PM (visitors should arrive by 8:30 PM).

The Friends of Fort Knox use revenue generated from Fright at the Fort in preservation projects for the State historic site. Last year’s Fright proceeds are currently funding emergency masonry repair at Fort Knox.

Volunteers interested in helping out are encouraged to contact the Friends of Fort Knox at 469-6553 or email fofk1[at]aol.com. People interested in additional event information may go to the Friends’ web site fortknox.maineguide.com