Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The only thing really scary about the Warsaw Optimists' Haunted House is the chills that come from the ghosts and ghouls that inhabit the annual exhibit.
The popular fund-raising project for the service club is fully supervised and has a clean safety record, according to Optimist President Juergen Voss.
We're the only haunted house operating in the county," Voss said. "We've tried very hard to keep it conservative. Our intent is to give the kids a good scare and still keep it safe."
Voss said 20 to 30 adults are always on hand to supervise the 800 children that visit the haunted house, held at the old Endicott Building, 765 W. Market St., on its six-night run.
The rear portion of the building burned on Dec. 28, 1994, but the 8,000-square-foot front portion of the building, where the haunted house is constructed, is safe and sound, Voss said.
"The fire didn't burn out the part of the building we're using," Voss said. "This is the fourth year we've been there. Every year the state fire marshal inspects it and gives us flying colors."
Additionally, the walls are treated with fire-resistant material, fire extinguishers are positioned every 20 feet, battery operated smoke detectors are located every 25 feet, and there's an emergency hallway leading to all exits if needed, he said.
"We meet all the specifications the state requires," Voss said. "As long as we've had the haunted house in that building, we've never had one visitor hurt."
Voss's assertions are confirmed by Mike Wilson, inspector for the Warsaw Fire Department.
"The state fire marshal has to inspect them every year to give them an entertainment permit," Wilson said. "I went through with the inspector and he said this was one of the safest haunted houses in the state."
Voss said he is willing to allow parents or anyone else concerned about the safety of the building to inspect it for themselves.
"Anybody that has any concerns can give me a call at 269-4661, and I'll be glad to walk them through it so they can see what we do and how we do it," he said.
The haunted house opened last Friday, and will operate this Friday and Saturday night and Oct 29-31, from 5 to 10 p.m. Special "Kiddy Nights" will be Oct. 24, 30 and 31 from 5 to 6:30 p.m., when the lights are left on.
Admission charges for kids' nights are $3 for children and $1 for adults. Cost for admission Oct. 17, 23, 24, 29, 30 and 31 is $5 for adults; kids are not encouraged to attend on these nights.
Money raised from the haunted house is used to fund many Optimist projects, such as Art in the Park, Grace College Tip-off Tournament, the Optimist Oratory Contest and the Scholarship Trust Fund.
