Haunted house status startled McMinn Rescue Squad

For 23 years, the McMinn County Rescue Squad has hosted a haunted house in Athens.

"We could bring in $4,000 to $6,000," said Rescue Squad Chief Harold Eaton, describing how much money the fundraiser collected for the squad every year.

In 2008, the squad spooked the community inside the old McMinn County Jail in downtown Athens.

This year, finding a new haunted house site has spooked the rescue squad.

"The old jail has bars on it. It was designed to keep people in. In case of a fire, that is an obstacle for us to get children or adults out. It also had only one way in and out," said Chief Jim Dyer, with the Athens Fire Department.

Chief Dyer's department is required to check haunted houses, located inside city limits, to ensure they meet state code. Dyer and the McMinn County Rescue Squad decided the old jail could not be used as a haunted house this season.

The squad has looked for a new site for the past month.

Monday afternoon, just five days before the house should open, Mike Taylor of Knoxville made some land in McMinn County available to the group.

"I've got the property, and they have got the volunteers. It's like chocolate and peanut butter," said Taylor.

Members of the rescue squad will scramble to pull Ghoul Town 2009 together in some woods in Niota.

"We've got great workers up here, and they are willing and say they can do it," said Eaton.

The haunt will be up and running Saturday night.

The wooded area is located near 543 County Road 275 in Niota. The site is a mile and a half off the Niota exit on I-75.

Ghoul Town will open at 7:30 p.m. on October 24 and 26-31. It will also be open on November 6-7. The event closes each night after the last person has been spooked.

More information is available at Ghoul Town's website.