The old Ford Ice Cream Creamery is sending chills down the spines of local residents this Halloween season.
The old factory that serves as the East Central Auction house has turned into season attraction called the Chill Thrill Haunted House. Mike Harris, who owns East Central Auction, contacted local church youth leaders Danny Todd and Mike Rice about running the haunted house this season as a fundraiser for their churches’ youth ministries. They agreed to do it and they are now offering a fun attraction for the Halloween season.
“We are thankful that Mike Harris has given us the opportunity to help our church ministries,” Todd said. “A portion of the profits will be given to our youth ministries so that our students can attend a spiritual retreat over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.”
One of the youth groups represented is from Salem Baptist Church, and Todd said the group he is bringing represents several area churches.
Todd said the haunted house plays
on the story of the old creamery, which at one time was Madam Zuzu’s bar and was not inside Newton’s city limits. He said many of the scenes incorporate that story.
“Not much is known about Madam Zuzu,” Todd said. “But this area was located outside the city, so they weren’t under the same rules as they were inside the city. So we’re kind of playing off that story.”
Rice said they have had a lot of fun putting on the production.
“We’ve had a blast putting this on,” Rice said. “It’s just some good fun. You’re not going to see some of the crazy stuff that other haunted houses do. We just hope that everyone has a good time while getting a little spooked along the way.”
Chill Thrill has been open only on Fridays and Saturdays most of the month beginning at 7 p.m., but Todd and Rice said they plan to open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday leading up to Halloween night.
“We have some special surprises in store for those days,” Todd said. “You will have to watch our Facebook page to see what those surprises will be. We’re trying to team up with other events going on in the area so that kids will have something to do in a safe environment.”
