Halloween haunters across Saskatchewan offer frights for all

For "home haunters" in Regina and Saskatoon, Halloween is truly the most wonderful time of the year.

"There's just something about it — the change in the air, the colour of the leaves, all that. It's just a spirit to this time of year," said Pat Molloy, aka "Dead Things" in an interview with Saskatchewan Weekend on CBC Radio One. He's with the Saskatchewan chapter of the Canadian Haunters Association.

The group has organized several haunted houses in Regina and Saskatoon, including Dave Kosik and Marilyn Girling's Restless Spirit Cemetery located at 5306 2nd Avenue N. in Regina.

The houses are open for the public to check out leading up to and on Halloween.

Animated props

Molloy has been involved with the group for about five years, and said that a lot "haunters" like to build things to incorporate into their haunts.

"That's for me where a lot of this comes, is to take an idea, and start with raw materials … and have something that's hopefully kind of cool," said Molloy.

Molloy likes to build animated props, and aims to build at least one new prop every year. This year, he built two animated gargoyles.

"Their heads turn, their eyes light up, they blow fiery smoke, their wings flap," said Molloy. "Those were built over probably three months."

A feast for the senses

Molloy said while he hopes his creations will scare people when they come to see his haunt, the main focus is to entertain.

"We try to give them a lot of eye candy and make it fun for everybody," said Molloy.

"The idea is not to necessarily scare people, it's to entertain people."

Molloy said line-ups can get up to 50-60 people waiting to walk through his haunt.

"One of the couple comments that I heard last year was, 'Every time I look at the graveyard I see something different.' And that's kind of what I want to go for," said Molloy.

Saskatchewan haunts

Molloy said there are several haunts across Saskatchewan to visit as well.

In Saskatoon, there is a haunt in the west end of the city that has a castle facade across the entire front of the bungalow, with a replica pirate ship sprawling across two yards.

There is also the Scariest House in Saskatoon. This haunt starts building in August, and includes a complete ghost town in the yard.

Terror in the Trees is near Pike Lake, and Molloy said last year it had nearly 3,000 people come through.

Haunts will be open to visit Sunday and on Halloween Monday.