Museum haunted house event is fit for everyone

It’s quickly becoming a Mariposa tradition.

The third annual Mariposa Museum and History Center Haunted House will be held the last four days of October.

“This is meant to be fun for the community,” said Joann Ransom, a museum employee and one of the people who has been working to set up the haunting displays.

The event will be held from Wednesday, Oct. 28 through Sunday, Oct. 31, at the museum. It will be on the large porch of the museum.

Admission is $5 a person, with senior night on Thursday having admission at $2 for seniors 60 and over.

“Each year it is different,” said Ransom. “There will be a few surprises.”

Ransom emphasized it is not a “jump scare” type of haunted house and is for all ages.

“It’s kind of a Twilight Zone kind of thing,” said Ransom.

One new twist this year is a scavenger hunt for the “little ones,” said Ransom.

“It is growing every year,” said Ransom of the haunted house.

Much of the credit has to go to local resident Michael Hall, who does a lot of the audio and visuals for the haunted house. And what would a haunted house be without audio and visual?

Many others are helping, too, including Pete and Jenni Kiser who shared their famed skeleton collection, with bones placed all across the museum grounds.

“What I didn’t realize was how many volunteers love Halloween,” said Ransom.

People will enter through the front of the museum on the porch. There will be a movie showing while they wait in line. Once they exit in the back, they can stop and hear local storyteller Daniel Wilson telling some haunted tales.

As they walk through the haunted area, it’s not just witches and bones, but there is also a focus on the museum itself and the history of this area.

“We have been trying to do a reawakening of the museum,” said Ransom. “This is a community museum and people sometimes forget we have this museum.”

Doing the haunted house is a way to attract local residents, she said, though they do get tourists who happen upon the place at the right time.

She added they have “always” wanted to do an event for the younger people and the haunted house fits that bill.

All of the funds raised from the haunted house will go toward the museum’s docent program, which gives high school students a chance to get a job, learn life skills, learn history and meet many members of the public.

Ransom said also that evening, there will be a movie showing in the basement — with an audience of skeletons watching. So does that make it a horror movie or a comedy? You be the judge.

For one night only, which is Halloween on Saturday, Oct. 31, there will be vendors at the museum. The JCF 1854 Historical Society Outpost, a division of the Clampers, will be serving hot dogs as well as providing security.

Yoshis and Sweet Sipz will both be there, as well.

Ransom said they are still accepting donations of candy, which will be given to the revelers after they pass through the haunted house. They can also use pumpkins, either real or artificial, which will be placed around the grounds.

Ransom gave special thanks to the volunteers who are helping get it all set up for the scary weekend. In addition, many sponsors are helping with the event. Those include John C. Fremont Healthcare District, KRYZ, the Mariposa Gazette, K97.5 Radio, Community Health Centers of America, Mariposa Lions Club, Pioneer Market, Valley PBS, Odd Fellows, Rotary Club of Mariposa Yosemite and Native Daughters of the Golden West.

For more information, visit mariposamuseum.com, email info@mariposamuseum.com or call (209) 966-2924.