If you were in Lyndonville last weekend, chances are you heard about, and possibly attended, the annual haunted trail. A night full of terror and screams is what you were promised, and what you received.
On October 25-27, from 7-10 pm, victims could come to 40 Sandy Lane in Lyndonville, Vermont, to partake in “A Walk in the Dark” – a haunted trail put on by locals to help support the Vermont Special Olympics Caledonia Chapter.
$10 was the charge for victims to enter the trail, to be frightened by what may lie inside. From witches to gypsies to clowns to chainsaw wielding psychopaths, this trail did everything it could to scare the daylight out of you.
Athletes from most of the teams on the Lyndon campus came in droves to volunteer for the event. Baseball, soccer, basketball, volleyball, and more came out to help their community raise money for a great cause. Each year the athletics department helps the Caledonia County chapter of the Special Olympics, as NVU-Lyndon is an official sponsor of the Special Olympics. For the past few years, Lyndon has held events for some Olympians to participate in.
“It’s a fun event for a great cause,” said Assistant baseball coach Reece Tanguay. On Friday, the 26th, both baseball and women’s soccer came to volunteer, over 40 student athletes total for the busy evening. “We had about 23 people come [Thursday] night,” said the man, wielding the chainsaw, they called Zeb. “Should be a bit busier tonight.”
Right he was. Within the first hour on Friday, that number was doubled. Screams could be heard across the way, and athletes working the parking lot stayed busy as the cars steadily rolled in. Others were put in costumes to scare the victims, and some sold shirts to those who had finished. Myself and women’s soccer player Jessica Hillman’s duties were to distract participants after they “finished” the trail so that Zeb could sneak up behind them and start his chainsaw.
By the end of the night, the attendance had slowed, and the workers grown cold. Inside, you could find yourself some hot chocolate and food, provided by the other volunteers who come out every year. This was also an opportunity for the athletes to experience the terror everyone else had come for.
On the trail was fog, creepy figures, and crazy, graffitied walls to add to the ambiance. Every corner held the possibility for someone, or something, to jump out at you. The event could even go so far as to have someone jump out of a tree, where you might least expect it. At the end you enter a thin chamber, with loud rock music to drown out your screams. Inside, you’ll hear tapping on the walls, with voices telling you to get out as soon as possible. You may even find a clown, if you’re so unfortunate.
Fortunately for the community, this event will be back next year, and for years to come, to scare us and support our local Special Olympics.
Visit A Walk in the Dark – Haunted Trail to learn more about future haunted trail events. Featured image A Walk in the Dark – Haunted Trail logo via @hauntedtrailwalk on Facebook.