The entrance to Creepy Hollow, located off Highway 4 in Warner, Alberta. The team at the Southern Alberta attraction has rebuilt the popular haunted house, which was destroyed by fire in May 2022. (Photo from October 2021: J. Goulet-LNN)

By Justin Goulet/LethbridgeNewsNOW

Spooktacular Efforts!

Rising from the ashes: Creepy Hollow rebuilds haunted house after fire

Oct 27, 2022 | 1:51 PM

WARNER, AB – Creepy Hollow has risen from the ashes in time for Halloween.

A fire on May 20, 2022 burned the popular haunted house and library at the attraction to the ground, devastating the community of Warner and the site’s owners, the Reimer family.

READ MORE: Late night fire destroys cherished Southern Alberta attraction

The entrance to the former haunted house at Creepy Hollow in Warner, Alberta. The haunted house and library were destroyed by fire in May 2022. (Photo taken October 20, 2021: J. Goulet-LNN)

Co-owner Glory Reimer told LNN that thanks to the support of Southern Albertans, the Creepy Hollow crew has been able to build a new haunted house, located in the same spot as the destroyed building.

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Reimer said following the blaze in late May, “We attempted many fundraisers, which got us a little bit ahead, and then we found some really good resources through friends and family.”

She said people “were able to bring us things like roofing, plywood, two-by-fours, like, all kinds of stuff that just started pouring in for next to nothing or nothing.”

“Every time I heard somebody else had something for us, it brought tears to my eyes,” Reimer added.

OLD ITEMS GET NEW LIFE

Reimer said although many irreplaceable items were lost in the fire, they had some props and pieces of furniture in storage that were not affected by the blaze. She said they were able to use those old items to populate the new haunted house.

The rebuilt structure has been a labour of love that took several weeks to put together.

Reimer said, “It is fairly extensive for what we were able to put together in four or five weeks, and it’s just only begun because by next year, it will be so much different again.”

The entrance to the new haunted house at Creepy Hollow in Warner, Alberta, October 2022. (Photo courtesy of Creepy Hollow)

The new haunted house has roughly 15 different rooms for spooking guests, compared with 23 in the former building. It has already been impressing visitors during the month leading up to Halloween.

Reimer said, “People who didn’t know there was a fire, don’t notice anything, and even some people that had been [here] last year, they’re like, ‘it seems scarier this time’, and they don’t even realize that anything’s changed at all.”

“People that are aware that there was a fire and they come in, they can’t believe how much has been done. They’re quite impressed.” – Glory Reimer, co-owner of Creepy Hollow

The crew at Creepy Hollow is ready to scare visitors in Southern Alberta for the 2022 Halloween season. (Photo courtesy of Creepy Hollow)

Although the Creepy Hollow team faced a daunting task in resurrecting the haunted house, Reimer said she is grateful for all of the support that has come their way.

“I really appreciate everyone who’s made this possible for us this year, and for the patrons that just keep coming and, you know, put their love into it, just like we do, so I appreciate everyone.”

In addition to the rebuilt haunted house, visitors to Creepy Hollow can walk through the maze, enjoy food trucks, see a car show, and have their fortune told, among other family-friendly activities.

READ MORE: Creepy Hollow offers spooktacular fun for the whole family