Chiller Haunted House – October 29-31

What started as a mini walk through garage haunt on Lamont Circle back in 1983 has become an annual Halloween tradition in Cortland County. The Chiller Haunted House on Madison Street in Cortland, NY will open its doors to visitors young and old for some spooky fun on Saturday, October 31st from 6:00pm – 10:00pm. Admission is free but donations are accepted at the door or through Venmo.

The haunt, now in its 44th year, is the creation of Jim Coon who started the attraction when he was a Junior in High School. He built the first haunt in his family’s one car garage and then expanded into the driveway the following year.

“Each year it got a little bigger” Coon says.

“When I purchased my own home in 1996 on Madison Street the haunt moved there for a few years before moving to the Burch Building in Suggett Park.”

says Coon. The haunt moved to the Center for the Arts of Homer in 2018, but during Covid things had to change a little. “I was determined to have a haunt that year so we moved it outside and we chose a haunted hospital for the theme. All the actors were distanced from visitors or were behind plastic. The hospital theme just lent itself to what was happening at the time.”

After 4 years, the haunt returned to Madison Street. Coon was ready to go back to his roots of a small walk through with plenty of scares. “You’ll probably wait in line longer than it takes to go through it.” He says “but it’s worth it.”

Coon has tour guides take groups through the dark maze while telling a story about the unfortunate ghosts and ghouls that hide within the corners and behind curtains waiting for just the right time to jump out at guests.

“We try to scare, but we don’t want to traumatize.” Coon says.

For those looking for a low scare no scare option, the haunt will be open on Thursday, October 29th from 7:00pm – 9:00pm for kids night and if you can’t make it on Halloween the haunt will be open on Friday, October 30th also from 7:00pm – 9:00pm.

For the second year in a row the theme of the haunt will be “House of Nightmares”. 

“Everyone has an anxiety about something” says Coon “whether it’s clowns, spiders or the dark, everyone has a phobia and we like to tap into those uncomfortable anxieties, but we also like to offer a little humor to offset the fear.”

Last year one room was titled the “Fear of Commitment Room” and was inhabited by ghostly brides and a moaning groom. What does this year’s haunt hold in store? Coon is keeping tight-lipped about it.

“You’ll just have to come and see for yourself…if you dare” He says with a wicked smile.