Community Corner

UPDATE: Paxton Manor Transforms into Haunted Attraction

The third annual Shocktober event will feature three haunts in one - the Paxton house, Haunted Well of Souls and a fun house.

It's the final weekend to participate in this year's Halloween attraction at the Paxton Campus, in Leesburg. According to Executive Director Jennifer Lassiter this year has seen record breaking numbers when it comes to the amount of tickets sold. 

For the third year, the house features over 30 rooms portraying a haunted hotel, she said. The Haunted Well of Souls, located inside a dark dirt basement, is also available to tour as well as a creepy funhouse filled with clowns and a number of spooky twists and turns.

"We're the only professional haunt in our area," said Lassiter, adding that this year's setup is quite different from the way its been portrayed in the past. "Fans never get the same show and we're never going to let you down."

What makes the attraction even better, Lassiter said, is the fact that Paxton Manor is, "a real haunted house."

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Built in the late 1800s, Paxton Manor Inn is filled with large rooms and dark halls that were once run by the mysterious Mrs. Scarlet. Beneath it, is a large array of caverns and an underground lake. It's the perfect setting for a haunted house, Lassiter said.

"We've had paranormal investigators that have done readings and they always come back with activity. Supposedly it's the second most haunted place in all of Virginia," Lassiter said. "The other thing is we have a scream team that is working on our haunt all year long. So the planning and the build for next year will start probably Nov. 1 of this year."

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Proceeds from the Halloween event will benefit the Paxton Campus, which includes the Aurora School, the Open Door Learning Center and the Advocacy Center. We scare because we care, Lassiter said, and that's always a good thing to remember.

Shocktober will run every Friday through Sunday from 7 to 10 p.m. beginning this week through Oct. 28. Ticket prices are $30 per person. The event is not recommended for children under 13. Visit www.shocktober.org for ticket prices, hours and directions.

Note: This article was originally published Oct. 4, 2012.


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