No haunted woods this year

By Catherine Amos

Published: October 3, 2008

Those seeking a good fright Halloween night will have to look elsewhere this year as the would-be 18th annual Haunted Woods will not be open for tricks or treats.

For the last 17 years, organizer Nate Jasper has created a free, open-to-the-public, spooky spectacle in the woods on his property five miles north of town on U.S. 522. But this year, All Hallows Eve falls on a Friday — the same night as two home high school football games, which means no spare law enforcement will be available for traffic control.

“A lot of people have been inquiring about it,” Jasper said. “They’re sorry I’m not having it.”

Last year, Jasper shut down his haunted mine-themed Haunted Woods opening night after a fight erupted between two men standing in line. Jasper had five deputies on scene for traffic control and no one was arrested, but he opted to close the attraction for the season.

“That was the first time we’d had any problems,” he said. “That has nothing to do with this year. I’m going to miss it but I can’t do it without traffic control; there are too many people.”

Jasper’s Haunted Woods usually saw anywhere from 4,000 to 6,000 people per season, with the maze open two or three nights. He opted not to open at all this year because he didn’t want people showing up on Halloween thinking it would be open.

As for next year?

“Definitely next year,” he said. “As long as we don’t have this same situation.”

The Haunted Woods may not be open, but Culpeper is home to a handful of family-welcoming pumpkin patches this month. For more, check out Sunday’s Culpeper Living.

Catherine Amos can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 138 or .