Have some scary fun in Tunnel of Terror
RATHDRUM – Ruth Maryott grew up “in the backwoods in Montana,” too far from town to go trick-or-treating.
Through the years she took her kids and grandkids out on Halloween night, but she never gave up her childhood dreams of enjoying Halloween fun. That is why, four years ago, she and her husband Ed decided to make a Halloween treat for their family – and the Tunnel of Terror was born.
Located in a pasture on the Maryotts’ six acres, this year’s tunnel is 273-feet of chills and thrills.
“It is basically a maze made out of hay bales covered with black plastic,” said Maryott, “with a few cubbyholes for scary stuff thrown in.” Family members dress up in costumes, add some creepy decorations, and hide in the spaces in the tunnel, popping out whenever they hear a teenager or adult go by. “We hear lots of screams,” she said.
Strobe lights, black lights and fog machines help make the tunnel an eerie place, but Maryott says they are careful not to scare the little kids.
“When we see a family with little kids, we back off and don’t do anything too frightful – we wait for teenagers and adults to really put on a scare.”
Each year, the tunnel has gotten a little longer, more family members have participated, and more people have taken the scary walk through the tunnel. “It was successful, so we made it bigger and they brought more friends,” said Maryott. Their family and friends enjoyed it so much in fact, last year the Maryotts decided to share their tunnel with the entire community, and opened it to the public free of charge.
“We provide a good, clean, wholesome place for kids to come – where parents don’t have to worry about their kids getting hurt,” said Maryott. Last spring they put up a building that completely covers the tunnel, making the experience more enjoyable during the sometimes unfriendly Halloween weather. “We have a nice dry place to come to,” said Maryott. “Come and enjoy yourself and have some fun.
The Tunnel of Terror is at 7980 W. Diagonal Road, just off Highway 41, in Rathdrum. It will be open from Friday through Wednesday. Hours are 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Wednesday, ; and 6 to 8 p.m. on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.