The newest attraction at Lake Winnie has fun for the entire family, whether you’re in the mood for something tame or terrorizing.
The Rossville amusement park has been transformed into a seasonal block party with decorations, costumed characters, seasonal music and even drinks that glow in the dark.
“The idea was that it be a mixture of haunted house and a big fall party,” said Allan Ledford, the creative mind behind Lake WinnepeSpookah. Ledford said he worked all summer with a dedicated team of Lake Winnie employees to develop this one-of-a-kind fall celebration.
The Ghoul Market is located at the park entrance. This cluster of tents holds temporary-tattoo artists, face painters, street performers and fortune tellers. Have your photo made at the haunted photo shop and see what surprises develop.
“There is all kinds of music,” said Ledford.
For example, just Halloween music plays over park speakers. Every 30 minutes, the “Monster Mash” comes on and all park employees will stop what they’re doing to do the “Monster Mash” dance. Visitors will be invited to join in.
IF YOU GO* What: Lake WinnepeSpookah.* When: 6-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 30.* Where: Lake Winnepesaukah, 1730 Lakeview Drive, Rossville.* Admission: Included in $22 park entry fee.* Phone: 706-866-5681.* Website: lakewinnie.com.
“There is a ‘Thriller’ parade down the main walkway of the park on the hour to the Michael Jackson music,” said Ledford.
The parade is led by dancers followed by costumed goblins and ghouls, all doing the “Thriller” dance while throwing out candy to the crowd. Center for Creative Arts student Damon Gillespie taught these revelers the “Thriller” dance and other choreography, Ledford said.
Rides have been divided into three levels of chills and thrills from the tame to those not for the timid: pumpkins for nonscary, ghosts for the moderately scary and skulls for the thrill rides.
The latter includes a haunted train and frightful park castle.
Ledford said the no-scare zone for small children includes happy costumed characters, a prince and princess, street performers, a place for children to make Halloween art, carve pumpkins or sing along with pumpkin carols.
The scarier features all center around the Legend of Wet Winnie.
“Wet Winnie is the ghost of a young girl who is said to have lived on the property before it was a park,” said Ledford. Legend has it that Winnie died there and her body was found at the bottom of the lake.
“The boat chute was scary enough at noon in the daylight, but now it’s really got a lot of paranormal things that happen in it,” Ledford teased.