The event was a popular fundraiser in the 1970s for the Jaycees, but eventually ended.
The City Council decided to resurrect the project to draw visitors into town, said Andrea Sherman, Ringgold tourism director.
“This is to assist our downtown merchants by bringing people into the community. Hopefully the visitors will spend some extra time eating in our restaurants and buying in our shops,” she said. “Several downtown merchants are planning on extended hours.”
Sherman said that the city and volunteers are preparing sets and props for the event.
Thanks to the efforts of Michael Berry and several of his friends, they are now mapping out the scares from one end of the building to the other.
Guests will enter from the former waiting room area and make their way to the opposite end of the building while getting a chance to scream all along the way.
What: Haunted Depot
Where: U.S. 41 and Depot Street
When: Oct. 18-20, Oct. 25-27, Oct. 29-31, from 7-11 p.m. each day.
Admission: $3 for adults, $2 for students
Volunteers are needed for actors, tickets, concessions and construction. For more information, call (706) 935-3061.
In the last few years Berry and his friends have decked out areas in the Mill Creek subdivision to thrill neighborhood children, but he said after one of his neighbors told him about the Depot project, they are now planning the move to Ringgold.
“We want to help the city of Ringgold have a good first year,” he said. “Being first year you’ve got to make it work. Ringgold is a nice little town. It will be cool to have something like this.”
Some of the frights will tie into the Civil War theme of the Depot.
“Once we get started, we will play Civil War along with a nightmare,” he said. “When people come to a haunted house they are looking to get that scream and be scared.”
The help of his friends and all the volunteers make the event possible, he said.
The city needs volunteers to assist with various duties during the event and the initial set up Oct. 14-17.
Other volunteers currently participating are Dan Wright, Andrea Sherman, Pam Green, Robert Burson, Jason Hall, Inez Higdon and Debbie King, all with Ringgold city government; Sam Tipton of Weeks and Peters Insurance; Susan Gibson of Shaw Industries; Millie Freed and Cindie Robinson of Uniktings; Ronal Graham; Tony Maracos; an actor who will film the event; and Angie Bridges, who will paint the sets.
Should any funds be raised through the event, Sherman said it’s likely the money will be reinvested into other city-sponsored events at the Depot.
Concessions available for sale at the event will include soft drinks and popcorn.
The city provided every school in the county with 50 free tickets to use as an incentive for its students.
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