The Haunted Greenhouse pirate room

By Lisa Parent

Local haunted houses unleash terrifying fun

Oct 19, 2023 | 5:27 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – If you’re a fan of scary movies and skin-crawling ghost stories, you’ll be a fan of the haunted houses popping up around the city this October.

The Silver Buckle Haunted House opens Friday, and is in their 25th year of the scaring business. Devon Potvin is the owner, and says they’ve made big expansions.

“This one’s special for us just with how much festive fun we do. I think everybody gets into it,” says Potvin. “When you’re sitting in the buckle having a steak sandwich, you can hear screams from the basement. It gets everybody in the mood pretty easily.”

The Buckle isn’t the only one who’s made changes this year. A few minute drive away, lays a brand new 60 foot haunted mine shaft, in the Bounce of Fun Haunted House. Bart Chase and his team started building it in May.

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“There’s a lot of things happening in the mine shaft. It could cave in, you might get wet, dynamite might explode, lots of stuff going on,” explains Chase.

Located further north, Redcliff is once again boasting not one, but two haunted houses.

In its fourth year of operation, The Haunted Greenhouse continues to introduce new themes, with this year featuring a swamp as the latest addition. Co-owner Julie Lagasse says many parts of it are homemade with attention to detail.

“It is enjoyable for everyone. If you want to be scared, you’re gonna be scared,” says Lagasse. “We will make sure that if you come, you are going to have the best time ever and want to come back,” says Lagasse.

Another greenhouse haunting can be found a few blocks down, a setup in support of the Redcliff Youth Centre and Root Cellar. Janae Ulrich helps design this house every year.

“Glass House Haunting, we definitely want to incorporate families,” says Janae Ulrich, executive director of the Redcliff Youth Center. “We do have some of our registered youth that are in the Haunted House that are scaring.”

The Medicine Hat Kinsmen Club and Suntaira Growers Greenhouse support this haunted house, relying on many volunteers to keep it running smoothly.

While each house has it’s own quirks and themes, one thing is for sure. If you’re planning on going to one, be prepared to scream.

“We’ve had five year olds that are literally like ‘nothing scares me’ and they’re ready to go. Then we’ve had adults that dropped to the floor when they get into the first room,” laughs Laggase

“Screaming and running, like turned around, didn’t go through it. Screaming and running out of here,” says Potvin, regarding peoples reactions to their haunted house.

“We had three guys last Friday that peed their pants,” says Chase.

Location and Hours of Operation:

The Silver Buckle Haunted House *Matinees available for kids

Located: The Silver Buckle Sports Bar

Open: October 20, 21, 27, 28, 31

Bounce of Fun Haunted House *Matinees available

Located: 821 Industrial Ave (Across from Medalta)

Open: October 14, 21, 28, 29

The Haunted Greenhouse

Located: 305 2nd Street SW, Redcliff AB

Open: October 13 – 31

Glass House Haunting

Located: 332 4th Street SW, Redcliff AB

Open: October 13 – 31, 2023