Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Something stirs at the Brownfields cleanup site.
There’s a sound coming from the old fire station.
Leaves crackle outside city hall.
It’s been moved and seconded that the mayor be mummified.
The 11th Annual Haunted Palouse has arrived in Palouse.
With dozens of volunteers at work for the past month, the town aims to be ready for Friday’s opening night of the two-weekend happening.
This year will feature favorites like the two haunted buildings and Shady Lane — the haunted hayride — while new elements debut.
Dates will be Oct. 19-20 and Oct. 26-27 and hours of operation will be 7 to 10 p.m. each night.
New food vendors include Palouse Grange No. 177 serving Frito nachos while the FCCLA serves homemade cinnamon rolls, peanut butter cookies and cocoa.
The Xenodican club will offer hot cider and the Gar/Pal FFA will be close at hand with kettle corn.
Also new will be a photo booth and open restaurants, including Mimi’s Bakery and Bank Left Bistro all four nights, along with live music at the Green Frog each Friday night.
While food and drink will be available at varying prices, part of Haunted Palouse’s $15 admission (12 and older) includes fortune tellers in the Legion Hall.
Next door, the Roy Chatters printing museum will once again be haunted, with 25 volunteers working each night. At the old fire station, another 15-20 volunteers will aim to thrill.
“They’re awesome, I’m really tickled with them,” said volunteer Janet Barstow of the two haunted buildings.
Shady Lane will again be the site of hayrides for travelers on the dark road across the town’s south hill.
All told, Barstow said preparations are in the final phase for this year’s Haunted Palouse, a town-wide fundraiser benefitting several organizations.
“We’ve got things close, now we’re adding the details,” said Barstow. “I’m really pleased. Sure we like to make the money, but the other part of the joy in this is the community coming together to put this on. It makes me really proud of the town. You’re getting your money’s worth here, I have no qualms about that.”
One of those community members coming together is Mayor Michael Echanove, who is said to be in the thick of it for all four nights. Whether or not that includes mummification is unconfirmed.
“We’re getting ready to scare some people,” said Brad Loomis, a volunteer with the old firehouse and Shady Lane.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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