MILL HALL — During the month of October, more people are in the mood for eeks, shrieks and screams. Spook Haven Haunted House, 100 Danis St., has been scaring local residents in the area since 2007 and is open this season until Oct. 28, running Fridays and Saturdays, said Heather Peters Bilbay, owner of Spook Haven Haunted House and “a realtor by day and a haunter by night.”

Spook Haven “is a walk-through attraction,” Bilbay said. “Our simulated haunted house has live actors, animatronics and lots of props.”

2018 is Spook Haven’s 12th season with two walk-through attractions this year, one being the new Whisper Creek Manor and 6 Feet Under, a comeback from 2017’s scare season, Bilbay said.

At Whisper Creek Manor, King Soloman and Queen Sheba have risen from their graves after being pushed up by the rains, Bilbay said. Germo, a popular character, returns to battle King Soloman, or “King Sally,” as they likes to call him, to determine who will take the throne.

Through 6 Feet Under, people get to walk through their funeral and decide how they will cross over, Bilbay said. Will you go to heaven or hell? It’s up to you.

Next year, Bilbay hopes they will be able to open a third attraction, she said. But hosting a haunted house attraction requires a lot of “blood, sweat and fears.”

There is a year-round building crew that puts together the attractions and has themes planned prior, gathering the needed props to put it all together, Bilbay said. Planning some themes for a haunted house can take anywhere two to five years even.

For three years, Spook Haven has been planning to make their third floor into “Carn-evil” but hasn’t been able to open it yet, she said. Bilbay has a big vision for “Carn-evil” and will cost about $80,000. Spook Haven plans to delay the opening until it is perfect.

Though the people that are setting up Spook Haven often are tired by September, the true fun begins on opening night when all the hard work pays off, Bilbay said.

“Every year adds many memorable moments, but my favorite is watching our team grow and grow up,” Bilbay said. “We give people a place to go and become someone that they create and honestly relieve some stress while they scare the crap out of customers.”

Spook Haven helps fundraise for organizations, Bilbay said. One of Spook Haven’s actors, Charlie, is holding her senior project at the haunted house this year and proceeds will go to a Central Mountain High School organization of her choice.

In addition to loving the team camaraderie at Spook Haven, Bibay loves getting feedback from the customers about what they could incorporate into attractions, or even future attractions, she said.

In 2007, the attraction opened in Castanea before moving to Mill Hall seven years ago, Bilbay said. Originally, Bilbay hosted a Halloween party for her children and people, and herself, loved the event.

From 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 27, Spook Haven offers a Behind the Scenes walk-through to see the details and intricacies of a haunted house, Bilbay said. 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Oct. 25, Spook Haven Haunted House offers student, military and a public service volunteer night. On their last day of the haunted season, there will be “Lights Out,” on Oct. 28, where you can walk-through with “a glow stick per group.’

“My thought on Halloween is that the character chosen is who the person is feeling like in the moment. If it’s a scary character, funny … That is how a person is feeling this Halloween season,” Bilbay said. Scaring people is “an adrenaline rush for some, a stress relief for many.”

Spook Haven is licensed in Pennsylvania as an amusement ride, Bilbay said. For more information about events, pricing and tickets, visit www.spookhaven.com.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Spook Haven Haunted House, 100 Danis St., Mill Hall, is open for their 12th scare season and runs till Oct. 28 on Fridays and Saturdays. Pictured is the attraction 6 Feet Under.