Sentinel correspondent

MILROY — The woods of New Lancaster Valley have been silent or dormant except for hunters this time of year.

But this year, things have been different for the Halloween season as members and friends of New Lancaster Valley Fire Company brought back a spooky good fright.

That’s right. Norman’s Woods has been rejuvenated and returned to New Lancaster Valley after a 23-year hiatus. In 1992, then New Lancaster Valley Fire Co. President Norman Wert and his wife Carrie offered the fire company use of their wooded property just west of the firehouse on New Lancaster Valley Road for a haunted hayride/walk. The event brought in thousands of thrill seekers over the years until it was discontinued in 2002 due to Norman’s declining health and inability to help coordinate the effort.

Sentinel photo by SAM BAUMGARDNER A witch, portrayed by Paige Shaposky of Milroy, stirs her brew on Oct. 17 at New Lancaster Valley Fire Co.’s Norman’s Woods haunted walk/hayride in Milroy.

New Lancaster Valley Fire Co. Secretary and Norman’s Woods Committee Assistant Chairman Becky Seaholtz said that Norman and Carrie’s grandson, along with Norman’s Woods Committee Chairman Malachi Wert and other family members brought the idea to the firehouse earlier this year to bring back Norman’s Woods. The property is now owned by other members of the Wert family. The parties agreed that it was time to bring the haunted attraction back to the area.

Seaholtz said about 20 to 50 volunteers worked countless hours building various scenes and worked the event the past three weekends, with this weekend being the finale. She also said more than 1,000 patrons have made the trip to the valley to experience the haunting for $5 per person; children 5 and under receive free admission. Norman’s Woods will be open from dusk to 10 p.m. Friday and dusk to 11 p.m. Saturday with the first hay wagon leaving the firehouse just after dusk.

Seaholtz also reported that with the astonishing response to the reopening, several members are already discussing changes to be made to the trail. Some changes include utilizing another trail, additional changes to scenes and possibly an extension, adding additional talents to the roster for next year.

New Lancaster Valley Fire Co. is located at 3712 New Lancaster Valley Road, Milroy.

Sentinel photo by SAM BAUMGARDNER A jester portrayed by Bailey Armstrong, 15, of Milroy, performs as a scare actor at Norman’s Woods.

Sentinel photo by SAM BAUMGARDNER Art the clown, portrayed by Kai Khuns, 15, of Milroy, is all smiles alongside his ‘victim’ Brittany Shehan, of Milroy.