Free home-made haunt awaits Cynthianians

By Dave Pearce

Cory Smith remembers what it was like growing up in Cynthiana. He’s lived there his entire life. A few years ago, he decided to make Halloween come to life for today’s youngsters (and others alike) by making Halloween fun again in the village.

While realizing that not everyone has the luxury of paying high prices to go to the other Haunted Houses in the tri-state area, Smith has managed to do what it takes to make sure there is no admission charge for his display.

“I have been doing this since 2013,” Smith said. “I started out with a very small haunt in this community with like five kids. And now, around 170 to 250 people come through my haunt each year.”

Looking at it two weeks before Halloween, you would never guess what his yard turns into as it gets closer to Halloween. Pretty much all that was completed at the time of this interview was the entryway and the basic plastic pipe structure that holds this 120-foot structure that begins in his front yard and ends in his yard barn behind the home.

“It’s amazing to have this kind of thing in our little community,” Smith said. “It takes a lot of time to do this and I actually take vacation time to put this together for the community each year.”

But Smith doesn’t act alone. As members of the community have watched the haunt grow, several have offered their assistance to help with the annual project.

“My dad and my friends are now helping with the build itself,” he explained. “We make magic out of it, that’s for sure.”

This year he anticipates a two-night show at the haunt in his yard at 10252 Whiting Street in Cynthiana. But it’s not limited to Cynthiana residents. He expects a variety of people to help return the fun to Halloween.

“You’ll see a lot of jump-scares and a lot of things you don’t ordinarily see like murals, lighting you don’t usually see...it’s just very unique,”