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Old Liberty Road next to Hustonville Haunted House has been closed since February, when a portion of the building collapsed on the road. (Ben Kleppinger / ben@theinteriorjournal.com / August 22, 2012) |
HUSTONVILLE — The head honcho of Hustonville Haunted House plans to re-open his spooky business for the upcoming Halloween season in a building across the street from his original location.
Paul Gray said he now expects to scare visitors in a former florist shop along Hustonville's Main Street.
A portion of the outer wall of Hustonville Haunted House collapsed in February, and the stretch of Old Liberty Road next to the business has remained closed due to safety concerns ever since.
Gray said he is being required by the city to get a structural engineer to certify that the building is safe before the road can be re-opened. In order to get such a certification, the entire building will have to be completely renovated, he said.
Gray said he does plan on eventually remodeling and saving the old haunted house building, but until he gets financing or saves up enough money he doesn't have the means to upgrade the building to the level required.
"I know that people are really upset, and I'm upset," he said. "I wish I could open up the road, I really do."
Gray said he's found it more difficult to get financing because of how the whole situation has been playing out. Banks don't want to give him money because they're unsure what's going to happen, he said.
Gray has been criticized by many in the city who dislike the road closure.
At the June city council meeting, Gray said he was tiring of the constant nastiness, including one time when his wife was "cussed out" by someone while she was at a Family Dollar.
"In a town of 300 people I'm getting more grief from 300 people than you'd get in a town of 30,000," he said.
