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Friday, Oct. 23, 2009

F.E.A.R.-ing the Spirits in October can be family fun

President Franklin D. Roosevelt tried to warn the country in 1933: “The only thing we have to fear is F.E.A.R. itself.”

Now, 76 years later, the Federal Examination and Research (F.E.A.R.) Institute, founded by Dr. Will D. Vour, is open for business in downtown Macon. And the business is scaring Middle Georgians.

Troy Delee, the founder of Underworld Macon, portrays Dr. D. Vour in this year’s Grave Intentions and Underworld haunted house, which has moved to a new location, The Silver Building, 450 Third St.

“We wouldn’t have made it in if it weren’t for Piedmont Construction Group. We’ve gone to 12,000 square feet from 4,000,” Delee said.

“We have 35 scare zones, and we’ve had a better response than I thought we would with the move.”

Proceeds from the haunted house benefit the Cox Capitol Theatre Foundation, Delee added, and theatre executive director Julie Wilkerson said the thrills and chills are definitely real.

“It is scary — and I went through with the lights on,” she said, laughing.

While Wilkerson said she loved working with Underworld, she added that the theater is a proud partner of Spirits in October as well.

“They are so different, and we are glad to be part of both events,” she said.

Spirits in October has two components: walking tours of Riverside Cemetery and trolley tours that encompass both the cemetery and historic buildings in downtown Macon. The walking tours take about 45 minutes of strolling through the cemetery, where visitors are met by costumed re-enactors portraying some of the people buried there.

“Some were important to the city’s history; some are just an interesting story, like Mabel White, who was portrayed last year. Many people have heard of the church named after her, but not many know she died when she was just 13 years old,” Wilkerson said.

Neither the walking nor trolley tours are scary, she said, but are full of historical information about Macon. The trolley tours fill up quickly, and Wilkerson recommends reservations.

For more information on The F.E.A.R. Institute or tours, visit www.coxcapitoltheatre.com.

Another option for Middle Georgians this Halloween can be found at the Old Slaughter House in Montrose. Haunted Montrose includes not only the slaughterhouse, but also The Graveyard, The Dark Maze and The Haunted Corn, according to www.hauntedmontrose.com.