Haunted houses, museums and barns

David Polson haunts Miracle of America Museum

• When: Thursday, Oct. 27, 6 p.m.
• Where: 36094 Memory Lane, Polson
• Cost: Free

Two ghosts with familiar names will haunt the Miracle of America Museum tonight, and the duo will have a unique perspective about life in Polson as two of the city’s earliest inhabitants.

Polson’s namesake David Polson and his daughter Agnes will roam the museum and talk with other guests about their life as pioneer ranchers on the southern shores of Flathead Lake in the late 1800s.

After meeting in the museum, the Polsons will walk with the friends they meet along a downtown photograph alley to talk about the difference of Polson today compared to their life in the city. Some of the early day photographs date back to before 1910 — and where there’s gaps, the Polsons will share some details.

Gil Mangels with the museum said the night will be fun for guests of all ages.

“This makes history come alive, as a native explains what was here compared to what we see here today,” Mangels said.

He said this will be the second time Polson visits the museum, but the first time his daughter will join the event.

The free night at the museum will start at 6 p.m. Mangles said guests are encouraged to bring a family heirloom or early photographs to share.

For more information, visit www.miracleofamericamuseum.org or call 406-883-6804.

Haunted House

• When: Friday, Oct. 28, and Saturday, Oct. 29, 6 to 9 p.m.
• Where: Lake View Care Center, 1050 Grand Drive, Bigfork
• Cost: Suggested donation

The old storage basement at the Lake View Care Center will be open to the public Friday and Saturday night for locals to meet the ghosts who live beneath the building.

Tammy Sciaretta with the Lake View Care Center said the haunted path will take those brave enough through an unwelcoming butcher shop, a glowing cemetery, the bedroom of someone with an unfortunate tale and the scene of a murder. In another room, a cage will allow guests to see a confined animal — that may or may not break out of its confines. Another room will give a glimpse into life in a haunted hospital.

Guests will follow the dark path with a guide close by.

Creatures could be hiding beneath beds, within coffins, around the corner or simply following those strangers who decide to enter their basement.

Jasmine Morales with the center said the trial had a scare level of, “way spooky to super duper spooky.”

Though parents make the final decision, Morales said the path has a suggested age of 10 years old and older.

All donations from the night will go toward Bigfork High School’s non-funded sports.

For more information, call 406-837-5041.

Haunted Trail and Haunted Barn

• When: Oct. 28, 29, and 31, 7 to 10 p.m.
• Where: Fritz Corn Maze on Birch Grove Road East, off of U.S. 2. (1 mile South of the Glacier International Airport, between Kalispell and Columbia Falls)
• Cost: $7 per person

Over the weekend, those interested in rubbing shoulders with zombies, werewolves, and the translucent can drive to the Fritz cornfields on the edge of Kalispell.

Chris Fritz said this is the 10th anniversary of the Fritz Haunted Trail.

“Every year we’ve tweaked it a bit to make sure there are surprises at each station, even for those who have been here before,” Fritz said.

Fritz said while it is a family event, parents may want to consider leaving small children out of the trail festivities.

Haunted Trail participants will follow a loop in the cornfield that takes them through alternate worlds where the living meet the dead, mysterious and dangerous. The creatures will take over stations throughout the field and leave participants wondering what could be hiding in the stalks.

For those who want a different type of haunting, they can head to the old barn at the edge of the field. The twisted barn path is shorter than the field with a 5-minute tour. But its spooky characters rotate roles and positions throughout the night, insuring no matter how many times a participant enters the wooden barn, they’re stepping into a new version of the haunted story.

For more information, visit www.fritzcornmaze.weebly.com or call 406-755-4210.

Haunted Pirate Ship Halloween Party

• When: Saturday, Oct. 29 — Lounge will open at 5 p.m. and live music will kick off at 8 p.m.
• Where: Marina Cay, 180 Vista Lane, Bigfork
• Cost: The party is free, with food and drinks available for purchase.

This Saturday, the upstairs dining room and lounge at Marina Cay will be transformed into a ship deck, welcome to skeletons and adults looking to celebrate Halloween in haunted-pirate style.

The very first Marina Cay Haunted Pirate Ship Halloween Party will include prizes for the best costumes, photos with the ship’s skeleton, and live music by Billy Angel.

Marina Cay Manager Rebekah King said while the event will have a spooky touch, it will be a fun place to socialize with other Halloween lovers.

“When you first walk in, you’ll see a giant ship mast with a lightning machine, there will be a coffin for photos … it will be a different type of night at Marina Cay,” she said.

The Lounge opens at 5 p.m. for cocktails and there will also be food to order off the Tiki menu along with additional food specials.

For more information, visit www.marinacay.com or call 406-837-5861.

“Freak Show” Haunted House

• When: Saturday, Oct. 29, 7 p.m.
• Where: Dream Dancers Dance Studio, 150 Kelly Road, Kalispell
• Cost: Adults $5, 12 years old and younger $3

For the second year in a row, a unique crew of artists will take over Dream Dancers Dance Studio for a freak show-themed haunted house on Saturday night.

The studio’s light walls will grow dark Saturday night as people filter into the path that twists and turns around little dancers playing the role of the type of strangers parents instruct their kids to avoid.

Those who just want to walk through the trail without getting scared will be handed a glow stick at the door and have access to the bright costumes without concern of what comes next. For those who like a thrill, the time of the journey will depend on how reluctant they are to walk toward the next corner where they know another surprise is waiting.

The money raised from the event will go toward competition season for the dancers. Cookies and hot drinks will be available for purchase as people wait for their turn in the haunted house.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/Dream-Dancers-Dance-Studio-282901335182642/ or call 406-253-8847.