Outdoor fright trail scares up Halloween entertainment

Waiting under a large zipline tower the screams from the woods reverberate against the towering pines.   

The deemed Glacier Gallows fright trail near Columbia Falls takes advantage of the eeriness of a dense, dark forest that's chock-full of unexpected scares, spooky set designs and unsettling characters. For the first time this spooky season Glacier Zipline is offering a terrifyingly fun attraction for the community.   

“We usually shut down after tourism season ends, but we have all this wonderful property,” said Brandon Beard, president of Glacier Ziplines.   

The 20 minutes of terror takes place in 25 acres of wilderness, capitalizing on the dense shrubbery and looming trees with unexpected frights at every turn and leaves one thankful they “survived the Gallows,” reads a poster guests can take a picture in front of at the end.   

Whether to help calm the nerves while waiting to enter or if comfort food is needed after leaving, KJ’s Waffle House food truck plans to be stationed at the event every night it’s open.  

Leah McCormick is the mastermind behind the frightening feature, partnering with the Glacier Ziplines team who helped bring her vision to life. A self-taught special effects make-up artist of 10 years and Halloween enthusiast, this dream has been a long time coming.   

The premise of the haunt, created by McCormick, is about a cult named the Nite Stalkers, who go off-the-grid, terrifying the hallowed woods they reside in and getting into “some unsavory acts,” Beard said.   

“Your choices are basically that you either join them or you’re their dinner,” McCormick said.    

The consensus among many who survived the Nite Stalkers’ terrifying antics was that it was a great attraction with a plethora of frights.  

“I thought it was actually really fun,” said Gracee Buckley, 13, of Bigfork, who said she watched her dad get surprised by a jump scare.   

Jordan Holmes, 29, of Kalispell, had never been to a haunted attraction set in the woods and enjoyed how interactive the actors were. “You don’t know what’s around the corner,” he said.   

A haunted house junkie herself, Brittany Brown, 30, of Whitefish said “this was right up there” with others she’s been to. 

Others were glad that there was a fun activity to do in the off-season when businesses are either shutting down for the summer or have yet to open for the winter.  

“I like that they are trying to do something different here in the Flathead Valley,” said 20-year-old local Kaden Fredenberg.     

Because the attraction is in its infancy, there are still some kinks to work out, and McCormick said the trail would constantly be improving.  

“I’m probably going to annoy the actors, but I already rewrote everything for more jump scares,” she said. “I want this terrifying.”   

Beard and McCormick want the attraction to become a recurring event featuring a different story every year.  

“I’ve already written three other ideas that I want to use for the future,” McCormick said.     

Many of the actors hired to terrify customers came from Flathead Valley Community College and local high schools who already had a background in drama and theater, McCormick said.  

“We do have quite a handful of some really great theater and acting folks,” she said.  

Portions of the proceeds are going to the Flathead Food Bank and the Montana Veterans Home. Beard and McCormick are both part of military families and wanted “to make sure that people understand how much we appreciate being part of the community,” McCormick said.   

The event runs Thursday through Saturday throughout the month, with extended dates during the week of Halloween. Hours are 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. 

Community members can purchase discounted tickets at various locations, including all Super One grocery stores, Flathead Lake Alpine Coaster, Gunsight Saloon and Spirit Halloween, according to the release.   

The Glacier Gallows at Glacier Zipline is located at 7840 U.S. 2 East, Columbia Falls. For information and to purchase tickets visit www.glaciergallows.com.  

Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at junderhill@dailyinterlake.com and 406-758-4407. 

    Participants navigate a section of the Glacier Gallows Halloween experience at Glacier Ziplines on Wednesday, Oct. 2. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider