Mohican Haunted Schoolhouse open for Halloween season
Fans line up at the door of Mohican Haunted Schoolhouse. The 2023 Halloween season will open Sept. 23 and run through Nov. 4. Visit www.mohicanhauntedschoolhouse.com for more information.
The spooky season may only come every fall, but for John and Florence Gepperth, it’s a year-long effort to get their haunt ready for eager fans.
The owners of Mohican Haunted Schoolhouse will kick off the 2023 Halloween season with new improvements.
“We’re literally working almost every day all year long so that it’s all different and pretty much changed from the previous years,” John Gepperth said.
The schoolhouse is open select nights each weekend from Sept. 23 through Nov. 4.
Hours are Sept. 23 and 30; Oct. 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 and 28; and Nov. 4 from 7-11 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 22 from 6-9 p.m.
General admission is $24 online and $30 at the door. The haunt offers a fast pass for $34 online and $40 at the door. Group rates for 15 or more are $21 per person, for purchase online only.
Mohican Haunted Schoolhouse was founded in 2016 as Lessons In Fear, giving the old Perrysville School a facelift. John and Florence Gepperth had conducted home haunts for years and had been looking for a permanent structure when they found the three-story building up for auction. They continue to update their passion project each year.
“It literally has different themed areas, and a lot of it doesn’t look like you’re going through a school building anymore,” John Gepperth said.
“The top floor is what I call old school,” Florence Gepperth said. “It has to do with your vampires, your werewolves, kind of your more classic horror. The middle floor (is) dealing with Texas Chainsaw Massacre, like your crazies, your phobias, that kind of thing. And then the basement is biomedical gone wrong.”
The walkthrough of the building is approximately 30 minutes with an extra scare waiting for haunt-goers after they exit.
Participants are spaced out, allowing each group to enjoy the rooms. A cue line allows for photos with the cast, which helps with the wait time. Afterward, guests can view the merchandise shop and concession snacks.
“This year we kind of focused on the outside area. The year before we worked on the main floor,” Florence Gepperth said. “Every year we try a little bit so it’s different.”
The final night is the haunt’s annual Heroes Night, dedicated to military/veterans and first responders. Past and present military, law enforcement, firefighters, paramedics/EMTs, nurses, doctors and other similar roles may purchase discounted $20 tickets at the door after showing a qualifying ID.
“We consider them all heroes, especially after COVID,” Florence Gepperth said. “There’s a lot of people out there that kept things going.”
A portion of Heroes Night ticket sales will go to Ashland County’s Shop with a Cop.
John and Florence Gepperth enjoy seeing their year-long efforts come together. Haunt-goers come from all over the state and neighboring states including Pennsylvania, Illinois and Michigan. Many are repeat customers, which encourages them to keep making the sets better each year.
“When they’re coming back, it makes you feel like we must be doing something right,” John Gepperth said.
For John Gepperth, building sets is like reimagining horror movies from childhood. It comes alive when the stage lighting, spooky sounds, fog machines and actors enter the scene.
“They all get put in and suddenly it’s all different,” he said. “It’s kind of like walking through a real horror movie.”
Mohican Haunted Schoolhouse is located at 155 W. Third St. in Perrysville. For more information visit www.mohicanhauntedschoolhouse.com.