Just some of the attractions and scares set up at the Purk Family Haunted Mill. PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

When you hear that blood-curdling scream that rips through the night air, giving you goosebumps under the full moon, don’t worry, that’s just The Haunted Mill. The newest seasonal attraction to come to Tama and to put a look of horror on your face.

Kelly Purk and her family have been haunting local residents for years. This will be the family’s fifth year hosting a haunt, and they are stepping it up a notch. Bigger and more horrifying than ever, the haunt is now located at the old Tama paper mill. Kelly spoke about how all this came to be, saying, “I was approached by the city Mayor and asked if I would be interested in providing my haunt in coordination with the annual city Hayride at the Paper Mill. I looked at the space and talked with my family, and we all decided we would give it a go. Also, we usually provide the haunt in our yard at our own cost, as we love Halloween so much and have been trying to give the community something fun to do. This year’s haunt, due to its scale, has been made possible only with the assistance of multiple local businesses, which have all chipped in with different donations, all helping my family make this a possibility.”

It was during the pandemic that Kelly started frightening locals and jumping out from behind corners. “I love Halloween, it is my favorite holiday. I started our walkthrough during COVID as we had no trick-or-treaters anymore, and I was just trying to provide a fun experience, and it grew bigger each year from there,” Kelly stated.

The whole project is enjoyable to Kelly, but it is the frightened and delighted expressions of everyone experiencing her haunt that makes it worth it. Kelly has said that she, along with her newfound friends and volunteers, are some of the biggest Halloween fans out there. “I find joy in the screams of all ages and hear them walk through together, having so much fun.”

The Haunted Mill hasn’t been an easy project, but one that has taken a lot of hard work. The Purk family and friends have been toiling away for two months, constructing and setting up the entire haunt for maximum scares. And if all goes well, they hope to make this a yearly thing. “If our turnout is good this year, I would be interested in continuing the venture with hopes of providing an entire Halloween season next year,” Kelly said.

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Although Kelly and her family are the driving force behind the Haunted Mill, it is a team effort to horrify the town. Approximately 20 unpaid volunteers who love scaring as much as Kelly herself have pitched in to make this project a success. These volunteers don’t do it for money or glory; they do it for the love of the scream.

The Purk Family Haunted Mill will be open and frightening on October 24, 25, and 31. So, if you want to be frightened beyond belief or just want something fun to do this Halloween, go down and see how it is. Give it a walk-through. Try not to scream, I dare ya.

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