BETHLEHEM, Pa.— A locally owned and operated haunted house in Bethlehem is raising spirits for good causes this spooky season.
Back for its 10th year, Elmhurst Manor, 637 Elmhurst Ave., has a decidedly good mystery to accompany its haunting.
Tonight, Friday, Oct. 25, is the first of three haunted walk-through nights, when guests can stop by for free and walk a spooky maze winding through the backyard.
There will be creepy ghosts, doors that open on their own and much more.
"We just enjoy people enjoying Halloween."
"We just enjoy people enjoying Halloween," said Tony Cappellano, who with his wife, Chris, own and operate the attraction in their home.
The idea for a haunted house is a product of Chris Cappellano's love of Halloween.
"When the kids were little, I would always go out of my way to decorate the house and make it special for them," she said.
Then one day, her husband decided to help.
A carpenter by trade, he said he has always loved building things, and that eventually included Halloween props.
"I started decorating, and then I started YouTubing a little bit to see how others do it," he said. 'I thought that maybe I could do this, too."
Before the couple knew it, there was a corpse that sprung out of the ground, a demonic nun that is magnetically run, and a wispy ghost that darts in between trees.
All are intricately crafted by hand by Tony Cappellano.
"I think what we have here is super unique," he said.
Anything can happen at Elmhurst
Elmhurst Manor even has a backstory.
Some years ago, something went horribly, horribly wrong on Elmhurst Avenue.
Plagued by disdain for her husband Edward, young Evelyn plunged a pitchfork through his heart, dooming his soul to haunt the property forever.
"The story is designed to get into people's heads a bit."Elmhurst Manor owner Tony Cappellano
After the property was converted into a bed and breakfast, reports started coming out about guests going missing, the only inclination to their whereabouts being distant screams radiating from inside the property.
Is it Edward, perhaps, getting the last laugh? Or is it something sinister?
The stout-hearted have the opportunity to see for themselves this week.
They may even run into Evelyn or Edward.
"The story is designed to get into people's heads a bit," Tony Cappellano said. "We'll have people come up to us and be like 'Was this an actual bed n' breakfast?"
He winks and says, "Of course it was."
Boo-tiful way to give back
Elmhurst Manor has been open to the public for 10 years. What once attracted 25 visitors now attracts hundreds, with even more expected this year, the Cappellanos said.
"Each year, we try and make this bigger and better,"
"Each year, we try and make this bigger and better," Tony Cappellano said.
While waiting in line, folks may notice two donation boxes at the front of the property.
The Cappellanos have partnered with Allentown-based BattleBorne, a veterans' supportorganization, since the inception of their haunted house.
But this year they're tacking on an additional one: The Center for Animal Health and Welfare in Williams Township.
"That's where we got our dog, Macy," Chris Cappellano said, gesturing to a nearby lab mix sound asleep in her crate.
"This is something we love doing, and we know we have a big following. Why not use it to give back?" Tony Cappellano added.
"Our haunted house is free, but the donation box is there if you want to give."
You can learn more about Elmhurst Manor by visiting its Facebook page.
