Ginger Andersen of Merrifield enjoyed a spooky time time with her grandkids Lily and Isaac before the Haunter Hayride - photo by Paul Boblett

Marge Wheeler, Marlene Steghorn, Tina Carlson, Sandra and Becky Couet and Darlene Roach volunteered by serving food at the event. -photo by Paul Boblett

2009 Haunted Hayride site winners the “Guillotine Gals” (the family and friends of Mission firefighter Danny Dik)

Ethan and Jeremy Millsop of Deerwood waited to ride the Trail of Terror last Saturday in Mission Park. - photo by Paul Boblett

The 6th Annual Haunted Hayride was held on a cold and wet Saturday, October 24th in Mission Park.

A fundraiser for the Mission Township Volunteer Fire Department, the annual event last year drew over 1200 thrill seekers who enjoyed a chilling hayride through the park’s wooded areas.

Mission volunteer firefighters had set up several scary scenes with props designed to chill even a veteran haunted house visitor.

In addition to the Trail of Terror hayride, younger kids enjoyed the Terror Alley indoor maze before the trail rides began.

Area businesses sponsored scary sites and the first three places received trophies. The winner also receives a traveling plaque.

This year’s site winners were: the Guillotine Gals (the Dik family and friends); in second place was Kelly Roach; third place went to North Ambulance and in fourth was Jim’s Camper Sales of Brainerd.

Organizers Randy Roach and Valerie Myhre said the numbers were down this year due to the weather but that people coming off the trail were very impressed with the number of thrills they experienced.

Roach was very happy with the turnout despite the weather, "It just gets better every year, and we had over 800 people come through on a cold rainy night."

Besides all the sites designed by the fire department and area businesses, there were dozens of area residents who volunteered for the event. They wandered the trails at the ready to spook the riders in creative ways.

In addition to the trail rides, there was great food from the grill, a bonfire and entertainment by DJ Joel Smith. The Over the Hills Gang ATV Club of Outing volunteered their services to haul the riders who enjoyed every minute spine-tingling minute of the ride.