Brantford’s haunted sanatorium

Hearts were pounding and throats were sore after a frightening event in Brantford Friday night. The haunted sanatorium has attracted hundreds of visitors since it opened. And as Cindy Csordas reports, it’s not only a fun and frightening experience, but it’s also one family’s way of giving back to their community.

Doug McArthur and his sons started their own little haunted house in their garage 9 years ago. Since then it’s become so big they’ve had to reach out to the community for sponsors and space.

They’re collecting donations to give to the United Way and Scouts Canada.

“Full scare? Awesome. Go through here, your guide will meet you at the door, alright?”

“It’s just kind of fun to get scared and you kind of wonder if it’ll be scary or cheesy. This one was kind of a good mix of both.”

“When I turned around the corner I just saw everyone screaming and I just thought what’s gonna happen?”

Doug McArthur: “It’s just a love of halloween. It’s been a family thing, love scaring people and it progressed from there. Thought why not reach out to the community to make it bigger and better and to put back into the community at the same time.”

The Brantford Sports Xcelerator Centre offered up it’s warehouse where the McArthurs put together this 8,000 square foot haunted sanitorium.

“It was just the fact of not knowing what’s around the corner when you go around there were a lot of corridors and sections.”

And with the option of full scare or not scare tours McArthur says it’s good for all ages.

“I’m at the age now where I’m not too old but I’m not young enough to not like to be scared.” Q: How old are you? “12.”

The haunted santioruium is located at 101 Wayne Gretzky Parkway in Brantford. Admission is $5 per person or $15 for a family of 5 or less. It runs from now until Halloween from 5pm until 9pm.