Afton haunted house raising money for Equine Rescue Resource

AFTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – Spooky season activities are in full swing, and an Afton haunted house is preparing to open its doors on Friday.

Michael’s Mansion is in its second year. The haunted house is a collaboration between Halloween enthusiasts Wendy Hons-Washburn and Bobby Griswold.

The event is located at the Equine Rescue Resource farm and runs out of its horse barn.

There are 18 different themed rooms filled with props and decorations from Hons-Washburn and Griswold’s personal collection. There will also be real people in costume scaring guests throughout the barn.

Hons-Washburn has been a fan of Halloween since she was in kindergarten. She says the reactions from those in attendance are the best part of the event.

“This is great. I’ve always wanted to a haunted house and just never had the ability to do it or a place to do it. And I love Halloween. I want kids, young kids, to see it’s not really as scary as you think and to enjoy it. Lots of times it’s the adults that are more scared than the kids here,” said Hons-Washburn.

The haunted house is a fundraiser for Equine Rescue Resource.

The non-profit organization provides a safe haven for abused and neglected horses from across Upstate New York.

Colleen Segarra is President of the organization. She says they currently have 24 horses that they are nursing back to health.

Segarra says the program gives the horses an opportunity to relax and just enjoy life.

“Thankfully it’s not an everyday occurrence but sometimes we do get calls from law enforcement or SPCA’s and there are cruelty cases where horses have been really starved or neglected. Sometimes we can save them, sometimes we can’t. So, when they make progress, it just makes us so happy and it keeps us going,” said Segarra.

Segarra says the organization operates on support from the community.

Admission to Michael’s Mansion is free but donations to the Equine Rescue Resource are encouraged.

If you can’t attend the haunted house, donations can be made to equinerescueresource.com .

The event will be held at 557 County Route 26 in Afton.

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