The Franklin Favorite from Franklin, Kentucky • B1

FRANKLIN FAVORITE, Thursday, October 3, 201 3 B1 pooks galore Octagon's haunted Halloween Hall kicks off Halloween season BYAMMI BRANNAN ith the crisp October weather, the much Photos by Ammi Brannan Left: Octagon Hall, located on Highway 31-W just north of Franklin, was built by Jackson Caldwell. The Hall served both sides during the Civil War, even serving as a hospital for Confederate soldiers. Above: Octagon Hall owner Billy Byrd points out the newest discovery, a hiding hole that was hidden under a cabinet's false bottom. "We won't do too much to spook you in the house. But once you are in the barn, you are During a tour of the house, you will see not only the Civil War artifacts and living quarters that Andrew Jackson Caldwell leads out to the barn.

Outside the hall, during the Haunted Hall event, guests will be greeted by zombies, ghouls, vampires anticipated annual "spookfest" at Franklin's Octagon Hall has arrived. Festivities will begin at dark on Friday, Oct. 4, and run every Friday and Saturday night through Oct. 26. Visitors can tour the eight-sided edifice by candle light and then wander out to the 2 cemeteries and barn, which will be set up as a maze.

"We won't do too much to spook you in the house," says executive director Billy Byrd, who says they'll leave that to the spirits who roam the halls. "But once you are in the barn, you are fair game." The Octagon Hall has been featured on many cable programs for the reported hauntings that occur there regularly. In fact, there are over 150 teams who investigate paranormal activities at the home regularly. You might check out your local listings around January (hint, hint) to see what those teams have found. One of the long-time resident ghosts is a little girl named Mary, who, at the age of six in 1853, got too close to the fire in the basement kitchen, catching her dress on fire, and passed away from the extensive burns.

In her bedroom is a portrait of her taken during her short life, as well as a picture of her spirit playing with her toys on her bed. Another frequently spotted (or fair garvie Billy Byrd and corpses-all of the traditional halloween fare. "A lot of places do haunted houses for Halloween, but we've got the real deal mixed in here," Byrd painstakingly built for his family from 1847 to 1859, you will also get a look at the recently discovered hiding holes throughout the house. These places are where Confederate soldiers hid while Union soldiers occupied the house. One of the most recent discoveries, A frequently spotted (or heard) haunter is thought to be a confederate soldier who died in a crawl space, where he was hiding from Union soldiers, after bleeding out from a gunshot wound to the leg.

heard) haunter is thought to be a confederate soldier who died in a crawl space, where he was hiding from Union soldiers, after bleeding out from a gunshot wound to the leg. But these are not the only other-worldly occupants of the Octagon Hall. The Byrd brothers, Billy and Barry, installed security cameras when they purchased the hall in 2001 to help dissuade intruders from entering the building during non-tour hours. They did not expect to capture images of what they believe to be are spirits. As you tour the home, you will see photographs on the walls; images of figures that have been caught by the security cameras and infrared imaging equipment that was brought on site later executive director, Octagon Hall former Vice President of United States and Governor of Confederate Kentucky.

In more recent years, as "ghost hunter" programming has become popular on television, many famous people have visited and toured the house. Their photographs are displayed in the main hallway downstairs. Additionally, Octagon Hall has been called one of the most terrifying places in America by the Volunteer State Paranormal Research Center. Admission to the Octagon Hall "Haunted Hall" is $10 per person. Regular tours are conducted Wednesday during paranormal activity investigations.

"We believe that some of the ghosts were brought in here by the artifacts that have come in (from other places) Byrd admits. Throughout its history, the Octagon Hall has had its fair share of glory and attention. During the Civil War it was a hospital for Confederate soldiers (Caldwell was a staunch Confederate supporter) a resting place for Union soldiers, and accommodated the likes of General Breckenridge, through Saturday from 9 and p.m., and by special appointment. For more information made about a year ago, is in the basement kitchen cupboard, where a false bottom was removed, revealing a tunnel that call (270) 791-0071. Kentucky state parks roll out Halloween events in October into the park.

Contact Jamie Avery at 270-646-2151, ext. 2415 or at jamie.averyky.gov. Spooktacular Weekend, Oct. 19, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.: Have a spooktacular weekend at Barren River, where ghosts and goblins take over the campground.

There will be costume contests, pumpkin roll contests, trick-or-treating and other activities for children. Campers: Don forget to bring candy for trick-or-treat-ing. For information, call Jamie Avery at 1-800-325-0057. Big Bone Lick State Historic Site, Union Ghost Hunt, Oct. 5-6, 8 p.m.

to 1 a.m.; Oct. 26-27, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.: Join the Tri-State Shadow Chasers for a night of paranormal investigating at Big Bone Lick State Historic Site. Learn the various ins and outs of ghost hunting; get familiar with some commonly used equipment during a live investigation. While on the investigation, you will learn about the history of this famous location.

Areas that will be investigated include: the general park grounds, the Big Bone Methodist Church that was built in 1888, and the Baker cemetery. Please bring a digital camera if you have one. Registration required. Cost: $20 per person. Ghosts of Big Bone, Oct.

24, p.m.: Big Bone Lick's history has been laced with death and intrigue throughout the centuries. Come to Big Bone's historic, and some say haunted, Methodist Church to hear stories of Big Bone's past and learn of the paranormal evidence recorded. Tickets are $5 and all proceeds benefit the Friends of Big Bone. Parental guidance is recommended. Please register by calling 859-689-5631.

Carter Caves State Resort Park, Olive Hill Carter Caves Haunted FRANKFORT It's time to get out the pumpkins and goblin decorations at Kentucky State Parks as they prepare for one of the most popular times of the year-Halloween. Many of the park system campgrounds will be having special activities for campers, including decorations, costumes, hayrides and games for the kids. Resort parks, recreation parks and historic sites will also have special events during October, a great time to be outside with family and friends. Parents of young children should check in advance as some parks have age recommendations for their events. Many state resort parks have inexpensive rates for lodge rooms and cottages during the fall.

Resort parks also have excellent restaurants with your favorite meals. State parks have trails, playgrounds and plenty of wildlife viewing areas and fall color that make for excellent family outings. For more information about state park events or to make lodging or camping reservations, visit www.parks. ky.gov or call your favorite park. Here is the list of Kentucky State Park Halloween events: Barren River Lake State Resort Park, Lucas Trail of Scarecrows, Oct.

1-31: Scarecrows will be hanging around the park starting Oct. 1. We invite everyone to visit the park and view the Trail of Scarecrows free of charge, through Oct. 31. Pick your favorite and come in to the lodge to vote for it in the Driftwood Restaurant.

The scarecrows, along with laminated signs indicating the names and builders, will be placed along the paved trail throughout the park for visitors to see as they hike or bike. A section of trail is also visible along the park road, and visitors will be able to see some of them on their drive include the Haunted Tracks of Terror on a small train and glow-in-the-dark 18-hole mini-golf from 7-11 p.m. There will be a fee for these events. Local Girl Scouts will also host several events during the day and evening. The Friends of Butler will hold a paranormal investigation by S.E.RI.O.U.S.

Investigation Team from Louisville at the Butler-Turpin State Historic House on Fridays only 9 p.m. to midnight. On Saturdays only, there will be evening tours of the historic home and cemetery 9 p.m. to midnight. Call 1-866-462-8853 for information.

The park will host the Zombie Run 5K on Oct. 26 at 4 p.m. This event, sponsored by the Carroll County High School soccer program, has a registration fee of $25 if you register before Oct. 12. Call 502-297-2745 or email for information.

John James Audubon State Park, Henderson Audubon Spooktacular, Oct. 26, 1-4 p.m.: Bring your little goblins and enjoy a day of Halloween fun with reptile presentations, costume contest, hayride, cornhusk dolls, touch boxes and trick-or-treating! See the festively decorated campsite winners. Book your own campsite at ReserveAmerica, 888-459-7275. Event cost is $2 per person. Children 3 and under are free.

Old Fort Harrod State Park, Harrodsburg Haunted Frontier, Oct. 25-27 and Nov. 1, 7-10 p.m.: A haunted house 239 years in the making: Enter the historic fort in the dark evening hours in the Halloween season. Experience a mix of pioneer scares in the fort and modern scares in the theater complex. (Not recommended for the weak of heart or the young.) Old Mulkey State Historic Site, Tompkinsville Halloween in the Park, Oct.

12, 5:30 p.m.: Ghosts and goblins of every description will join the fun as Halloween invades the park! Enjoy various crafts, games and even a haunted trail. Dress your pet in costume and let it join the costume parade for children (through age 12) Bring your prepared jack-o -lantern for the pumpkin contests, with lots of prizes. The fee is $5 per person, which includes a hot dog dinner. Registration required by Oct. 9.

Ghost Hunting in the Park, Oct. 26, p.m.: Interested in paranormal investigating? Then you 11 want to join Old Mulkey State Historic Site as it partners with Death Valley Paranormal Society for Ghost Hunting in the Park. The evening will begin with an introduction to paranormal investigating. Then we 11 share some ghost stories before performing an investigation of the park grounds. Participants must be 18 years of age.

Limited to 30 participants. Preregistra-tion is required. Cost is $20 per person. Call the park for a registration form at 270-487-8481. Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park, Dawson Springs Spooky Extravaganza, Oct.

25-27: The weekend will feature events for lodge and cottage guests as well as campers. The weekend will begin with a showing of Hocus Pocus in the park lodge meeting room at 8 p.m. on Oct. 25 with free popcorn. Other programs include a campsite decorating contest, a costume contest for children and adults, a pumpkin carving contest, and Halloween arts and crafts.

Trick-or-treating at the lodge and campground will be at 4 p.m. Oct. 26. At 8 p.m. Saturday, the park will show Hotel Transylvania (PG) in the lodge meeting room.

Free popcorn. Trail, Oct. 11-12 and Oct. 18-19, p.m.: If you dare, come and take the walk through our -mile wooded trail, and experience thrilling scenes and haunts that will have you shivering with fear! Our past trail survivors consider Carter Caves Haunted Trail one of the best haunted attractions in the region. Admission is $8 per person.

Concessions will be available at the beginning of the trail. Not recommended for young children. Transportation to and from the trailhead will be provided by the park. Ticket sales are each event night from p.m. at the Carter Caves public pool.

Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park, Burkesville Halloween Campground, Oct. 25-26: Games, snacks and ghost stories Friday from 3-8 p.m. On Saturday, trick-or-treat-ing will be at 3 p.m. in the campground and hayrides will be offered from 4-10 p.m. for $3 a person.

There will be a costume contest at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the lodge. Hayride and costume events are open to the public. The campsite decorating contest will be at 8 p.m. on Saturday.

Call 1-270-433-7431. Fort Boonesborough State Park, Richmond Halloween Fest Lights Drive Through, Sept. 27-Oct. 26: Enjoy the lights, sounds and scares of over 1.5 miles of Halloween lights and displays from your car. Play pirate miniature golf with Halloween music and thousands of lights.

Concessions and snacks available. General Butler State Resort Park, Carrollton Halloween Weekends, Oct. 18-20 and Oct. 25-27: General Butler State Resort Park will host several Halloween events over two weekends. They.