If ghoulish frights and tasty delights are your thing, the Gothenburg Community Playhouse/Sun Theatre has an event that is sure to be right up your alley. The haunted trail is back - and with a new location and a new name, it promises to be even bigger and better than ever.

In 2021, theatre Manager Jessie Hruza came up with a new idea for a fundraiser. Actually, Hruza said it wasn’t so much a new idea as a resurrected one.

“The theatre used to do a haunted house, so we already had a lot of stuff to do that,” Hruza explained She said back then they would take all the seats out of the theatre and have the haunted house right there, but that seemed like a whole lot of work. So she began looking for a venue to host the spooktacular event, and JD Smith was kind enough to offer the grounds of the Sod House Museum. Located on the edge of town and flanked by a wooded area, it was an ideal location - and the Sod Witch Trail was launched.

The property also includes a sod house, which will very soon be undergoing some much-needed renovation. Therefore, Hruza and her team began the hunt for a new location for the haunted trail.

The land previously owned by the late Stephen Potter has been affectionately known as Potter’s Pond for many years. Now owned by John and Becky Hecox, the couple was more than happy to share the space for the theatre fundraiser.

“Because the area is so big, we are just going to have guests purchase tickets at Blake’s Fast Fuel and then we will trolly them over to the trail,” Hruza explained. “He was courteous enough to allow us to use his parking space, and then we are borrowing a couple of trams from Bayer that we will shuttle people in and out on. That just kind of gives another little addition to the adventure.”

Since its inaugural year, the haunted trail - this year named The Phantom Trail - has grown a lot. “It has been a really fun experience,” Hruza added.

With this year’s site having so much more space than their previous venue, the team is working on putting together more scare stations. That also means even more volunteers are needed to help man those stations. “The more scary people the better, right?” Hruza said with a slight smile.

The idea for the fundraiser was born from Hruza’s own love of haunted houses and trails. “My family goes to all the haunted houses and places in Omaha and around here, and we love it! We have done it every single year - it’s just fun,” Hruza said. “And having this right off the Interstate is just going to be so convenient for people.”

Potter’s Pond is located on Highway 47 (1102 S Lake Avenue), just across the highway east of Blake’s Fast Fuel. Hruza said the theatre board has a few projects in mind that they would like to use the funds from The Phantom Trail for, including a new microphone system for plays, remodeling the basement, and replacing the seats in the auditorium.

The theatre did not host a haunted trail in 2024, and Hruza is excited that The Phantom Trail will be returning this October. Dates for the trail are Oct. 23-26, and Oct. 30-31. The hours are 7:30 - 10 p.m. on Thursdays and Sundays, and 7:30 - 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. A kids' scare for the younger ones will be offered on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 5 - 6:30 p.m.

“There won’t be anybody jumping out scaring them and it is still light out, so it just gives the kids an opportunity to see it and be a part of it,” Hruza explained about the kids’ scare.

There will also be some concessions available on the grounds, including Dipp’d by Della candied apples, hot chocolate, apple cider, hot dogs and chips, and s’mores around the fire pits. There will also be an outdoor PG13 scary movie playing.

Tickets are just $15 for adults, and $10 for those aged 12 and under, and can be purchased at Blake’s Fast Fuel the night of attendance.