Return to 'Haunted Fortress' at Old Fort Niagara

Old Fort Niagara's seasonal fall fundraiser, "Haunted Fortress," will take place from 7-9 p.m. Saturdays, Oct. 15 and 22. Tickets are now on sale.

Visitors on this 45-minute tour will experience "the dark side" of Old Fort Niagara, meet ghosts from its past, tour the 1812 cemetery, and get creeped-out by stories around the campfire.

Tickets, $20 per person, are available by presale only by calling 716-745-7611 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

" 'Haunted Fortress' scares visitors in new ways each year. Even if you are not afraid of the dark, you will be here!" said Robert Emerson, Old Fort Niagara's executive director. "We are very grateful to the volunteers who enable us to host this event, because it is a top fundraiser for our educational programming."

"Haunted Fortress" offers visitors a nocturnal tour of the fort, complete with ghosts from the fort's violent past. Visitors can also linger by a bonfire and hear stories of unexplained supernatural sighting on the fort grounds. As a finale, fort volunteers will offer tours of the post's graveyard, which dates to 1755.

The success of this fundraiser relies on volunteers to help create the haunted scenes. Volunteers are still needed to lead people to their doom as a tour guides, be frightening ghosts, help with makeup, and help illuminate paths. The time commitment is up to five hours per night, with costumes and make-up done at the fort before each event. Food is provided for all volunteers after the visitors leave. Call 716-745-7611, ext. 221, to volunteer or for more information.

Old Fort Niagara (www.oldfortniagara.org) is located in Fort Niagara State Park in Youngstown. The fort is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission ends 30 minutes before closing.