Kersey Valley Spookywoods

Kersey Valley Spookywoods, a haunted attraction with four decades of history

Kersey Valley Spookywoods is a North Carolina haunted attraction that bills itself as the most famous in the state and has been operating since 1985. It began as a homemade haunted house built by teenagers and over time transformed into a seasonal destination and a year-round amusement park. The company itself describes it as a legendary spot in the Southeast and counts 42 seasons in operation.

From a teenage dare to a family business

The origin dates back to the farm the Wohlgemuth family moved onto in 1979, when Tony Wohlgemuth was nine years old. His father, a Swiss immigrant, planted thousands of pines with the idea of growing Christmas trees. In 1982 his father returned to Switzerland and left the property with payments still due; Tony, then twelve, set out to generate income to prevent the farm from being sold. In the summer of 1985, a dare among friends during a blackout led to the first version of the attraction, called The House of Death. Tickets were sold from the porch window for two dollars each.

The attraction grew from the house into the woods. Tony rediscovered the pines his father had planted and turned them into the setting for the haunted trail. In 1996 the name Kersey Valley Spookywoods was officially adopted, the domain SpookyWoods.com was registered, and guided tours were replaced by free-flowing experiences. That same year, Donna joined the business; since 1988 she has been Tony's partner both in life and in running the attraction.

Attraction experiences and areas

The offering combines a haunted trail with various areas and activities. The site mentions an experience club, themed sets, a midway area, costumed characters, concession stands, and a haunt couture section. It also includes a photo gallery and a blog. The attraction offers advance tickets and an email discount list.

In addition to the Halloween season, Kersey Valley Spookywoods rents the park for corporate and private events, confirming activity outside the haunted season. The site also invites people to join the attraction's cast.

Contact and location details

The attraction is identified with Kersey Valley and with Kersey Valley Road, which gave the brand its name. The registered phone number is 336-431-1700 and the contact email is info@kerseyvalley.com. The official website is spookywoods.com.