Estimated reading time: 4min 55sec
As the early-morning mist descends over the fields of The Fraser Valley and the once majestic trees transform into their stark, back skeletal form, we know that the spookiest season is once again upon us. And if this Halloween, you’re looking for something a bit more fearsome and foreboding than a pumpkin patch (although we do have some pretty good ones, too), here are a few places to curdle your blood and chill your bones throughout The Frightful Fraser Valley.
Grave Tales at Fort Langley National Historic Site
In its day, Fort Langley was home to many people who toiled away their lives in service of the Hudson Bay Company. This means that many people also met their end within its walls as well. This October, the park presents Grave Tales, an eerie walking tour around the fort’s most haunting and strangely beautiful burial grounds. You’ll hear spine-tingling stories of those bones beneath your feet, from legendary figures to unsung heroes that hold keys to the secrets of British Columbia’s history. For dates, times and fees, visit Fort Langley National Historic Site’s Calendar of Events.
Maan Farms Haunted Corn Maze
Hailed as the Scariest Corn Maze in Canada, the Maan Farms Halloween haunting is so much more than just a bewildering walk through tall plants. Visitors can test their mettle in three separate experiences on the farm. In The Kept: Slaughterhouse, the corn feels alive and watching as you make your way through a living nightmare based on The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. In Forsaken: The Way Down, guests will choose from phobia-rooms where your deepest fears become all too real. And finally, Echo: Homestead is the Maan’s most frightening haunted house yet, where darkness comes alive with actors and other-worldly illusions. Get tickets for one, two or all three scarefests, September 27 to November 3.
The Powerhouse at Stave Falls
BC’s largest hydroelectric power source began operation over a hundred years ago—plenty of time to conjure up a haunting or two. Indeed, many a strange occurrence has been reported at Stave Falls, no longer a working powerhouse, but a designated National Historic Site which you can tour. In fact, many of the stories have come from tours themselves. Visitors have reported furniture moving across the floor, exhibits starting up or shutting down on their own, voices from nowhere, and elevator doors opening, only to find… NOBODY IN THE ELEVATOR! Book a tour this Halloween to see what you’ll encounter—if you dare.
Williams Street
Put the “chill” in Chilliwack (in all the good ways) with a walk down its most haunted street, Williams Street, where the W.E. Bradwin country estate once stood, home for hair-raising happening since the 60s when artist Hetty Fredriskcon lived there. Soon after moving in, Hetty reported footsteps in the dead of night, drawers opened, and furniture moved out of place. According to the Chilliwack Museum and Archives, a ghost would visit Hetty as well, which she began to depict in her paintings in hopes that in depicting it, it would leave. Apparently it didn’t work, as subsequent tenants were also plagued by eerie events. The curse on the house continued when it caught fire not once but twice. The latter, in 1975, finally destroyed Bradwin’s house, but never the legend of its terrifying tenant.
Kilby Historic Site – Bumps in the Night
The Kilby Historic Site in Harrison Mills could be considered, fittingly, one of BC’s best preserved “ghost” towns. Most of the year, it offers a chance to step back in time and leisurely stroll through a fascinating insight into BC’s rural past. But, on three evenings in October, “leisurely” goes out the window. Only the gutsiest history buffs will descend on Kilby’s 1906 general store and hotel to search out the spectral and come face to face with the ghosts of Kilby! You’ll join Vancouver’s preeminent seekers of paranormal activity, Cornerstone Supernatural, for a thrilling Halloween ghost tour. Kilby’s charming cafe will also be open for dinner—if you can keep your appetite.
For more event details, click here.
Hell’s Gate Airtram
As if flying over the Fraser Canyon with nothing but some pulleys and a wire cable between you and the roaring rapids below isn’t scary enough, now it comes to light that the tram at Hell’s Gate may actually be living up to its name. Once flocked to by those seeking their fortunes in the Gold Rush, this rough and narrow section of the Fraser River certainly lends itself to tales of souls that weren’t exactly ready to shuffle off this mortal coil. You might meet Edward, The Smoking Man, or The Lady Behind the Gift Shop Door, just two of the spirits that have elected to stick around. And yes, if that’s not enough to get your heart racing, try dropping 950 feet in the air on one of the steepest air trams in North America.
Please note that their last day of the 2024 season is October 14th.
Alexandra Lodge
The Alexandra Lodge in Hope dates back to the 1920s and has been a stop-over point for many travellers through the Fraser Canyon. And perhaps, a stop-over for spirits between this world and the next. It was recently made famous by YouTubers The Paranormal Road Trippers, who investigate the most haunted places in the world. They arrived, according to owner Shirley MacKinnon, just as she herself was “having a bit of experience here and there,” including being pushed in and out of rooms. Spooky coincidence? Decide for yourself when the Alexandra holds a free community Haunted House and Artisan Market on October 19.
But it doesn’t all have to be scary. October is also one of the most beautiful times to visit the Fraser Valley! Eschew the abandoned buildings and seek out nature’s popular spots full of colour and that magic light you only find in Fall, perfect for snapping the ultimate Autumn photos. Besides, everyone knows that ghosts don’t like having their picture taken…
