First ever haunting coming to Little Miami | Community Spirit

SALEM TOWNSHIP, WARREN COUNTY, OH (FOX19) - As far as Dirk Morgan can tell, no one in the world has ever invited thrillseekers to a haunted river before.

That's changing this Halloween season, as Morgan and his brothers, who operate canoe liveries and campgrounds, introduce "Morgan's Spooktacular Haunted River."

The event is being held on Friday and Saturday nights between now an Halloween.

The half-hour adventure is based on the history of the area where the event takes place.  It's along the Little Miami at 6272 Gilmore Road, which is near Mason-Morrow-Millgrove Road.  Most people in the area are familiar with Mason and Morrow, but whatever happened to Millgrove?  That village disappeared under the weight of floods and a cholera epidemic, and if you believe the Morgan brothers, zombies are also part of the equation.

The appropriately-named Salem Township is in the countryside east of Lebanon and not far from Morrow. 

Visitors will spend part of their time on land, working up from the boat launch area through some woods, woods that are infested with zombies and other threats.  Then they will board rafts that will float downriver in then general direction of where the visitors came from.

Morgan wouldn't say what threats might appear along the river, but despite whatever the Tri-State forecast says, there is 100 per cent chance of fog every Friday and Saturday night in this stretch of the Little Miami, and also "100 per cent chance of scary."

Because of the risks of boating, there are some special arrangements that aren't necessarily found in the traditional haunted house.  Visitors need to receive a certain amount of instruciton and sign a release.  Anyone who shows up intoxicated won't  be allowed on the tour.  All visitors need to wear life jackets, and there will be a guide in each raft.  No one is allowed to jump into the water, and anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Due to scariness, the tour is not recommended for children under 9.  There is a discount for chlidren available on the Morgans' website.

The event runs 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. each Friday and Saturday night through Halloween, and is expected to take about a half hour.  Tickets are ten dollars, but group of twelve or more can call ahead for a discount.  Morgan's (website) is at 513-899-2166.

Copyright 2010 FOX19.  All Rights Reserved.