In 1994, we opened a haunted house in the woods of Black Forest Villages. Back then, it was a few rooms with black plastic walls, held together by determination and 10,000 staples. We never could have imagined what it would become and how much it would shape our lives.

The Black Forest Haunted Ghost Town has become our family’s heartbeat. Our kids grew up running through the haunted house, learning to create sets, paint props, and slip into costumes. Our grandkids have followed in their footsteps, spooking guests since they could say “boo!” What started as a small idea became a family tradition, a way of life, that comes alive each year. 

Over the last 30 years, tens of thousands of people have screamed, laughed, and made memories here. Except for one silent year in 2020, the Ghost Town has opened every fall and stands as the longest running event at Black Forest Villages. Families have come year after year, and we’ve watched kids who once clutched their parents’ hands grow up and return with families of their own.

But every story has an ending. This October will be the final season for the Black Forest Haunted Ghost Town, and your last chance to visit the Black Forest Villages.

This decision breaks our hearts, but it also fills them with gratitude. Gratitude for every scare, laugh, and smile made along the way. Gratitude for our friends and family, who gave so much of their time to this event. And gratitude for you, our community in southeast Missouri and beyond, who showed up year after year to make memories with us. 

From our family to yours, thank you for 30 years of fear, laughter, and memories. We look forward to sharing one final season with you.

-Greg & Darla Macke