Even though it feels more like the the end of December here in the Black Hills, the reality is that the next holiday is more about ghouls and goblins than Christmas trees. With Halloween quickly approaching, there is something sinister brewing just south of Rapid City.

Fort Fear is the highly anticipated new haunted attraction that is guaranteed to scare the daylights out of those who dare to enter. A creative crew from the Black Hills area has been working on the creepy attraction for months and is ready to open the doors to the public tomorrow night, October 15th.

Located on the grounds of the Flying T Chuckwagon show, next to Reptile Gardens, Fort Fear has prepared more than 12,000 square feet of pure terror. Themed entirely around the Old West and the legend of Ornias Goodnight, the fort promises to be drastically different from your run-of-the-mill haunted house.

I spoke with the owner of Fort Fear, Sharon McDermott, this morning and she said that everything is in place and they are all set for opening night. Sharon told me that the idea and planning for the fort came about a year ago when she and Michael Kraklio of the Black Hills Community Theater began discussions.

The folks at Fort Fear are very straightforward that this is not an attraction for children or the faint of heart. They have things planned that will make even the most hardened of visitors scream.

Last time I went through a haunted house, I got so scared that I lashed out and about knocked down the horrible haunted clown that had jumped out at me. I’d like to think that I’ve matured and become more brave since then; but, I guess that will be decided when I go check out the fort for myself.

Fort Fear opens this weekend and will be open Thursday through Sunday nights, October 15th – October 18th. Then, it will be open again on October 21st and remain open nightly through November 1st.