William Dale
Published online November 4, 2026, at www.pontiacjournal.com
MANSFIELD-ET-PONTEFRACT — For years, Parc des Chutes Coulonge was known across the region for its legendary haunted walk. But after a multi-year hiatus driven by pandemic restrictions, a shortage of volunteers, and the rising costs of decorations, the historic log-drive park has officially brought the tradition back from the dead.
Cameron Montgomery, Director of Parc des Chutes Coulonge, said the community response has been overwhelming as they test the waters with a pilot run this October. “We’re trying to bring it back because it’s kind of perfect,” Montgomery said during an interview with the Pontiac Journal. “This year’s just the museum, but next year we’re going to go bigger”
Navigating Frills, Chills, and Growing Pains
This year’s lineup featured evening museum walkthroughs open until 9 p.m. on October 22, 23, 24, 29, and 30, alongside an “Extra Scary Night” on Saturday, October 24, and a family-friendly Children’s Day on Sunday, October 25.
To accommodate families, the Sunday Children’s Day stripped away the jump scares entirely, offering a daytime museum walkthrough paired with a popular Candy Scavenger Hunt on the trails, where kids traded in hidden small pumpkins for bags of candy.
Addressing Security and Looking Ahead
Balancing the terror also brought logistical challenges. During the Extra Scary Night on October 24, staff encountered inappropriate behavior from a couple of groups of young people targeting volunteers. Park management issued a strong community statement emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy toward disrespect or physical harassment of volunteers who brave the cold and dark in costume.
Looking ahead, Montgomery and the Chutes Coulonge team are already planning major expansions for next year. Plans include expanding the evening schedule to a solid three-night run from Thursday to Saturday, introducing a themed graveyard area near the gazebo, and bringing in a special effects designer to switch up the layout annually.
For now, the park’s Halloween displays remain open for their final two nights on October 29 and 30 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., giving locals one last chance to experience the chills before the season wraps up.
Cutlines: Costumed performers strike menacing poses inside the dimly lit museum displays.