Mount Pleasant Rezones Haunted House Parcel

The Abandoned Haunted House is slowly but surely getting ready for the 2011 Halloween season. Owners Matt Mars and Cory Stephans have put up signage, shored up parts of the interior, started work on the roof and have cleaned up the grounds surrounding the building.

Formally home to Vance's, a bar and live entertainment venue, at 2819 SE Frontage Road, the parcel sits on what used to be considered agricultural (AG) with a highway service overlay (OHS). The Village Board at the June 27 meeting approved a zoning change, making the land now part of a business park (BP) designation.

Mike Pirk, chair of the Planning Commission, said the zoning change fits with the village's year 2030 master plan.

"We want to create a standard for the future," he said. "This allows the village to enhance the area by establishing consistency."

Whether or not a haunted house really fits with a business park image is kind of beside the point, agreed Trustee Jerry Garski, a member of the Planning Commission. 

"We're looking forward at the types of growth and development we want along that corridor," he said. "The owners of the building are really doing a good job cleaning up the site and that's what we want to see."

The haunted house will be open for about 30 days later this fall. Click here for operating hours and admission prices.