DES MOINES, Iowa — Linn’s Haunted House is turning to the community for help after a fire caused $20,000 worth of damage less than a month before the opening day for its 40th season.
Since 1984, Merlyn Linn has operated a haunted house in the basement of Linn’s Supermarket in the Highland Park neighborhood of Des Moines. The haunted house has become a Halloween staple ever since. People from all over Iowa, and even out of state, come to Linn’s Haunted House every spooky season.
Now, the Linns are turning to the community for help by collecting donations through a GoFundMe .
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On September 10th, a fire started in the basement of the grocery store, which is where the haunted house is set up. According to the GoFundMe, the fire was small, but there is “extensive damage” to the walls, wiring, and equipment due to water damage from the sprinklers. The GoFundMe is raising $20,000 to clean up and rebuild.
The Linns sold the grocery store in 2020, so while they operate the haunted house, they no longer own the building. Therefore, they’re unable to hold an insurance policy in the basement, which is why they started the fundraiser.