Host an unforgettable Halloween event in a swimming pool
By Bronson Williams
I know what you’re thinking. “Haunted swamp is not a verb. That is an improper sentence!” I agree. It is an improper sentence—until you host a haunted swamp. That is when you realize it is very much an action. Like any special event, it takes much planning, coordination, and initial and ongoing costs, but it is also a wonderful, creative way to offer a fun experience to a community. The haunted swamp was something I first saw as a young lifeguard. The aquatic managers took all the lane lines out of the competition pool, strung up black trash bags across the entire pool, slid in some canoes, brought out several fun carnival-style games, turned on the spooky music, and turned off the overhead lights. I had no clue what was happening, but I knew it would be a blast (and it was). Over the years, our haunted swamp at Georgetown-Scott County Parks and Recreation in Georgetown, Ky., has grown and changed to better suit the community, but it never lost the sense of fun and creative spirit that come with Halloween. Here are some tips on how to build and grow a haunted swamp.