TheBurg

22 | THEBURGNEWS.COM | 10.20 Y ou hear your name whispered in your ear. You turn—but nobody's there. "e biggest scare that people get is hearing their own name said back to them, or a gentle touch on the cheek," says Johlene "Spooky" Riley, owner of Gettysburg Ghost Tours. "Even a seasoned ghost hunter can be taken aback by something like that." In a year of real-life frights, central Pennsylvanians are ready to pile it on this fall with ghostly scares. Or they're shedding their fears amid the serenity of cornstalks and vineyards on a brisk autumn day. It's time for one last, COVID-safe excursion before the cold weather chases us back indoors for the scariest encounter of all—possibly more months of quarantine. OPENING SAFELY e art of securing a destination involves much more than facemasks and social distancing. Places throughout the region have gone out of their way to remain safe and welcoming, according to Visit Hershey & Harrisburg President and CEO Mary Smith. "ey've adjusted floorplans," she said. "ey've changed their schedules. ey've built new seating areas. ey reimagined how they use the space that they have." Typical COVID-era travelers trust that their destination's protocols are adequate, Smith added. It's other visitors they worry about. So, if you're not confident in your fellow patrons at crowded events, the VHH Adventure Trail presents hiking, biking, kayaking and family fun within a short drive of home. A bit farther down the road, Riley's Gettysburg Ghost Tours offers a range of experiences. ere are family-friendly walks entirely outdoors and on easy terrain, "an inexpensive way to enjoy the outdoors with your family," said Riley. If you dare to venture indoors, the Museum of Haunted Objects in a historic Civil War-era building presents everything from creepy dolls to haunted mirrors. And there are indoor ghost hunts—family- friendly or more extreme—at Civil War landmarks. People want to be scared until they actually get scared, said Riley. Still, no ghost hunt can equal the frights of pandemic 2020. "I don't think any entity on earth or beyond can compare with what's been going on," she said. "It's been a big challenge, but just like everyone, we're trying to make the best of it and trying to keep everybody safe. We appreciate people being patient with us while we try to navigate the unknown ourselves." Point the car toward Mountville, in Lancaster County, and Field of Screams presents gore galore. SCREAMS & HYGIENE Fall attractions, with a twist, during pandemic times. BY M. DIANE MCCORMICK Fields of Adventure corn maze. Photo by Premise Studio and Destination Gettysburg.

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