Kevin Tengesdal, a veteran haunter at Fort Lincoln’s Haunted Forts, prepares guests for Custer’s house, where the frights begin. Dustin White photo

Dustin White
Editor

South of Mandan, the fort, where George Custer was once stationed, takes on a transformation. With ghosts and ghouls taking the place of soldiers, the spirits take over at the Haunted Fort at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park.

Having finished their 15th year, the season started off a bit slow, which was expected with numbers being down around the board. However, while attendance was down on most nights this season, the energy and enthusiasm of the performers remained high.

Arriving at Fort Lincoln around 5 p.m., actors would begin their preparations for a night of haunting. Putting on their makeup, finding their costumes and getting into character was only one aspect though.



With new groups of volunteers every night, staff worked to help direct new recruits to where they would be haunting, as well as give them a bit of an idea of what to expect. As with every year though, a few volunteers had returned from the last season, and were ready to scare those who dared the forts.

As the actors began their work on making sure the Haunted Fort would have a successful night, guests, ready to be scared, lined up. Wanting to beat the rush, cars would line up as soon as tickets went on sale.

Having created a great reputation for itself over 15 years of successful haunts, attendees are seldom disappointed, and know that their evening will be full of frights.

By 7:15 p.m., two hours after preparations had begun for each night’s performance, a staff and volunteer meeting is held. Matt Schanandore, Interpretive Events Coordinator for Fort Lincoln, goes over the general guidelines, in order to maintain the safety of those involved, but also stresses what the night is about.

“We want to scare the crap out of everyone, and do what we do best,” Schanandore said.

Rob Sandness, a mainstay at Fort Abraham Lincoln, gets ready for the final weekend of Haunted Forts. Before each night’s haunting, Matt Schanandore, Creative Director of Haunted Forts, gathers together all the volunteers and staff to make sure all know what to expect each night. Dustin White photo.

The haunt opens
As the doors open for the nights haunt, a small crowd begins to build. As guests file through the commissary, and to Custer’s house, an air of anticipation builds.

However, as the night begins, it also appears to be a bit slow.

“We are a little behind last year, but there are a lot of events going on,” Schanandore said. “You can tell right away how well a night is going to go. We’ve been expecting lower numbers this year though as numbers have been lower around the board.”

While most nights had a bit of a wait, with warmer weather throughout the season, it wasn’t unpleasant. And unlike many haunts, guests were not left alone while they wait.



“I’ve waited outside a couple of haunts where there is nothing,” Schanandore said. “But we have concessions and like to keep our guests entertained.”

For those passing through, the wait, which builds their anticipation, seems to go by smoothly.

Volunteers get ready for a night of scares. Each year, the Haunted Forts relies on volunteers in order to help make the event a success. Dustin White photo.

A balance
With hundreds of guests moving through the historic buildings at Fort Lincoln, the haunt becomes a balance. As the Custer house is a functioning museum, an additional level of care must be used.

Keeping that in mind, Schanandore has arranged the haunt so that the Custer house serves as a nice opening to the rest of the night.

Moving through the Custer house, guests are given a reserved look at what will come. Wanting to ease each individual into the fright that will come, the house serves as a way to dip ones toes.

As they travel through each building, the level of fear increases, until they reach the dark hood.

Instructed to place a hood over their head, guests have to direct themselves through the building by guiding themselves along a rope. For many, the proposition is just too much.

Pushed to their limits of fear, the idea of the dark hood is just too much. Almost 25 percent of guests will pass by it.

However, even with bypassing the last building, guests leave satisfied with the event.

As the night wanes on, guests continue to file through the Haunted Forts, which has become a mainstay of the community. Dustin White photo

Ending a season
With numbers a bit low for the season, spirits remained high. While a few nights proved to be a bit colder, most evenings proved pleasant, even though frightening.

As the 2016 season ended, staff at Fort Lincoln remain busy with additional events coming up through the remained of the year. Continuing with their monthly hikes, on November 6, the park will be filled with blaze orange, as local hikers finish off the 12 month challenge.

Dustin White photos