By Jim Reece - The Griffin Company and the American Exchange Hotel have brought back its Haunted Hotel for another Halloween Season, with the attraction scaring visitors starting last Friday. Bridget and Lynn Griffin along with Heather and Daniel Bruen helped build the haunted hotel display, which is on the ground level floor of the Belotti’s Italian Restaurant building, in the back room area where bands often used to play. The maze of curtains includes pirates and spooks alike of various ages. Bridget and Lynn Griffin, daughters of owner Dennis Griffin, said the American Exchange Haunted Hotel will give a portion of its proceeds to the Amador County Unified School District. Chris Gannon, one of the hotel’s managers said the Griffin Company has been doing the haunted hotel for the last three years. He said it takes about 2 weeks to put together, then another week-and-a-half to disassemble afterward. The haunt employs about 20 people a night, consisting of hotel employees, family members and volunteers. Gannon said it has become an annual tradition and the organizers have a goal of surpassing last year’s attendance of about 400 people. Gannon said “it was just somebody’s wild scheme, scaring people from throughout the county,” and has come to be a benefit for the schools. He said, compared to last Friday and Saturday, “judging by the screams,” people are having a good time. The haunted hotel opened to visitors last Friday and will be open this weekend. The Griffins said they expected a large crowd on Friday night, Halloween night. The cost is 2 dollars for students and 4 dollars for adults. The American Exchange Hotel is at 53 Main Street in Sutter Creek. For information, call (209) 267-0242.
Tuesday, 28 October 2008 02:13
Griffin Company Brings Back the Haunted Hotel
By Jim Reece - The Griffin Company and the American Exchange Hotel have brought back its Haunted Hotel for another Halloween Season, with the attraction scaring visitors starting last Friday. Bridget and Lynn Griffin along with Heather and Daniel Bruen helped build the haunted hotel display, which is on the ground level floor of the Belotti’s Italian Restaurant building, in the back room area where bands often used to play. The maze of curtains includes pirates and spooks alike of various ages. Bridget and Lynn Griffin, daughters of owner Dennis Griffin, said the American Exchange Haunted Hotel will give a portion of its proceeds to the Amador County Unified School District. Chris Gannon, one of the hotel’s managers said the Griffin Company has been doing the haunted hotel for the last three years. He said it takes about 2 weeks to put together, then another week-and-a-half to disassemble afterward. The haunt employs about 20 people a night, consisting of hotel employees, family members and volunteers. Gannon said it has become an annual tradition and the organizers have a goal of surpassing last year’s attendance of about 400 people. Gannon said “it was just somebody’s wild scheme, scaring people from throughout the county,” and has come to be a benefit for the schools. He said, compared to last Friday and Saturday, “judging by the screams,” people are having a good time. The haunted hotel opened to visitors last Friday and will be open this weekend. The Griffins said they expected a large crowd on Friday night, Halloween night. The cost is 2 dollars for students and 4 dollars for adults. The American Exchange Hotel is at 53 Main Street in Sutter Creek. For information, call (209) 267-0242.
