Search South Aurora October 2021 by Bret Tueller

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AURORA NO. 165

OCTOBER 2021

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R3 Electronics, formally known as Experimax The best electronics store in the area has changed its name, but the best parts are all still there. Family owned and operated, R3 Electronics remains your one-stop source for all things electronic. The Rippy family has kept the great staff, headed by store manager Cameron Schrader. And they continue to offer the widest range of electronic service in the area: • Service of all makes and models (Apple, Samsung, Lenovo, HP, Dell) • Retro Gaming (Nintendo, Sony, X-Box, Atari, Sega) • Data Recovery of all devices • Recycle Services • Screen Repair and Tune-ups • Program for seniors and school kids who can’t afford devices or repairs • Concierge Service • Buy, Sell, or Trade • Micro soldering

Monday-Friday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm Saturday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Closed Sunday

www.justrrr.com cschrader@justrrr.com erippy@justrrr.com 17914 Cottonwood Drive, Parker

720-524-8878 OCTOBER 2021 3

CONTENT ISSUE NO. 165 | OCTOBER 2021

FEATURES PUMPKINS, MAZES AND MORE

All the local hot spots to get your Halloween on!

14 LOCAL HAUNTS OF COLORADO You better start believing in ghost stories, youre in one!

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Search South Aurora ©2021 is published by Tueller Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form without prior written permission is strictly prohibited. Search South Aurora is mailed monthly to households and businesses in the greater South Aurora area free of charge. Mail inquiries to Search South Aurora 13009 S. Parker Road #120, Parker, CO 80134, or call 303-805-9455.

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Halloween is just around the corner and who doesn’t like decorating with the family? Following are some very low cost and easy decorations that the whole family can make.

SPOOKY FUN DECOR SUPPLIES

1. Orange Tissue Paper or Construction Paper, for the pumpkins

6. Water

2. White Tissue Paper or Construction Paper, for the ghosts

8. Scissors

3. Various Shaped Balloons

10. Paperclips

4. Small Paper Water Cups (for the pumpkins)

11. A Large Plastic Tumbler Cup

5. All Purpose Flour

12. A Large Flat Bowl

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7. Tempera Paint (black, brown & green) 9. String or Ribbon

STEPS: 1. Cut the tissue paper or construction paper into various length strips 2. Mix ½ cup all purpose flour with 2 cups of water in the large bowl. Stir until flour is completely dissolved 3. Blow up several balloons into various sizes For Pumpkins 1. Start with one balloon and place it on top of the tumbler cup with the balloon knot facing down 2. Drag a strip of orange paper through the flour solution making sure the paper is coated (allow the excess to drip off into the bowl) 3. Place the coated strip on the balloon starting at the top center and draping it along the balloon towards the bottom 4. Repeat placing strips allowing them to overlap slightly 5. Once the balloon is covered in orange strips, turn the balloon over and place it back on top of the tumbler 6. Repeat placing strips starting at the knot end of the balloon. Be careful to NOT cover the knot with strips. You will need this hole to get the balloon out once dried. 7. Once the balloon is covered in several layers of orange strips, tie the string or ribbon to the knot and hang the balloon in your bathroom or garage to dry overnight. For Ghosts 1. Start with one balloon and place it on top of the tumbler cup with the balloon knot facing down 2. Drag several strips of white paper through flower solution making sure the paper is coated (allow the excess to drip off into the bowl) 3. Place the coated strips on the balloon starting at the top center and draping it down the balloon. Only cover ¾ of the balloon from top to bottom. You don’t want the strips to go all the way to the bottom 4. Repeat placing strips around the entire balloon. It is OK if the strips are different lengths and have ragged edges. This will make your ghost look more “spooky” 5. Once the balloon is covered in several layers of white strips, turn it over and tie the string or ribbon to the knot and hang the balloon in your bathroom or garage to dry overnight. FINISHING TOUCHES: 1. Once the pumpkins and ghosts are dry, you will need to remove the balloons. NOTE: MAKE SURE THEY ARE COMPLETELY DRY BEFORE YOU DO THIS. 2. To remove the balloon, hold onto the knot and poke the balloon with a needle right next to the knot 3. Carefully remove the popped balloon from the pumpkin or ghost. NOTE: THEY WILL BE FRAGILE, SO HANDLE WITH CARE For the Pumpkin: 1. Paint a small water cup green. This will be the stem of the pumpkin. Poke two small holes in the bottom of the water cup and thread a paper clip through it. Then glue the cup to the top of the pumpkin covering up the hole. Paint thin vertical lines with brown paint around the entire pumpkin, starting in the top center and overlapping the bottom center. To make the face of your pumpkin, use black paint and add spooky eyes, a nose and mouth. For the Ghost: 1. Use black paint to make round eyes and an open mouth along the front of your ghost. Poke two small holes on the top of your ghost and thread the paper clip through them. 2. Tie a string to the paper clip in each of your ghosts and pumpkins and hang them around the house for great Halloween decorations.

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PUMPKIN CARVING

TIPS & TRICKS The time honored tradition of turning pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns is one many families enjoy each year. Nothing says “Halloween” more than a house with amazing jack-o-lanterns peeking out on October 31. Here are some tips and tricks for you to use this year when carving your creation. •D raw your design on the pumpkin with a waterbased marker beforehand. Mistakes are erased easily with a damp sponge •D raw your lid to be an odd shape so you know exactly how to replace it for a tight fit •C ut a hole on the back of the lid AND on the bottom of the back of your pumpkin to allow air to circulate through. With good air flow your candle will be bright • S errated metal saws, now widely available in carving kits, are a safer alternative to knives and allow younger children to get in on the action. KIDS SHOULD CARVE ONLY UNDER ADULT SUPERVISION •U se an X-Acto knife for details and the tip of a potato peeler to make small circles and curves

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•R e-attach a section that is accidentally removed by using a toothpick to pin it back in place • S prinkle the bottom side of the pumpkin lid with ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and/or cloves to let your jack-o’-lantern do double duty as an air freshener. •P lace the jack-o’-lantern in a plastic bag and refrigerate when not in use. • T ry making an uncarved jack-o’-lantern by painting designs with royal icing. You can enjoy a decorated jack-o’-lantern but still use the pumpkin when Halloween has come and gone. • T o prolong the life of the jack-o’-lantern, cover it with a damp towel when not on display •C onsider giving smaller children stickers, tempera paint, or markers to decorate their own pumpkins

Having A Perfect

HALLOWEENPARTY There are two kinds of people in this world. Those that will oblige their holiday loving friends, throw some pumpkins and maybe a few mums on their porch, and might even get in on the fun and wear a costume to the party. Then there are those who have pumpkin spice flowing through their veins. Those who have already hit Parker Party America a few times to get just one more spooky decoration for the Halloween landscape on their lawn and have been planning the perfect costume for their killer Halloween party for months. Okay, maybe there are more than two kinds of people when it comes to all things Halloween, but no matter if you’ve been planning your party for weeks or you decide to get some friends together at the last minute, there are some simple things you can do to make a killer Halloween get-together, and you can get almost every single thing you need in the aisles of Party America, right here in town! First, for your “Horror-able” Décor. Be sure to decorate any areas that guests will be spending time, whether it’s the front porch, back deck, or anywhere in between. Don’t worry, filling the space isn’t as scary as it sounds. Go straight to the balloons at Party America, grab some

orange and white balloons (which they will fill with helium and tie with matching strings too!) Use a sharpie to add jacko-lantern or ghost faces to them for spooktakular centerpieces or accents in the room. You can also get some black tulle, cover your larger helium balloons, and gather the tulle at the bottom for a spookier effect. Once you have your décor set, you’ll want to take pictures of your family and friends to pos. Grab a backdrop and photo prop set and share your memories. Another simple fix? Head over to Party America’s wedding aisle, yep, wedding. Grab some tissue paper wedding lanterns/bells, add some construction paper eyes, drape with cheesecloth and, boom! Little ghosts are now guests at your party. When you head to the back of the store to grab your plates and napkins, get some extra table covers and use them as backdrops or extra bunting accents. Have some smaller round tables? 1 white or orange table cover + some black construction eyes and you have a table that doubles as décor! As you peruse the aisles, toss a fake pumpkin, a witch’s hat, and some faux leaves in your cart. Turn the pumpkin on its side (the stem is now a nose), add the leaves for some hair and top with the hat for an easy witch. A fog machine, inflatable decor, or spooky lights will set a memorable scene now and for years to come. With all the fun items to choose from at Party America, there will be no shortage of easy accents to make your home Trick or Treat ready! Now for the booffet. Mummify your beverages! Grab a tub and wrap it with crepe paper, throw on a couple eyes. Now a Mummy is keeping all those drinks cool. Make the ice in the tub (and for your drinks) a little spookier by grab some plastic spiders and freeze them in your ice cube trays.

Don’t forget to pick up your favorite “Mr. Bones” decor, but instead of propping him up outside, lay him on one of your serving trays and turn your charcuterie to char-boo-terie; fill him with your meat and cheese spread for a ghoulish buffet centerpiece. Sweets should get the scare treatment too, right? Jump on the “naked” cake trend and serve a chocolate pumpkin cake on a simple cake stand to set it apart from other sweet offerings. Make it easy and grab a few different sized bowls and fill with treats! If the grown ups want a little treat too, try making a Candy Corn cocktail concoction. Many easy and fun themed cocktail recipes are available online. Best part is… you can walk through Party America and get everything from fun (and scary) decorations for every corner of your home. Grab accents like balloons, fun little tricks, and all you could need to display and serve your treats as well as a costume to make sure you’re the host/ hostess with the most/mostess. Grab a veil and tiara and get your Duchess of Sussex on or pick up a magic wand and cape to enroll at Hogwarts. DIY anything you could possibly think up by choosing from aisles and aisles of accessories like hats, wigs, props, and, if you really want to commit, some face paint and just go crazy! Not feeling particularly creative? No worries, Party America has everything from Ghostbusters to Hocus Pocus - and everything in between. Simply make your pick, tell a Party America associate the number of your choice, try it on, and go! Go to www.parkerparty.com to browse all the options! From decorations to tableware, treats to tricks - Party America is a one-stop shop for everything you need for every holiday and special occasion! The owners and staff are committed to giving personalized service to every trick-or-treater or party host to help them create a one-of-a-kind Halloween experience.

Party America 11177 Dransfeldt Rd 303.841.3837 parkerparty.com OCTOBER 2021 11

Anderson Farms 6728 County Road 3 1/4 Erie, CO 303.828.5210 andersonfarms.com

One of Colorado’s longest running corn maze and pumpkin patches with wagon rides out to the 30 acre pumpkin patch, filled with over 70 varieties of pumpkins, squash and gourds. In addition to the corn maze, Anderson Farms offers tons of extra activities including pony rides, face painting, duck races, live entertainment, a general store, food vendors, gem stone mining, gourd launching and a chance to feed the goats! If you’re looking for a holiday thrill, check out Terror in the Corn and the Zombie Paintball Hunt after dark!

Maize in the City 10270 Riverdale Road Thornton, CO 720.408.0006 maizeinthecity.com

Admission is FREE to the pumpkin field and while you’re there, check out the 20 acre corn maze, the mini maze just for kids, take a pony ride or explore the petting zoo. There’s also an inflatable jumping castle, air slide and obstacle course as well as sand art, interactive smart phone games, a giant corn kernel box and the playground to explore! 12 SEARCHSOUTHAURORA

Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms

8500 W. Deer Creek Canyon Road, Littleton, CO 720.865.4346 – botanicgardens.org/chatfieldfarms Navigate your way through the 8 acre corn maze to help Farmer Green find his lost animals. Throughout the maze, life size animal cut outs are hidden, just waiting to be discovered. The maze can be viewed from two 15-foot tall, illuminated bridges. Little ones 10 and under can explore the mini-maze as well. For those a bit braver, explore the After Dark Corn Maze and the Dead Zone Haunted Attraction. Get your maps for all three mazes online.

Fritzler’s Corn Maze

20861 Co Rd 33, La Salle, CO 80645 970.737.2129 – fritzlermaze.com For the last 16 years, Fritzler’s has been delighting visitors with over 20 attractions and almost 2 miles of trails. Test your wits with the corn maze, ride the ATV mini rollercoaster barrel train, take the challenge of the obstacle course on three-wheel carts or bounce in the Tigger jump! There’s also the Super Pumpkin Cannon, the corn box and loads of other activities. Don’t forget to pick out your pumpkin at the pumpkin patch as well.

Rock Creek Farm

2005 South 112th Street, Broomfield, CO 303.465.9565 – rockcreekfarm.com Admission is always free to this U-Pick-Em 100 acre pumpkin farm where you can also explore the hay bale maze, the six miles of Corn Mazes or visit with the menagerie of farm animals. On Friday and Saturday nights, get a free miniflashlight to help you navigate the mazes.

If you are looking for something a little more exciting and love a good terror thrill, then check out one of these attractions made specifically to scare you!

Castle of Terror – The Asylum Town Fire Training Center 333 Malibu Street, Castle Rock, CO

Always one of the most frightening haunted houses around, this year’s Asylum at the Castle of Terror will be a “must do” for those who love a good scare! The patients have taken over the Asylum and only the luckiest will 11321 Dransfeldt Road, Parker, CO escape! Tours are October 18th, 19th, 25th and 26th from 303.805.1038 – flatacresfarm.com 7pm-10pm. Tickets are $10 at the gate and all proceeds benefit the Fire and Police Explorer programs. This is NOT Along with picking the perfect pumpkin, be sure to check recommended for small children and children under 13 out the petting zoo, duck races, Giant Jenga and Giant will not be admitted without an adult. Hale Bale Maze. There will also be bounce houses, corn kernel boxes and the giant swing set along with many other fun activities for the whole family. Looking for more of a scare? Check out Reapers Hollow and the Dead End Motel on select nights in October. For more information 4120 Brighton Blvd., Denver, CO 13thfloorhauntedhouse.com on those attractions, visit www.reapershollow.com.

Flat Acres Farm

The 13th Floor

Colorado Pumpkin Patch Jellystone Park

650 Sky View Lane, Larkspur, CO coloradopumpkinpatch.net

For the bravest of the brave (or the craziest) check out Denver’s largest haunted house, The 13th Floor. Located just one block south of the Denver Coliseum, the 13th Floor has three new attraction themes for this year, and each one is the stuff of nightmares. Check out the Slasher Remix, Undead: Abominations and Cursed: The Ritual. Buy your tickets online to avoid the weekend sell out! You can also check out The Asylum Haunted House, The Undead Haunted House and The Primitive Fear Haunted House; if you dare!

Conveniently located between the Denver Metro Area and Colorado Springs, the Colorado Pumpkin Patch features a straw bale pyramid, rope maze, petting zoo, pony rides, hay rides, target shooting at gourds, the corn box to play in and, of course, pumpkins! There’s also a 60’ jumping pillow, 80’ straw slides, outdoor laser tag, tube swings and much, much more!

Jack Lantern’s Corn Maze 2318 S. County Road 5, Ft Collins, CO 970.308.5843 – nococornmaze.com

From 11:00am-Dusk, check out Jack Lantern’s 20+ acre corn maze, grab the perfect jack o’ lantern canvas in the pumpkin patches or hop on the wagon ride to tour the 90+ acre farm. Visit with the miniature horse, pigs, and the amazing climbing goats and be sure to check out the bunny ranch. You can test your aim at the corn chucker, race your friends on the pedal car track and kids who come in costume can even Trick or Treat (day or night!) From dusk 11pm, prepare yourself for Jack Lantern’s Corn Maze of Carnage. With only the moon as your light, head down paths into a haunted maze full of monsters and creepy creatures searching for you! New this year is the Haunted Hay Ride, leaving every 30 minutes into the field of terror! OCTOBER 2021 13

Local Haunts ~ of~ Colorado Come Trick-or-Treat season, people start scoping out where to find the best corn mazes, pumpkin patches, and, if they enjoy a bit of a thrill, the best haunted houses. You don’t have to wait until Halloween to find some great haunts; turns out, Colorado has some great destinations that will add a little spooky to your next weekend day trip.

The Molly Brown House Museum (Denver)

The “Unsinkable” Molly Brown was a one-time local who famously survived the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. She once lived in this Victorian Denver home, built in 1889. Since then, it’s served as a private residence, an apartment for young men, and a home for wayward girls. It’s also a place associated with numerous eerie tales, including tales of hauntings by Molly herself. Today, in addition to frequent visitors by paranormal investigators, it serves as an educational outlet and offers historical tours. www.mollybrown.org

Museum of Colorado Prisons (Cañon City)

Royal Gorge is not the only thing to check out while you’re in town. “Stop by and do time” at the museum, which shares a stone wall and armed towers with the prison that has been in continuous operation since 1871. Explore over 140 years of history, including the two story cell house, with 30 inmate cells on the upper level and archival storage, the original kitchen and isolation cells on the lower level. Documentation of famous riots and exhibits of famous inmates, including Alfred Packer (convicted cannibal) and Antone Woode (convicted 12 year old murderer) are just some of the creepy artifacts on display. With all that happened within those prison walls over the last couple hundred years, the spookiness level is definitely high. Prisonmuseum.org

Hotel Colorado (Glenwood Springs)

The Hotel Colorado was built in 1891 and hosted such famous guests as Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William Taft, Molly Brown, Al Capone, and even notorious gambler Doc Holiday (although his visits to the Hot Springs preceded the existing hotel, his presence forever links him with the beginnings of the Hotel Colorado.) It was converted to a hospital in WWII, hosting as many as 500 injured military personnel. The giant ovens in the basement are rumored to have been used as crematoriums. There are still 131 of the original rooms available to guests, but visitors to the hotel aren’t limited to paying guests. Guests and staff alike have reported lots of activity, especially in the pre-dawn hours. Elevators moving floor to floor without passengers, wafting smells of cigar smoke and perfume in the lobby, and sounds of dishes being moved in the Dining Room have all been reported. A young girl in Victorian clothing has reportedly been seen playing ball on the grounds as well. Check in and see what you might see at the Hotel Colorado. hotelcolorado.com 14 SEARCHSOUTHAURORA

Central City Masonic Cemetery and Creepy Crawl (Central City)

Nothing says creepy weekend haunt like an old cemetery. Just above the mining towns of Central City lies this graveyard that was started in the early 1860’s. Rumor has it that every year around November 1st, the ghost of a woman dressed in black appears to visit the grave of John Edward Cameron. There are also stories of the ghost of a young boy that may follow you around the grounds. As they say, there’s safety in numbers, so if you chose, you can visit the cemetery with the Gilpin Historical Society during the Creepy Crawls around the city each October and take in Paranormal Night at the Museum. www.gilpinhistory.org

Hotel Jerome (Aspen)

Aspen is known for being a luxury ski resort destination, but this particular hotel has quite a different reputation. Jerome B. Wheeler built the hotel in 1889, less than a decade after the mining town of Aspen was established. The town and the hotel were booming until Aspen’s “quiet years” with the mines beginning to close. At that time, people paid $10 for a month of residence at the hotel, including meals, and the Hotel Jerome became the social center of town. Hauntings at the Jerome are rumored to include visits from the ghost of a little boy who tragically drowned in the swimming pool as well as a maid who fell ill and died after falling into an ice-cold pond. Brave enough to book your stay? Hoteljerome.aubergeresorts.com

Stanley Hotel (Estes Park)

The Stanley, arguably the best known spooky Rocky Mountain destination, is famous for being the inspiration for Stephen King’s The Shining. The hotel is home to endless ghost stories, including those of no less than 4 spirits regularly roaming the halls, most notably, Lucy, Paul, Eddie, and Elizabeth. In the concert hall, lights have been known to flicker; laughter and footsteps echo off the walls; and unexplainable, chilly drafts greet guests from time to time. During the spookiest of seasons the Stanley offers more than just their famous Evening Tour; join them for Murder Mystery Dinners, The Shining Ball, and Halloween Masquerade Parties. Book your stay with the Spirit Adventure Package for tickets to the spirited night tour, a Stanley “squishy” ghost, REDRUM mug, and accommodations of the most infamous 4th floor. stanleyhotel.com

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