Ravenwood Manor is a Halloween Tradition

During one month each year the historic Hegarty Mansion in Beccaria transforms into the Ravenwood Manor Haunted Attraction. There is only one more weekend in their schedule for 2023 season. Hurry, the ghouls are waiting for you. (Photo from Ravenwood Manor Facebook page)

By Julie Rae Rickard

BECCARIA – Even though the end of October is rapidly approaching, there is still time to visit and be frightened by the ghouls at Ravenwood Manor, also known as the Hegarty Mansion.

The haunted attraction housed in a three-story Victorian Mansion is located at 3263 Crossroads Blvd. in Beccaria.

For over 20 years this highly anticipated scary event has been part of the Halloween season bringing hundreds of people nightly to this remote area of Clearfield County.

Each season has a new story line with unique sets, costumes and props. This year the theme is “Freaks on the Mountain”.

Although they opened on Oct. 6, planning began early in the spring, according to Melissa Anders, owner of the Hegarty Mansion.

Many hours are spent on scenic and costume designs before they begin the elaborate setup at the three-story home.

“You will experience dozens of seasoned actors, Animatronics and Pneumatic props to catch you off guard,” it says on their website.

“The fun begins as soon as you park your car so be on the lookout for looming creatures. 

“During the 20 minute tour you will find our actors are engaging and interactive. Our scare team is dead serious about what they do.”

Unlike other more graphic attractions, “you won’t see exploding toilets or blood being thrown around everywhere,” it says on the website. It notes this is a genuine haunted mansion with 12 foot ceilings and 10 feet screeching doors.

This “combined with the sounds you will hear throughout this mansion will make you feel uncomfortable the moment you walk in until the moment you leave. Our seasoned actors know every nook and cranny in this old mansion and take advantage of them all.”

Even before the first haunted house event here, the Hegarty Mansion had a local reputation for being haunted.

“Yes, there are several spirits that still reside in the mansion. Who they are, I have no idea. They are not naughty,” Anders reportedly said in a previous interview.

The house at Hegarty’s Crossroads was built circa 1865 by Samuel and Josephine Bell Hegarty.

Hegarty’s grandfather, also named Samuel, and Josephine’s grandfather, Arthur Bell were among the first settlers in the county, according to the book Images of America: Clearfield County. Josephine’s father, Grier, is said to be the second white child born in Clearfield County.

Samuel Hegarty was a successful businessman who was involved in the lumber and coal industries. He was a leader in the community that started a bank, company store and one of the first Presbyterian Churches in 1832.

The Hegarty family lived in this home until 1969. In 1993 it was purchased by an organization that treated people with psychiatric illnesses. Anders began restoring the home in 1998.

Ravenwood Manor will be open for the last time this weekend on Friday, Oct. 27 from 7:00 p.m. to Midnight, Saturday, Oct. 28 from 7:00 p.m. to Midnight and Sunday, Oct. 29 from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Tickets for adults are $15 and for children under 12-years-old admission is $12.00. They advise that most children under 8-years-old are too young to enjoy this attraction. VIP tickets can be purchased for $25 that will allow people to avoid the often long lines.

If you can’t make it this Halloween, you can always take part in a “Ravenwood Investigates the Paranormal (RIP)” activity which is a three hour self-investigation. The cost is $49.99 per person with a maximum of 12 people per group.

Or you can take part in “Ghost Tales” which involves hearing true ghost stories while touring the mansion. This lasts two hours and costs $29.99 per person. Again there is a maximum of 12 to 15 per group.

You can schedule either of these activities on their website www.hegartymansion.com.

For those who would just like to see the mansion, they have private group tours during which you can explore 24 of the 27 rooms that are filled with antique furniture and have chandeliers, original plaster walls, cornice moldings, ceiling medallions and five fire places.

The cost is $15 per person and requires a minimum of 15 visitors.

You can also attend a tea party or you can book the home for special occasions, showers, or private photo sessions.

More information is available on their website and Facebook page.