What do Haunters do when they feel lonely and isolated with their Buckys and corpses? They seek out other like minded individuals of course. This is a history of the birth and evolution of Ironstock.

In 1999 we were invited to join a handful of haunters in Lafayette, In. at the Wells Cultural Center. It took very little time for us to reach a decision. In the wee hours on that warm and muggy Saturday we packed up some photos, crammed in a few props, and threw the still sleeping children in the backseat. A journey that would eventually change our lives began. We drove for several hours with great anticipation. Since we had never been to Lafayette, and had very sketchy directions, we were afraid that we might have trouble locating the meeting place. However, finding the beautiful columned front art gallery proved much easier than we thought. Our hostess had provided us with the one thing that would make any haunter take notice. It was the only building decorated outside with giant jack o’lanterns. It worked like a lighthouse beacon on a stormy night.

We spent the next 8 hours talking with a dozen or so folks who shared our obsession for Halloween. We shared pictures, showed off our handmade goodies and mostly laughed and had a great time. It was liberating being able to openly talk about corpsing a skeleton or the best recipe for blood without receiving strained smiles or blatant hostility. Not once were we threatened with exorcism, or lectured on proper child rearing. Our youngest son, who was four at the time, thoroughly enjoyed playing on the floor with the contents of a garbage bag that was full of Gore Galore served heads. Our older child, age 12, found a new friend among the latex corpses. We chatted the day away, learning about each other’s haunts, talents, and desires.

Although the sun outside was setting, we didn’t want the day to end. Most of us lingered outside the gallery unable, or unwilling, to bring this wonderful experience to an end. Finally we embarked on the lonely drive home, but the inside of the car was abuzz as we all talked about our favorite part of the day. So much fun, and now we had to go home. It was on that long drive back to our everyday lives that an inspiration came into view. That night the Mid-West gathering was born.

Within weeks, ideas were formed and plans were made. The following summer we hosted a gathering in the basement of our local Masonic Lodge. As I was then the master of the lodge, permission was easily granted. We were overwhelmed at the outcome. That summer day we hosted approximately 35 haunters of all ages that traveled from five states to attend. We were, and remain to this day, amazed at how people from all different parts of the country would give up their time to travel hundred of miles to a sleepy little town in the mid west to share their passion. The fellowship of the day reflected what we felt from our meeting in Lafayette, and was so wonderful that we knew it had to reoccur.

Word of the gathering spread through internet web rings like wild fire and we knew we had to do this again. But never did we imagine what kind of response it would generate. We heard from haunters from as far away as Canada and Hawaii that expressed the plans of attending. While talking on-line with a few Halloween addicts like ourselves, the outpouring of interest was jokingly compared to the phenomena that happen back in the 60s known as Woodstock. From this the die was set. That second year our efforts mutated into what from that day forward would be referred to as Ironstock. With the help of several key haunters we extended the gathering into a two day event. A Halloween costume ball was suggested by friends that adamantly volunteered to head up the endeavor. While reluctant at first, we agreed to the idea, but we knew that this one addition changed things drastically for the gathering. With a little pushing and shoving, the Masonic Lodge could have held the additional visitors we were expecting. But it would never be large enough to host a costume ball. The search for a larger venue began. After exhausting every possible option we had in our area, a local realtor suggested talking to the folks that handle the county fairgrounds. Oh it was large enough, alright…..intimidatingly large. There were several acres with pavilions scattered throughout. A very large two story hall, concession stand, a stage area with bleachers…..this place had it all. After some rigorous negotiations, and a lot of intense number crunching, a deal for the fairgrounds was made. We had our location, and the costume ball was added. Due to a rather large donation of weasel ball toys from one of our great supporters, the event was dubbed the Weasel Ball and a new Ironstock tradition evolved. Our numbers doubled that second year swelling to just over 75 with more families attending. Games and activities were on the agenda to encourage teamwork and to serve as an icebreaker for folks meeting face to face for the first time. Our fellow haunters jumped at the chance to share their talents and skills. Hands on workshops and demonstrations thrilled the crowd as we learned how to make monster mud, a floating lantern, fake flames and much, much more. The Prop Swap, which had it’s début in central Indiana the prior year, was incorporated into this new Ironstock format. Photo albums and videos of haunts filled the two days as we made new friends and expanded our knowledge of fright. The Weasel Ball, which I must admit I was initially reluctant to, became the icing on the cake.

Our third year we once again increased our numbers as well as the activities. Another seventy five souls added to our rolls as we continued to explore the haunt industry. We hosted our first visitor from overseas with a wonderful lady from New Zealand that had heard of this unique event in southern Indiana. She shared her tales of having one of the only corn mazes in her faraway homeland. Even though we have had vendors present since the very first gathering, this year we added an entire section called the Vendor’s Alley to provide the opportunity for our guests to see and purchase some of the wonderful props that they may have only seen in magazines or on the web. Since many of our guests were now coming in a day or so early, a local haunted house tour was added for Friday night. As in the previous year, games and fun filled our days. Our demos and seminars again expanded and we learned new haunting techniques, met new folks and played with all sorts of new technology and ideas. We were privileged to add several pro haunters to our speaker list including one of the most renowned haunt owners from the west coast, and a very prominent Halloween publication editor from the east coast. We were inundated by the many Halloween related companies that sent samples and door prizes to show their appreciation for our efforts.

By year four the Ironstock Haunt Conference had come to some recognition throughout the haunt community thanks in part to write ups in several Halloween trade magazines and by word of mouth over the internet. More and more enthusiasts were attending because of what they had heard from the reports of the previous year’s event. Our attendance increased to over 250 unique visitors from every part of the United States and Canada. Along with our standard offerings of daily demos and seminars, the Vendor’s Alley, the Prop Swap, and the ever popular Weasel Ball, this year we added the first annual Hearse Rally. Beautiful funeral cars brought by many attending haunters adorned the fairgrounds for all to drool over. Topping the field was a beautiful all original horse drawn hearse built in 1878. Also new for this year was an eerie art show dubbed the Masterpieces of Mayhem. This was a great addition that allowed our artistic guests to show off their one of a kind creations of paintings, sculpture, needlework, and stained glass to name but a few. And thanks to the diligent efforts of two of our attendees, this year we expanded to three days to provide a Meet and Greet party on Friday evening for a little pre-gathering social time to get to know one another. Again the Weasel Ball was a great success and haunters got a chance to dress up and party together as if it was Halloween night. This is an opportunity that none of us could ever afford during our normal peak time of Trick or Treat. We danced the night away and experienced the wondrous properties of green drinks.

Ironstock’s fifth year again broke a record for visitors. We had now well exceeded the 300 attendance mark. This year also saw several new embellishments to the mix. After a long hiatus, the Haunter’s Show and Tell was reborn by popular demand. Our guests were invited to bring one of their favorite hand made props to display to all. We saw and enjoyed the competitive nature of all haunters in the first annual Pine Box Derby where teams of four pall bearers and one volunteer corpse had to race against the clock to deposit their ‘body’ to it’s final resting site. The ‘T’ Shirt Scramble (my personal favorite) was incorporated into the week-end’s activities. And last, but by far not least, was the Parade of Fatal Fashions. Much like the Weasel Ball of the second year, a suggestion was made to add an event that I was totally unsure of. The idea was to put on an upscale fashion show that displayed Halloween related costumes and apparel. Remembering my skepticism of introducing the Weasel Ball from a few years ago, and watching it become a time honored tradition, and always being willing to try new ideas, I succumbed to the notion and the event was added to the schedule. As with the Weasel Ball itself, the show was met with rousing enthusiasm by all and a new Ironstock ritual was born.

Over the years we continued to expand and grow. We have learned the ins and outs of vortex tunnels, electronics, lighting, making props from nothing, learned makeup tips and costuming tricks from the pros. This is but a small sample of the lectures and demos that have been covered. The pages would go on forever if I listed everything. This year marks our 6th installment. We continue to learn, grow and make new friends. Ironstock has been described as a freaky family reunion where you aren’t related to the others, but you will like them. 2005 promises to bring in over 400 haunt family members. We hope to see you all there.

We have been blessed to host this event. We have met life long friends and learned more about haunting than we could have ever imagined possible. Although we have the distinct privilege of having our names associated with Ironstock, we cannot take the credit for all of the hard work that goes into creating the success of an event such as this. Dozens of people work diligently behind the scenes throughout the year to make this magic happen. I will not name them here for fear that I may leave out any one of them, but they know who they are, and for all of their hard work and loyalty, we thank you. We could not possibly pull this off without your tireless efforts.

Haunters are the best group of people you could ever become involved with. Their hearts might be black but their love is eternal. This could not happen without the love and support of those around us. We would not do this without the continued interest of haunters from all over the globe. Thank you for coming, thank you for allowing us the privilege of sharing your lives.

Ironstock 2005

The sixth installment saw a distinct milestone for Ironstock 2005. Our numbers swelled to over 500, ranging from the novice wanting to pick up tips, to hard core home haunters. And to fill out the spectrum were the experienced pros all the way to the curious onlookers that just happened to wander into our mix. Ironstock has established itself as truly a coalition of Halloween minded individuals gathering in from all walks of life and backgrounds. Many of our guests came in days ahead of the event, and kick off of the Meet and Greet at the Ramada Inn hosted by Deanna ‘Witchypoo’ Morton was superb. Halloween seasonal treats garnished several tables and everyone had a great time mingling with all of the other haunters. A chartered bus rolled in to take many attendees to the Asylum, our featured haunt tour, in Evansville and also paid a very special visit to the Nick Knackery, a colossal year round Halloween store, for some extra special bargains. On Saturday morning, an overwhelming array of 32 vendors welcomed the throng of visitors offering a range of props, costumes, and all things Halloween related. During the entire week-end our guests were bombarded with a wide variety of demos and seminars that covered many aspects of home and pro haunting. As usual, a few Halloween related games and activities for the entire family were worked into the busy schedule to add a bit of fun for everyone. The second rendition of the Fatal Fashion show was an even bigger success that it’s debut year with a broad range of both custom and standard costumes by designers from around the country. And of course, Ironstock would not be complete without the infamous Weasel Ball.