October 21, 2022 |
Big things are happening at the “big house,” all in the spirit of the season. The Halloween-style festivities at the Wyoming Frontier Prison in Rawlins kick off tonight with the Masquerade Ball fundraiser.
Tina Hill, the prison’s Historic Director, invites people to attend the 7th Masquerade Ball. Held in A-Wing, the most haunted area of the prison, there will be drinks, hor d’oeuvres, and live music by Still House Blues. Director Hill talked about the things on offer tonight.
Pictured above: File photo of Wyoming Frontier Prison in Rawlins. Photo by Cali O’Hare/Bigfoot 99.
Hill expects between 50 to 75 people to attend. The beer and wine were donated for the masquerade ball. All proceeds go to support the museum.
Next week starts the Haunted Halloween Night Tours at the prison. Hill and her team have been brain-storming Halloween ideas since summer. The theme changes every year. Hill said last year’s theme was, “The Demons Within Present: The Origins of Horror.”
“Outlaw Terror,” is the theme this year. Hill and her team of volunteers have come up with a variety of western themed frights. Hill didn’t want to give too much away, but she did mention some of the attractions.
Hill has been the historic director of the Wyoming Frontier Prison for 22 years. She knows the facility better than anyone else. Operating from 1901 to 1981, Hill said there were many deaths. Most of them occurred on A-Wing.
Hanging was the original method of execution until the gas chamber was built. Hill said most people assume that building would be the most haunted, but only a small number of inmates were executed.
Hill relies entirely on unpaid help to put on the Haunted Halloween Night Tours. Volunteers are always needed, she said.
The Wyoming Frontier Prison is located at 500 West Walnut Street. The Masquerade Ball will be held tonight, October 21st, from 7 to 10pm. The entry fee is $40, cash or card. You must be 21 or older to attend.
The Haunted Halloween Night Tours will be October 28th, 29th, and 31st, from 7 p.m. to midnight. Tickets are $20 per person and all guests must be 12 or older. Reservations are required. Go to the Wyoming Frontier Prison website at http://wyomingfrontierprison.org/ to schedule your time.
