Take a drive down to 191 County Road 741 and you’ll see an unpaved road that leads to a “dead end” sign; keep driving and you’ll find a fenced area with what looks to be an abandoned hiking trail. When approaching the trail and exploring with a guide, you’ll come to find out there’s a murderer on the loose with a chainsaw…
The Dead End Haunted Trail began in 2014, but after that first year was not opened again until 2017, when Angelia Selvage and John Cox started it up again.
This scary Halloween trail operates for a frighteningly good cause. Admission is a donation of a gently used or new toy or non-perishable, in-date food item. All donations will go to local nonprofit Saving Forgotten Warriors. There is no charge for parking. The trail will be open every Friday and Saturday night through Oct. 31, from 7:30 p.m.-?; it’s also open Oct. 30-31.
Selvage said the trail’s donation box has quickly filled up over this season’s first two weekends, with visitors coming from all over Cullman County, Boaz and Athens.
“Every group that’s been through has come back,” she said.
She said some groups claim the Dead End Haunted Trail is better than the Atrox Factory in Leeds.
So what attracts visitors to the trail? Some of the workers joked, “The chainsaws!” but Selvage said it’s returning groups who enjoyed the experience before, plus word of mouth.
Organizers said what sets the Dead End Haunted Trail apart from other trails is that every experience is unique. It’s a different “performance” from each actor on every run-through.
All ages are welcome to walk through the trail, and organizers noted that if someone gets too scared or needs to leave, they will be escorted out with no hassle. If a child gets too scared, the actors will reveal that they’re actors and not actually scary.
Selvage said feedback about the trail is welcomed.
For more information, contact Angelia Selvage at 256-347-9361 or Lisa Bates at 256-531-8446 or visit www.facebook.com/groups/1962365247384581.
At a glance
Dead End Haunted Trail
Every Friday and Saturday night through Oct. 31, 7:30 p.m.-?; also open Oct. 30-31
Admission is a donation of a gently used or new toy or non-perishable, in-date food item.
191 County Road 741, Cullman, AL 35055
Candy for all kids!
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