The Living Dead Invite You to Their Home

Haunted houses are de rigor in New Orleans.  In fact, it is not much of a stretch to say that the whole city is haunted.  We readily accept that ancestors and spirits live among us.  To us, the past is never the past, and the future is just today waiting to happen.  Here, death is not the end of life, it is the continuation of one eternal existence.

It is fitting then that the best Halloween haunted house in the city takes place in a mortuary.  The Haunted Mortuary is an icon of old New Orleans at the end of Canal Street.  Less than 3 miles from the enchanting French Quarter, this magnificent mansion was originally built in 1872 and operated for about 80 years as an actual mortuary.  This actively-haunted, 14,000 square foot, 3-story mansion is reported to have numerous known resident ghosts.

"It's not your typical Haunted House," says Jeff Borne owner of The Mortuary.  "It is being featured on the Discovery Channel's new paranormal show, Ghost Lab, on Tuesday October 20th.  The place was also featured by The Travel Channel as one of America's Scariest Attractions.  It's the perfect setting for a one-of-kind haunted house."  The Mortuary Haunted House property is surrounded by actual graveyards.  Ghost hunters from around the world have come to The Mortuary to experience unearthly entities year round.  Add to that inherently spook environment state of the art animatronics, theatrical sets, movie-quality makeup, and special effects and you get to experience one of the most terrifying Halloween haunted houses ever.

Upon entering the dark corridors of The Mortuary Haunted House, you encounter the works of a twisted mortician named Ravencroft.  He discovered the secret to immortality many years ago when he  removed the life rejuvenating fluids from a body in the process of transforming it into a vampire.  Now he needs an endless supply of blood to continue his ghastly experiments and to extend his own life.  Guests will experience Ravencroft's experiments and his unfortunate results.

The Mortuary is now open running weekends through November 14 plus all of Halloween Week. Borne says "During the weekend of Nov. 6th, we will also feature a special Flashlight Fear Fest Weekend where our brave guests will tour The Mortuary in complete darkness with only micro-flashlights to guide their way.  And, during the weekend of November 13, we will host an exclusive Friday The 13th Slasher Weekend hosted by your favorite horror movie serial killers wielding machetes, finger blades, and of course, a chainsaw maniac!  You'll be the victim in your own adrenaline-filled slasher movie.  It's terror extreme at The Mortuary Haunted House."

General admission to The Haunted Mortuary is $25 per person, but there are many ways to get reduced admssion.  On Friday, November 13, ticket are only $13 each.  Go to http://www.themortuary.net/main.htm and click on tickets for details.  You can get in free if you particpate in the annual blood drive.  Says owner Borne "Again, this year The Mortuary is 'Out For Blood' as we team up with The Blood Center for their annual blood drive.  Give the gift of life and donate blood on location at The Mortuary and you'll receive a FREE VIP Admission to the haunt."  Group discounts are also available.  For more information, dates, hours, special events, and discount coupons, visit The Haunted Mortuary online at http://www.themortuary.net/