The Curse of Erie Hollows

"The Toll Must Be Paid..."

It was All Hallows' Eve, 1888, when the prosperous town of Erie Hollows vanished into darkness. What was meant to be a night of celebration—the Festival of the Willows—became the last night anyone ever saw its villagers. On that fateful evening, they were swallowed by a curse that has haunted our community ever since....

A Town Full of Secrets

Erie Hollows was a beacon of industry, nestled along the misty shores of Onondaga Lake. Known for its salt production and vibrant willow basket-making, the town flourished for decades. By day, it was a place of life and laughter. By night, it harbored secrets buried deep beneath its thriving exterior.

Once a year, the townspeople gathered for the Festival of the Willows, a celebration of the harvest, complete with lanterns, music, dancing, and children playing in the streets. It was the one night a year when the community seemed untouched by the looming shadows... But not everything was as it seemed.

Dr. Thaddeus Crane, a brilliant yet sinister figure, had his own plans beneath the ground. His “medical research” had taken a darker turn, and on that fateful night, an experiment went horribly wrong. The earth beneath the town shook, a sickly green light filled the sky, and the echoes of joyous festival sounds twisted into terrified screams.

By dawn, Erie Hollows was no more. The villagers were gone—vanished as if they had never existed. Their homes were empty, the festival grounds silent. And all that remained was a single message, scrawled in blood across the old town hall:

“The Toll Must Be Paid.”

Whispers of the Lost

For years, Erie Hollows was lost, its name nothing but a whispered ghost story told around campfires. But in 1954, while workers were expanding the New York State Thruway, they unearthed what should have stayed buried. Strange artifacts and remnants of that fateful festival were discovered. And with them came the curse.

Shadows that moved on their own. Laughter that echoed through the windless nights. And then came the whispers—rising from the ground, from the trees, from the very air. The workers fled, but the curse did not stay hidden.

Every Halloween since, Erie Hollows awakens. The boundary between our world and theirs begins to fray. The festival returns, but not as it once was. What was joyful now exists only in darkness, twisted by the curse that doomed the town.

The Haunted Grounds Await You

Today, those brave enough to walk the haunted trails of Erie Hollows find themselves stepping back into that cursed night. The remnants of the Festival of the Willows still stand, but twisted and warped by the curse that lingers over the land.

As you enter the trail, you may encounter the Purge, a horrifying ritual gone wrong. The townsfolk, desperate to purge the curse from their land, descend into madness—driven to terrifying acts of violence in their attempt to rid themselves of the evil that plagues them.
Gargoyles, once silent stone guardians of the town, now stir with dark life. They stand watch over the ruins, their cold eyes following your every move—waiting for the right moment to spring from their perches and strike terror into those who dare to trespass.
In the Junkyard, the forgotten remnants of Erie Hollows' past lie in rusted heaps. But beware—those abandoned machines, overtaken by the spirits of the restless dead, stir with malevolent intent. Their clanging metal and grinding gears echo the rage of the town’s lost souls.
Deeper still lies Butcher McGraw a.k.a. 'PIGGY's' Chop Shop, where the horrors of Erie Hollows take on a more visceral form. The sound of chainsaws buzz in the night, and the sharp metallic scent of blood fills the air. The butcher’s gruesome appetite for fresh meat was born from the town’s darkest days—and it’s far from sated.
Then, there is Dr. Thaddeus Crane himself, still lingering in the cursed town. His twisted experiments continue in the hidden recesses of his laboratory, where he seeks “volunteers” for his grotesque research. His obsession with life and death knows no bounds, and you may find yourself a part of his latest horrific endeavors if you venture too close.

The Curse Persists...

As you walk the haunted grounds of Erie Hollows, you will hear them—festival-goers whispering their secrets, children laughing one moment, screaming the next, and the ominous toll of a bell, ringing over and over again.

The curse endures, feeding off the town’s forgotten sins. The spirits of the lost villagers are still trapped, reliving their final moments on an endless loop, waiting for someone—anyone—to break the cycle. But the curse will not rest, and it demands a price.

This year, the Walk of the Dead dares you to face the horrors of Erie Hollows, to step into the shadows where the past meets the present. The curse will not be lifted until the toll is paid, and the spirits are freed.

But beware—few who enter these haunted woods leave unchanged. The horrors of Erie Hollows do not easily release their grip.

Will you be the one to finally put the curse to rest? Or will you, too, become a part of Erie Hollows, lost forever in its twisted history?

The choice is yours... but remember:

"The Toll Must Be Paid."

🚨 Price Alert🚨

You’ve read the curse, now dare to experience it. But beware… the price of fear goes up after

Saturday, 9/21 at midnight!

Secure your spot in the haunted trail before the clock strikes twelve... or face the rising toll! ⏰

Lock-in Lower Rates

A Special Thanks to our local business partners that make these adventures possible...

Powered by our local business partners that make these adventures possible...

Be a Part of Something Wicked… and Wonderful

Calling All Local Heroes, Artists, and Haunters!

Are you passionate about our community? Do you have a love for creativity, safety, or a good scare? The Walk of the Dead and our partners are investing in YOU—the people who make this community strong. Whether you're a local artisan, a talented performer, or just someone looking to lend a hand, we want YOU to be part of this year’s event.