Timmins man’s haunted mansion a spooktacular labour of love

Timmins man hosts a haunted mansion open house for Halloween at 1094 Chestnut Lane, collecting donations for the local food bank. Lydia Chubak reports.

For the ninth consecutive year, the Haunted Brimstone Mansion in Timmins, Ont., is preparing to open its doors for a spine-tingling Halloween experience.

Ron Lepine has transformed his residential property into an elaborate attraction, a venture he says has consumed tens of thousands of dollars from himself and sponsors over the years.

The setup and takedown is a monumental task, requiring approximately 4,300 hours of work from Lepine and his crew. Despite the immense effort, he describes the haunted house as a profound labour of love, driven by his grandchildren and his wife, who is battling cancer.

“And every year she stays alive, I said I’d do it, so I’m hoping to be able to continue, but it’s getting harder – help has been slow in coming in,” said Lepine.

Commitment to local kids

Despite the challenges and the slow arrival of volunteers, Lepine said he cannot bear to disappoint the community’s children. He told CTV News that he feels a personal responsibility to provide a festive activity for young people in the city, especially those who may find other attractions financially out of reach.

“I find that somebody has to help this city do something, and I find there’s not enough for the children and where there is, well, some of them can’t afford to go,” said Lepine.

Giving back

Admission to the haunted mansion operates on a charitable basis. Everyone is welcome to tour the attraction and encounter its creepy ghouls, with Lepine requesting only a donation for the Timmins Food Bank – a $2 contribution per person and a non-perishable food item. This initiative is his family’s primary way of supporting those in need.

“We may have a job to do, you know, throughout the year, but sometimes we got to give back and this is our way of giving back and we give 100 per cent back to the food bank,” said Lepine.

The event is a significant boon for the local food bank. Lepine said he has collected more than 3,000 pounds of food and close to $3,000 each year – with his busiest season seeing over 5,000 visitors.

The event

Tours of the elaborate mansion take approximately 15 to 20 minutes to complete and all guests receive treats before they depart. The Haunted Brimstone Mansion will be open on Oct. 29-31 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Lepine notes that hours may extend later if long lineups of eager visitors persist.

The attraction is located at 1094 Chestnut Lane.

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