Construction underway on new Lake Robinson haunted house

Plans are on track to soon open the newly rebuilt Lake Robinson haunted house.

The house that was once burned to the ground, is just off Old Camden Road near Highway 151, west of Hartsville.

After the fire in late September, the rescue squad received an outpouring of support from the community to rebuild the local landmark.

“Seeing it totally destroyed was probably one of the worst feelings we’ve felt in a very, very long time,“ said Lake Robinson Rescue Squad Captain Jason Cooke.

Members of the squad were devastated when their main source of funding burned to the ground, but just weeks later volunteers helped a new house, quite literally, rise from the ashes.

“It just broke my heart seeing it burned down and everything, and it’s gonna open next Friday, so I figured I’d come out here and help them out,“ said volunteer Cory Nice.

Volunteers donated their time, tools and efforts to help rebuild the home in record time.

They have already completed the main structure of the house, constructed the walls, are finishing up the roof and plan to have the electrical wiring installed in the next few days.

For the rescue squad though, the efforts meant much more than simple construction efforts.

“I think the whole rescue squad is overjoyed. We’re a tighter group now then we’ve been in years, and everybody seems to be trying to work together to do this for the community because we see how much it really meant to everybody,“ said Cooke.

Community members say the haunted house has been a part of their lives for many years, and they wanted to ensure that it stays that way.

“I think that everybody that’s out there, that’s volunteered their time and service has got the same thing in mind that we all have…it’s that hopefully we’ll be able to save a life, that we’ll be able to help someone,“ said lifelong Lake Robinson Rescue Squad member Pat Kissiah.

“It means so much to the community and it’s helping the community out because once the rescue squad gets the money here, it goes into fuel to help run calls and everything to save people’s lives,“ said Nice.

Rescue squad members say they plan to open the house on schedule and hope despite all of the previous setbacks, that this year will be their biggest and best year ever.

Rescue squad members say the house will be complete by Oct. 23.

The house will be open from that date through Halloween with the exception of Oct. 26 and 27.

The gates will open at dark.

Tickets are $5 per person and all funds go to the Lake Robinson Rescue Squad.