Halloween may be two weeks away, but witches, vampires, werewolves and many ghoulish surprises are already lurking in the Haunted Forest.

The Haunted Forest, 500 South Riverside Drive, one block east of the ISU football stadium, is open Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights through Halloween from 7 until “the last one’s out,” usually around midnight, said Lynn Ballard, one of the organizers.

Saturday night, a long line stood outside of the forest waiting to see what was behind the closed door. Everyone could hear screaming and the sound of a chain saw from behind a black tarp wall. Every once in a while, a whoosh could be heard and a group would run out through a black curtain, sometimes still shrieking.

Once through the door, a thick cloud of white smoke made it very difficult to see where to go. A dark tunnel with flashing lights led the people into the forest.

The path through the forest was dimly lit with small, colored lights. Hiding in the dark forest were cackling witches around a cauldron, werewolves and vampires saying, “I vant to drink your blood,” and the occasional headless corpse. A graveyard and a unique electric chair that provided quite a jolt also were along the path.

Monsters, both actors and mechanized, jumped out suddenly, and a few of them continued to follow people. Screams could be heard from people in groups across the woods.

“It was disturbing when they kept following me,” said Shannon Nehl, sophomore in animal science.

One more surprise sent people racing to find the exit through the black tarp before coming back into the night.

Andrea Bueltel, freshman in biology, liked the smoke the best.

“The beginning is the best part,” she said.

This is the first year the Haunted Forest has been in Ames, but with continued support, it will stay for many more, Ballard said.

“We intend to be here from now on,” said Curtis Claxton, designer of the forest.

Ballard said the forest is “a family operation,” with his father, wife, three sons and all of the children in the Ballard family working on it. Orville Ballard, Lynn’s father, owns the forest.

Twenty-five paid actors, all Iowa State students, also work in the forest. An investment of $48,000 was put into the forest and all of its props, Ballard said.

“The key here is to put on a good show,” Claxton said.

Pro-Transport of Des Moines donated two semi-trucks to carry the props for the forest, and David Armstrong of Ames donated a CAT to make the path through the woods, Ballard said.

People have been coming from as far as 75 miles away to see the forest, he said. “We’ve had really good response from all of the people going through,” Claxton said.

Bueltel said bringing people along made her visit more enjoyable.

“It’s worth it if you’re with fun people,” she said.

Ballard also said coming in a group can enhance the experience. “Come with a good attitude and don’t come alone,” he said.

People must be at least 12 years old to enter the forest. General admission for the show is $10 or $8 for students with their ISU cards.

This Thursday only, ISU students, faculty and staff will be admitted for $5. “It is in appreciation of the support that Iowa State has given us,” Claxton said.