The beloved Ames Haunted Forest has been in the family business of scaring Iowans for the last 26 years, but this year, it decided to permanently close. Brothers Lee and Lynn Ballard opened the forest with the help of their father in 1997 and have since operated the forest with the help of their wives, children and other family members.
The Ballard brothers’ father was originally a magician with a knack for entertaining guests. On a family trip to Texas, they encountered a man setting up a haunted attraction, and their business got started from there.
“We went up and talked to the guy,” Lee Ballard, co-owner of the Ames Haunted Forest, said. “We proceeded to tell him about our land, that we had timber, parking, electricity and we were right next to the college. [The man] said, ‘You know you’re sitting on a gold mine?’”
From that moment on, the dream of the Haunted Forest was alive. The Ballard brothers were able to purchase haunting equipment from an old haunted forest in Cedar Rapids, and with the help of their family, they had an attraction.
“The first year, we made money,” Lee said. “It was that big of a success. The whole key to it, though, is the college kids, the actors. We can build all we want in the woods, but if those actors aren’t good, well, trust me, they were all good.”
The Haunted Forest provided many Iowa State students with job opportunities for the duration of each fall season. Lee Ballard said the greatest part of working with the students was getting the chance to see them come out of their shells.
“They really are amazing kids,” Lee said.
The Haunted Forest attraction brought in around 250,000 guests throughout its 26-year duration.
“We enjoyed them as much as they enjoyed us,” Lee said. “My brother and I would always be out front. That’s kind of our gig, just out with the people. We thank them for coming, ask them how they liked it and ask them what we can improve on.”
Though the beloved attraction is permanently closed, the owners have a plan for the land.
The parking lot for the Haunted Forest has been used for football tailgate parking for many years. Now, every game is sold out for parking at the Haunted Forest. The Ballard brothers have plans to remove some of the trees in the area to make way for more parking space for game-day celebrations.
“All good things must come to an end,” Debbie Ballard, wife of Lynn Ballard, said. “I’ve grown up here for the past 24 years. […] We all worked together and took pride in entertaining everyone.”
Debbie Ballard shared her remorse regarding the closure of the Haunted Forest. She said the Haunted Forest has taken up the majority of the fall seasons for the Ballard family, and though she is very sad to see it go, she is looking forward to spending time cheering on the Cyclones and enjoying her fall.
The Haunted Forest brought joy to guests from all over Iowa. Lee even recalled watching couples get together, marriage proposals and other sweet gestures during his time spent haunting the Forest.
All in all, though the attraction is gone, the memory of it is not. Debbie urges guests to hold onto those memories to keep the Forest alive.
More information about the Haunted Forest’s football parking can be found on their website.
