Yenska Beaudoin
Many Upper Arlington residents know one of the city’s most anticipated Halloween traditions — the Golden Bear Scare. However, the event’s long history and how it comes together each year are less well-known.
The Golden Bear Scare began in 1977 as a haunted house at the Reed Road Shelter House, featuring Halloween decorations and candy for children. Over time, high school students joined in, dressing as witches and goblins to guide visitors through the attraction. In the mid-1990s, the haunted house moved to Thompson Park and was reimagined as a haunted castle. In 2008, the Haunted Castle closed due to limited funding from the Upper Arlington Civic Association (UACA).
After a few years’ hiatus, the event returned in 2012 as a haunted forest at Smith Nature Park, which continues today. This year, the Golden Bear Scare will run from Monday, Oct. 27, through Wednesday, Oct. 29. “Spooky Hours,” designed for younger children, will take place from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., followed by “Scary Hours” from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m.
First-year UACA director Natalie Paider and three other organizers are leading the event this year. Planning begins in August, when organizers review previous years and coordinate volunteers. Junior Directors sign up for roles called “scarers” and will dress like scarecrows, zombies or other characters, or assist visitors with questions in the parking area. Volunteer opportunities are sometimes open to the public.
The UACA directors work to make the event bigger and better each year.
“It’s evolved, you know. We do about 2,000 people a night, so 6,000 people total over the three nights of the event. We learned from past years what works, what doesn’t work, so we are constantly trying to keep on top [of it] and make it the best we can every year,” Paider said. “[This year] we have a haunted cornfield section that’s gonna be super scary, and then we have some cool lighting effects that we’re using some technology for a light show.”
Throughout the years, legends and lore have been told about some of the iconic characters. For example, Old Man Smith was the Warden of the Prison, which is where Smith Woods is now. At the time, a prison riot killed his wife, leading the land to be haunted by her, the ghosts of the prisoners, witches and Mongo (who was the farmhand of the prison). Even Old Man Smith would admit it: ghosts, goblins and ghouls make his forest the place to be in UA.