If you’re looking for a good scare this Halloween season, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office has cooked up some ghoulish fun that you’ll definitely want to check out.
Sheriff Hardwick’s Haunted Jail is located in the old county lockup, which adds to the realism — and creepiness — of the attraction. Courageous souls will venture through a dark labyrinth that features truly spine-tingling horrors with a unique judicial and law enforcement theme. We don’t want to give away all the surprises but suffice to say this is no place to become a “lifer.”
Once visitors have survived the shocking climax of this portion of the attraction, they move on to areas featuring villains from some of Hollywood’s biggest horror films. Here, your nightmares will come to life.
Visitors will breathe a sigh of relief when they finally exit the Haunted Jail and are met with the cheery sight of food trucks. There will also be special, nonalcoholic Halloween-themed beverages for kids and adults.
“It will be a good time,” said Capt. Bobby Dean. “You’ll get food, drink and a scary time and all at a safe address here by the Sheriff’s Office.”
The various departments of the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office have been working to create the Haunted Jail for some time. From the start, they’ve had help from the Limelight Theatre, which has supplied actors to portray the characters and experts in the theatre arts and theatrical make-up to help enhance the attraction’s effectiveness.
In recent weeks, the Sheriff’s Office has been drumming up support for the Haunted Jail with its haunted patrol car. The car features a scary wrap, created by #201WRAP, 1515 County Road 210, St. Johns.
“We just said we wanted a haunted patrol car,” said Dean. “Next thing you know, they were giving us renderings, and within a couple of weeks we had a haunted patrol car show up.”
In addition, the car emits a ghostly fog.
“We’ve been using it,” Dean said. “We’ve been going to high school football games. And who knows? On Halloween, we might do traffic stops with it.”
Sheriff Hardwick’s Haunted Jail will be open 6-11 p.m. Oct. 21, 22, 28 and 29. It is located at 4025 Lewis Speedway, just across the street from the St. Johns County Courthouse. Note: Children under 14 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.
When visitors arrive, they should turn into the courthouse parking lot, 4010 Lewis Speedway. Signs will show the way. Then, deputies, members of Explorer Post 911 and public service assistants will guide visitors safely across Lewis Speedway to the Haunted Jail.
While there will be a limited number of on-site tickets for sale, it’s best to purchase admission online. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at sjso.org. Click on the “Haunted Jail” image and then on the “Select a Date” button.
Because no taxpayer funds are used for the Haunted Jail, sponsors play an important role in creating it. Anyone who would like to be a sponsor or make a donation should contact PIO Peret Pass or Cpl. Greg Suchy at 904-824-8304.
The event is a fundraiser for the Sheriff’s Office Special Teams Association. Money raised will purchase necessities for the K9 units, SWAT team and groups like that.
To see Sheriff Robert Hardwick’s arrest of a top Hollywood horror star in a funny video promoting the Haunted Jail, go to sjso.org and click on “Haunted Jail.”
