Extreme Fear Hauntings was part of the fantastic Hooves & Haunt event in the Chesterville fairgrounds earlier in October. From the left: Daniel Parent and Samantha Cook are seen surrounded by some ghoulish characters. Thompson Goddard Photo

NORTH DUNDAS – Maple Ridge Place, located at 12820 Highway 43 in North Dundas provides the area with several amenities throughout the year, as well as Extreme Fear Hauntings (EFH) in the Fall.  Maple Ridge School closed in 2011, and the students were transferred to NDDHS. The building was repurposed several times afterwards. Four years ago, after selling their KOA campground, Daniel Parent and Karen McAndrew purchased the building and the land.

“We have worked hard to bring people into the community, increasing visibility for other local businesses and services that benefit from this awareness,” said McAndrew.

She explained that three quarters of the building is dedicated to Extreme Fear Hauntings, which is operated by Daniel and his business partner Samantha Cook. The remaining portion of the building has been converted to tenant space and is home to Painted Parrot Pottery, Health Girl Canada, The Tiny Rock Shop and the Friendship Hive.  A party room, a large event space and a 1,000-square-foot commercial space are available to rent.

Karen mentioned that purchasing the former school required major repairs and renovations. It has also been a challenge to make people aware of the businesses and services located in the building. She noted Maple Ridge Place provides local organizations and vendors with “bright, friendly and clean” spaces.

For those investigating the possibility of starting a small business, McAndrew suggests extensive research on the need for the business and possible competitors. She also suggests being prepared for long work hours and ensuring adequate capital resources during the business start up. Business promotion is an important aspect of business development, and she suggests that you “use every possible opportunity to promote your business” and think “outside the box” to develop strategies to accomplish this.

Extreme Fear Hauntings is the flagship tenant at Maple Ridge Place and operates select dates and times. In 2026, the “Haunt Season” started on September 18 and will run until Oct. 30. McAndrew explained EFH is recommended for individuals 13 years of age and above; however, “we leave it up to the parents’ discretion whether their younger children can handle the high scare level or not.” She continued by saying that “they attach the caveat that there are no refunds for being scared, as it means they are doing a great job.” On Oct. 18 between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. the annual “Scaredy Cat Matinee” will be held, which provides an “opportunity to see the amazing details in the Haunt with the lights on and no jump scare actors.”

While operating the Cardinal KOA, McAndrew noted their “most popular activity was their Hallowe’en weekends which included fun activities such as dressing up in costume, pumpkin carving and “spooky activities”. When the campground was sold, they began looking for another location to continue running the Hallowe’en haunt experience, with the former school described as “the perfect location with both inside and outside space to expand.”

When asked about why people would want to go to a haunted house event, McAndrew replied that “People love the adrenaline rush they get from being scared.” She noted that the celebration of Hallowe’en is becoming more popular each year, with Haunt attendance increasing as “more people hear about us.”

The Haunt offers volunteers an opportunity to earn community service hours to meet their school requirements.  McAndrew noted that “a portion of the proceeds from both the Haunted House and the Pottery Studio goes to Camp Quality Eastern Ontario, a charity that sends children with cancer to camp and provides year-round support to their families.

More information is available on their social media pages.

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