“Do we need any more heads in here? How about the blood splatter?” These might not be common phrases you would hear on your average work site but questions about body parts and blood were part of the everyday magic for those who made the Hotel Vernal Haunt possible again this year. There were countless smiles, laughs, and even some tears shed last night as the Hotel Vernal Haunt presented local charities with donation checks thanks to another successful year of scaring folks for a good cause. Vernal City Manager Quinn Bennion shared that the Haunt has received several recognitions this year including the Paul Harris Fellowship Award from the Vernal Rotary Club, the DinoSOAR Service Award from the Vernal Chamber, and the Community Partnership of the Year Award from the State Chamber. This year the Haunt had over 300 volunteers with 95 present each of the 11 nights the Haunt was open and 6,168 guests who paid for the experience to benefit local charities. All in attendance were thrilled to learn that the Haunt raised $60,000 dollars this year, up from the $48,000 dollars raised last year. Bennion and co-Haunt coordinator Megan Carrol-Munoz presented the following checks: $8,000 dollars to the Vernal Rotary Club for their literacy campaign, $10,000 dollars to the Charitable Friends of Ashley Valley, $18,000 dollars to Drug Court, and $24,000 dollars to Uintah County Search and Rescue. The Haunt also collected 300 pounds worth of non-perishable items to donate to the Ashley Valley Food Pantry. Bennion said that the hope is to continue the Haunt into the future.
Photo Credit: Lesha Coltharp
