We have been adding to them every year for the past 2 years. This will be our third year and we are growing.

We are into the scare tactics rather than the gory things. We also have a lot of great volunteers that we call our actors and without them we would not be able to put this on each year.

The past two years have been free, but this year we are charging $1.00 to help defray the costs of the materials and props that we have purchased.

You never know where any of us might be hiding or if what you see is really a person. So come to Ocilla and check us out.

THIS IS AN ARTICLE WRITTEN BY DIANE PLESS AT THE OCILLA STAR OCTOBER 23, 2002:

If you enjoy a good scare (your teenagers probably do), then a trip to the Haunted House on Alapaha Highway should be on your list of things to do.

Linda and "Del" Delaney have crafted 11 spooky rooms on their property, each room designed to intrigue and confuse their guests as they make their way through. After you enter, the idea is to find your way out of each room, and you never know what you'll find along the way.

"You can't exit an area through the same door you came in," explained Del, "you'll have to find your way out".

And that's easier said than done. I should know. I made a tour of the house in broad daylight this past weekend and was stumped several times.

There are lots of "cubbyholes" or hiding places built in for the "actors" who will do their best to scare the living daylights out of you.

"Expect the unexpected," Linda said of the couples' masterpiece. And the element of surprise is what makes the house so much fun.

Opening night was this past Saturday, and was basically a dress rehearsal and opportunity to work out the kinks, Linda said. Including the Delaneys, approximately 20 volunteers serve as actors and are the "characters" you'll meet when you visit. Linda assures everyone that there'll be no touching- the actors won't touch you, and you shouln't touch them. In other words, nobody's going to grab you as you go through.

Including this past Saturday, the house will be open to the public six nights this year, which is the second year the couple has set it up for the community's enjoyment. You can visit this weekend, October 25, 28, on Halloween, October 31, and the weekend of November 1st and 2nd from 7 to 10 p.m. each night.

Why do they do it?

Mostly because it's a lot of fun, they told me. And Linda likes giving our young people something different to do this time of the year.

"No one can relly appreciate why we do it unless they have worked with us," she said.

And it could be because these two are kids at heart themselves.

Why else would they spend about eight weeks(starting in September)"building" this spooky house, complete with props and trick entrances and exits.

Del said a friend, Emmitt Smith of Fitzgerald, got them interested in doing a haunted house years ago when they helped him with his. When Smith moved away, Del and Linda acquired his props and the rest is history.

You won't have to pay to enter the house, but Linda said donations would be appreciated. And there will be an opportunity for guests to purchase refreshments while there.

Linda added that a visit to the haunted house is not for the faint at heart. "There are some areas that are really intense, but everything's designed with safety in mind."

So parents may want to go through and check it out before letting young children visit.

The Delaneys plan to open their house every year as long as they are able and would really like the community to help them give it a special name for the next year. So, check it out and let them know what you think.

To get to the Delaney's from Ocilla, go about four miles south on Highway 129 and the house is on the right. You can't miss it.