With some Irish luck, guests at Stillwell Manor's Saint Patrick's Day-themed haunt can win a prize if they uncover enough gold coins hidden throughout the attraction.
"Guests have a challenge," Stillwell Manor owner Josh Smith said of the event, St. Patty's Slay. "If they find five coins while they are going through, they (win a free ticket)."
But the challenge won't be easy. Their search efforts will be met with plenty of shenanigans and an angry, villainous "sister" out for revenge, he said.
Smith, who owns the Anderson, Ind., haunt with his father, Darrell Smith, said the March 18th-event will be up-tempo and interactive to create a "quick twitch," fast-paced environment as guests look for the coins.
Actors will be in their faces and causing commotion to deter their hunt for coins, he said.
"It's a little bit more frantic," Smith said.
Coins will be in seven places inside the haunt, which is located in a former movie theater.
Stillwell Manor, open for 10 years, has been holding a Saint Patrick's Day haunt since 2018. This is the first year for the coin hunt.
Smith said St. Patty's Slay focuses on a character named Saint Patricia, also known as Sister Patricia, who became upset that people lost focus of how she believes the day should be spent - honoring Saint Patrick.
"Saint Patricia is someone who was with a church and did not like the way they were taking over Saint Patrick's Day and turning it into a form of debauchery and drinking, so she is taking revenge," Smith said.
She also recruited others who feel mischaracterized on Saint Patrick's Day, including leprechauns, to help with her revenge plot.
Smith said guests will have plenty of interaction with these creatures throughout the approximately 20-minute haunt and encounter Saint Patricia.
"You will see Saint Patricia - hopefully twice," he said.
St. Patty's Slay is one of six off-season haunts Stillwell Manor runs. It's also one of at least 25 Saint Patrick's Day haunts being held by attractions across the country.
Admission to St. Patty's Slay is $15, or $25 for two tickets.
