Work crews say fire at former Fear Fest Haunted House is a controlled burn
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A work crew on scene of the former Fear Fest Haunted House tells ABC 17 News that a fire at the former attraction site in the 6300 block of West Highway 40 is a controlled burn.
Boone County Fire Spokesman Gale Blomenkamp also confirmed to ABC 17 News that it was a controlled burn.
Eli Darrough said his company was asked by the property owner to come a remove what was left of the buildings. Darrough said Fear Fest owner and operator Bill Schnell is no longer associated with the property and that the cost of repairs outweighed what it would cost to tear the structures down.
He said his crew is on day two of the process.
Columbia’s Fear Fest Haunted House made an official announcement on Halloween 2024 stating that it would not be opening for the season for the first time in its more than 20 year history. The attraction racked up 15 safety violations during its annual inspection by the Boone County Fire Protection District.
In Jan. 2025 the Missouri Attorney General’s office launched an investigation into the haunted attraction's owner after multiple people said they still had yet to receive a refund for their 2024 Fear Fest Haunted House tickets. The Missouri Attorney General’s office had to dismiss its case in Oct. against Schnell after being unable to locate him.
