By Jade Bulecza - bio | email
VALDOSTA, GA (WALB) - Ghosts, goblins, and zombies will return to Reed Bingham State Park this weekend.
Scary surprises await you at a haunted beach house and forest.
There will also be animal shows, educational events, and volunteer opportunities.
If you visit Reed Bingham State Park this weekend you're in for a scare and for a good cause.
"It's a good time everyone leaves laughing and screaming and having a really good time," said Vance Boone of the the Friends of Reed Bingham.
The small amount you pay goes to improving and maintaining the park. Volunteers are needed for the Fall Festival Friday and Saturday nights.
"We can use about 25 to 30 people on the haunted trails and I've never worked the haunted house but I'm sure they can use quite a few people over there also," said Boone.
Some of the main events include a haunted beach house, hayrides through haunted trails, and eyes-in-the-dark boat ride.
On the pontoon boat ride you may come across nocturnal animals including bats and alligators, like Leroy. His golden eyes appear to shine orange at night.
People are able to see alligators in the wild up close.
"This way you get to see them active in their natural habitat in a safe environment," said Interpretive Ranger Jennifer Glover.
Leroy was hit by a boat in Florida and is one of the park's rescue animals. He'll grow much larger, maybe a little smaller than the distance between these two posts.
"He lost his top jaw, front left foot and also part of his tail," said Glover.
She says a lot of people see alligators as big lizards.
"Their brain functions more like mine and yours really intelligent beings that get people in lot of trouble sometimes," said Glover. "When they feed alligators they sometimes learn that behavior and get them and the people get into a pickle."
The park's largest fundraiser of the year attracts hundreds.
The halloween activities are from 7 to 11 Friday and Saturday nights. Click here to find out more.
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