Do you like to get scared? If so, the Ironton Lions Club is ready to help you ring in October with its annual scarefest — the haunted tunnel.

Every October the civic organization rounds up all the ghouls, ghost and goblins it can find to fill the former State Route 75 highway tunnel at the intersection of U.S. 52 and State Route 93.

The tunnel is open every Friday and Saturday night from 7 to 11 for the rest of the month. The $5 per person admission goes a long way.

The club continues its long-running tradition of hosting one of the most unique haunted attractions in the region, if not the entire state.

You would be hard pressed to find another attraction that has this level of creepy appeal.

Everyone has haunted houses. We’ve all seen haunted corn mazes. Trails winding through the woods with actors positioned to jump out and offer some frights have become old hat. I’m not sure anyone else can say that they have a a former highway tunnel that runs more than 200 feet through solid rock and is also a key part of the region’s history.

As always, this event is driven by the volunteers who make it happen each and every year.

No one is getting paid. They are simply pitching in to help with the fundraiser that goes so far toward giving back to the community.

Although just about everyone likes a good scare, this is one for a good cause.

Proceeds from the annual event always go toward a variety of projects including sponsoring local scholarships, providing assistance to other charitable organizations and helping the sight impaired by providing eyeglasses for those in need — both here and abroad — and also sponsoring seeing eye dogs.

Regardless of how many years the club has put on the event, this year may be a milestone of sorts. No, it isn’t 20 years or 25 years. It isn’t the first or the last year. But it could still be very important.

Once again this year the club has worked hard to shake things up a little bit and refresh what is inside the tunnel.

It might be scarier than it has ever been before.

But we are also thinking about the future. Next year, if all goes well, could mark a new beginning.

The club is working toward a makeover for the tunnel to make this an attraction that will be a staple for many years to come.

Visiting the tunnel this year is helping build for the future. Visitors who participate can say they were part of something and help make this happen.

Community support has been crucial to the Lions Club and the haunted tunnel’s success over the years. It may be more so than ever this year and moving forward.

There is nothing scary about that.

Michael Caldwell is publisher of The Tribune. To reach him, call (740) 532-1445 ext. 24 or by e-mail at mike.caldwell@irontontribune.com.