Batesville’s newest haunted attraction, The River Haunt Hotel, will officially open this October, offering thrill-seekers a professionally designed, immersive experience every Friday and Saturday night throughout the month. The hotel, located at 171 W. Main St., is an initiative of the Batesville Downtown Foundation and serves as a primary fundraiser for the organization.
According to Foundation organizer Suzanne Magouyrk, the haunted hotel has been created to provide top-tier Halloween entertainment to the region. “The River Haunt Hotel has been designed to give our thrill-seeking customers maximum scare in a creepy environment, staying true to our hotel theme but with a Haunted Halloween twist, and with waiting lines as short as possible,” said Magouyrk. The attraction will be open from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. every Friday and Saturday night in October.
The River Haunt Hotel was developed by a team of local organizers with extensive experience in creating haunted attractions. The venue’s design and execution reflect their collective expertise, said Amy Crouch-Howard, president of the foundation. She added that the haunted house honors Batesville’s historic Marvin and Arlington hotels, drawing inspiration from their rich past.
The Arlington Hotel, built in 1879, was once considered a luxurious three-story building and rumored to have hosted notable guests such as outlaw Jesse James. A fire in 1903 destroyed the top floor, and a flat roof was later added by the owner. By the 1930s, the building became known as the Marvin Hotel under its new lessee Marvin R. Bailey. The Marvin operated until 1990, when structural issues closed its doors permanently. The building later burned in 2001 and was eventually demolished.
Plans for The River Haunt Hotel began after the Foundation’s haunted house, originally located in a city-owned building along Stadium Drive, was displaced by municipal construction projects. The new site, at the corner of State and Main streets, was secured following the purchase of the lot, leading to the development of a multipurpose building that would house the attraction.
In addition to providing Halloween scares, The River Haunt Hotel will operate as a year-round event venue for local gatherings, aiming to fill a community need for such a space.
A dedication ceremony is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 25, at 1 p.m. to celebrate the effort and generosity of the volunteers, professionals, and donors who contributed to the project. The attraction’s lead organizers include Rear Admiral Robert Carius, Suzanne Magouyrk, David Thompson, Tammy Arnold, Patrick Arnold, and Andy Edwards. Noted local historian Alan Bufford also played a crucial role in shaping the historical elements of the attraction.
For more information about hours, tickets, and details on the haunted house, visit riverhaunthotel.com.