Casper, WY – Downtown merchants are inviting families to become “intrepid ghost hunters” as the second annual Great October Ghost Hunt winds down. The month‑long scavenger hunt, organized by Trinity Beck, owner of The Dreadful Bookstore, features eleven participating shops, all within walking distance of one another.
How the hunt works
Each business hides a small ghost plushie for children to discover. When a family finds a ghost, they receive a stamp for their event passport and a small prize unique to that shop. Collecting all eleven stamps enters the family into a grand‑prize drawing after the hunt concludes.
Local merchants see a boost
“I just thought it would be fun and a great way for people to discover all the great shops that we have downtown,” Beck said. She added that feedback from last year highlighted how many shoppers found new stores they hadn’t known existed.
Co‑owner Charlie Lee of Sword N Stones LLC confirmed the uptick in foot traffic. “We’ve actually had quite a few come in because of the ghost hunt,” Lee said. “Anything that gets people into local businesses is a good thing, especially with the construction we’ve had going on.” He said he plans to participate again if the event continues, noting that collaborative projects like this make the downtown business community truly special.
More fall festivities
In addition to the ghost hunt, downtown businesses are partnering on other autumn events, including a downtown trick‑or‑treat and the Cauldron Crawl scheduled for the evening of Oct. 29.
Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Melissa Hugget told Oil City News, “Events like this just illustrate how vibrant our downtown is.” The ghost hunt runs through Halloween, with completed passports accepted through Nov. 5 and the grand‑prize winner announced on Nov. 6.
Bookstore reopening
Although The Dreadful Bookstore is temporarily closed while it prepares to reopen in a larger location, passports can still be picked up at Chozen Yogurt or Bookin’ It. Beck said the store will celebrate its grand reopening on Halloween at its new address, 148 E. Midwest Ave. The celebration will feature special activities, gift bags for the first 25 customers, photo opportunities, refreshments, and a storewide giveaway for any purchase.
The Great October Ghost Hunt highlights how downtown Casper businesses are working together to draw families into the heart of the city, supporting local commerce and fostering a sense of community during the holiday season.
Original reporting: Oil City News (Casper WY) — read the source article.
