Many folks in the Williamsburg area might describe the Lane Theatre as “an old haunt,” when reminiscing on places that they spent time during their youth. Now, new owner Rocky Moses, Jr. is taking that label quite literally as he prepares to present the Haunted Theatre, a spooky attraction that will serve as a fundraising event for ongoing restoration efforts at the facility.
“We are going to make use of all the facility,” Moses said. “There is going to be some really good stuff. We’re going to try to scare you.”
Moses said that the planned haunted attraction will serve as a tour of sorts, and will include a trek upstairs to the old projection room, as well as activity on the stage inside the auditorium.
The plan is to kick off the Haunted Theatre next Friday, Oct. 4, and run tours on Friday and Saturday nights through Halloween. Tours are set to begin at 7 p.m. with adult tickets being sold for $15 apiece.
For younger guests who may not be up to embarking on the full haunted tour, a milder kids version will also be made available for $10. Moses said this version will be more well-lit, and will also leave out some of the more intense scares.
If all goes well, Moses is hoping to raise enough funds with the Haunted Theatre to have a new heat and air system installed at the facility. He said this is a top priority at the moment, and would help to get the theater ready to hopefully host additional events in the near future.
Among the possible future events that Moses mentioned were screenings of old films, live concerts, and maybe a Christmas-themed attraction this December.
“The focus is definitely on scheduling more events,” Moses said. “I am obsessed with this process. I am there every day doing something. I’m all in.”
Moses said that the biggest hurdle to getting the Lane back up and fully functional again is, of course, money. As for improvements that have been made since he officially took over the facility earlier this summer, he said that it has been a lot of small steps, such as general cleaning and tidying and some plumbing work.
Overall, Moses said that the actual condition of the building was better than what he initially anticipated, with various inspections receiving favorable results.
The sign on the front of the building has been available to rent since Moses took over, and continues to be an option for local residents to share birthday, anniversary and congratulatory messages with the community. For information on rates and availability, contact Moses by phone at (606) 521-2270. He can also be reached via his personal Facebook account, or the Facebook page for the Lane Theatre.
As for the Haunted Theatre fundraiser, Moses said that opportunities are available for individuals who might be interested in helping with the presentation. A meeting has been scheduled at the Lane for 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 26, for anyone who would like to learn more about how to volunteer.
