Haunted Woods rebuilding after blaze

When a fire tore through James Day’s Haunted Woods, the beloved Kahnawake Halloween tradition faced what seemed like an impossible setback. But for Day, the first thought that ran through his mind was not the loss of the elaborate maze, the props, or the generator; he thought of the children.

“When I first heard about that, I just thought about the kids. I didn’t want to let them down. That’s the main thing, I was ready to go in that night and start rebuilding,” Day said. His words highlight the dedication he has shown over two decades in creating a Halloween event that has become a well-known tradition for families in the community.

The fire, which erupted unexpectedly, destroyed a significant portion of the maze. Day learned of the blaze from a call from his sister, who alerted him that the fire had reached their family property.

“All I know is, I got a call from my sister, and she said the woods was on fire. She’s like, ‘You’ve got to get here now.’ When I got there, there were fire trucks and paramedics and PKs. They did an amazing job. If it wasn’t for them, I could’ve lost everything,” Day said.

The Haunted Woods isn’t just a maze of scares; it’s a labour of love built entirely from Day’s imagination. “Everything’s built from my head, no floor plans. Builders come in and I tell them, ‘This is what we’re going to do.’ I let them have free range, and we get the best with everybody,” he explains.

This hands-on organic approach is part of what makes the woods so unique. A whimsical labyrinth that evolves each year with surprises, twists, jump scares, dead ends, and rooms designed to challenge visitors.

Even the aftermath of the fire became part of the story. “I even put the tree that caught on fire into the maze, so you could see some of the charred remains. It happened, but it became part of the story,” Day said. His resilience is a lesson in perspective.

“I didn’t get upset. I was like, okay, you spill something, you’ve just got to clean it up and keep going. There’s nothing to get mad about. It is what it is, and I’m glad nobody was hurt. Let’s clean this out, do this again, and get back on the road, the show’s got to go on.”

Community has always been at the heart of the Haunted Woods. Families show up with non-perishable food items to support local charities, and children are invited to help. “We just ask for people to bring a non-perishable food item,” he said. “Any money donations we’ve made in the past went to the food basket.”

Day’s mission is simple: “I just want to give you a classic Halloween and make you have a good time.”

From the moment it started in 2005, the Woods has been a place of wonder. “Halloween is more than a holiday for me, it’s a lifestyle. I love all the horror stuff, always did, and we could transform what we love into something so cool that helps the community,” Day said.

Over the years, his commitment has never wavered, even in the face of disaster.

As the Haunted Woods rises again from the ashes, it stands as a testament to Day’s unwavering spirit and selflessness. “It feels to me like things have to die to get reborn. This part died, and now we got reborn into something else,” he said.

“I just want to thank the community for all their support for all these years, and I just hope everybody shows up and comes to see the show. It’s a must see. We got free food, candy for the kids, and so much going on. Bring a non-perishable food item and come make memories with us.”

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