2025 Question and Answer With Lake Joy Trails of Terror

GeorgiaHauntedHouses.com recently sat down with Robyn O Kelly of Lake Joy Trails of Terror, to discuss what's new at Lake Joy Trails of Terror for the 2025 Halloween Season!

What's new at Lake Joy Trails of Terror for 2025? Do you have any new rides, attractions, or special features that Haunt Seekers should know about?

Zombie Shoot takes center stage as a major new adrenaline-pumping feature this year. It’s highlighted as one of the most exciting additions for the 2025 Halloween season .
Additional Highlights

The Lake Joy Build Crew has already started preparing the 2025 trail setups — getting the spooky props, set pieces, and decor in place for the new season .
Earlier in August, the haunt hosted a charity movie night featuring a screening of Scream for Maryann Davis on August 16 / 4-11 pm .
The troupe also made an appearance at the Southeast Hollows Haunt Convention from August 1–3 at the Perry National Fairgrounds .

What are you most excited about for the 2025 Halloween Season?

For the 2025 Halloween season, I’m most excited about unleashing our brand-new Zombie Shoot! It’s the perfect mix of action, adrenaline, and undead chaos — and it’s something our guests have never experienced before at Lake Joy.
I’m also looking forward to seeing all the new sets and scares our crew has been working so hard to bring to life. Every year we push ourselves to make the trail bigger, creepier, and more immersive, and 2025 is no exception.
But honestly, what excites me most is watching our guests leave with chills, laughter, and big smiles — knowing that every scream and scare helps raise money for families battling childhood cancer and for projects that make our community stronger.
This year, your terror really will give us joy!

What differentiates Lake Joy Trails of Terror from other local haunts in Georgia?

What Sets Us Apart
While many haunts focus purely on scares, Lake Joy Trails of Terror blends intense horror with a powerful mission. We are a 100% nonprofit haunted attraction, and every ticket sold goes toward helping families with children battling cancer, funding a special needs playground for our local school, supporting other community causes and back into the Haunt to make it better and better every year.
We’ve been terrifying Middle Georgia for 16 years, building a loyal following who come back for both the fear and the heart. Our crew, known as “Haunters with a Heart,” pours countless hours into creating immersive sets, unpredictable scares, and original storylines you won’t find anywhere else.
We’re not just a haunted trail — we’re a community movement where your screams turn into hope. Every scare has a purpose, and every visit makes a real difference in someone’s life

How long has Lake Joy Trails of Terror been in business? Can you tell us a bit more about Lake Joy Trails of Terror's history?

As of 2024, Lake Joy Trails of Terror had been in business for 15 years .
Its roots stretch even further back—according to the official site, the haunt itself was founded in 2009 by Robyn and Mike Kelly, meaning it’s now operating into its 16th year in 2025 .

A Bit More About Its History & Mission
From the beginning, Lake Joy Trails of Terror was established as a non-profit haunt with a mission to give back to the community. The scare actors volunteer their time, and proceeds are directed toward local causes .
Their charitable efforts are both meaningful and concrete:
2009 til 2014 donations were made to Susan B Koman Breast Cancer Foundation
The we started in 2015 working with Jay's Hope Foundation to find families that have children sufferings from childhood illnesses
2015 donations were made to Amalikai Butler
2016 we gave to one of the local schools to help with FBLA
2017 donated to a young girl raising money for a mission trip and
several high school girls to help with getting Cows and pigs for FBLA
2018 donated to Jennifer Kaiser who suffered from ALS
2019, they donated to help cover medical expenses for Jace Carrita, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 neuroblastoma .
After the COVID shutdown in 2020, in 2021 they contributed Phenix Cowart’s battle with ALS .
Continuing the tradition, in 2023 donated Anthony Grimes in his fight against leukemia
and in 2024 we donated to KK McCormick with her fight against cancer.
2025 we will announce the child in Sept.

What's your favorite experience since opening Lake Joy Trails of Terror?

My favorite experience in opening Lake Joy Trails of Terror each year is that first moment when the gates open and the fog starts rolling across the trail. You can feel the energy — the mix of excitement and nervousness from the guests, the adrenaline from our actors, and the pride in seeing all the months of hard work finally come to life.
It’s also the moment I get to see our crew — our Haunters with a Heart — light up because they know they’re about to give people an unforgettable night while raising money for causes that truly matter. That combination of scares, laughter, and community purpose is what makes opening night magical for me every single year.”**

How long is a typical haunt experience at Lake Joy Trails of Terror from start to finish?

A typical haunt experience at Lake Joy Trails of Terror usually lasts about 30-40 minutes from the moment you step onto the trail until you exit — depending on how fast (or slow) you move through the scares.
If you include waiting in line, enjoying the pre-show atmosphere, and any extra attractions like the Zombie Shoot, your full visit can easily stretch to an 2-3 hours depending on length of the lines for each attraction.
Lines do get long same as lines at your favorite theme park like Disney, Six Flags, Universal ETC.

On a scale from 1 to 10, how scary would you say Lake Joy Trails of Terror is? Why?

“I’d give Lake Joy Trails of Terror a solid 9 out of 10 on the scare scale.

We’ve spent 16 years perfecting the art of fear — from dark, winding wooded trails and professional-level sets to unpredictable scares that hit when you least expect them. Our actors are trained to read the crowd, so they can push the scare factor for the bravest souls or ease up for those who just want a spooky good time.
It’s intense, immersive, and designed to keep your heart pounding, but it’s also about fun. You’ll scream, you’ll laugh, and you might even run — but you’ll leave wanting to do it all over again.”

Does Lake Joy Trails of Terror's property have any real haunted history? Do you have a spooky encounter you'd like to share?

Yes — and that’s one of the things that makes Lake Joy Trails of Terror even creepier.
The property has been around far longer than our haunt, and over the years, people have reported strange happenings: unexplained shadows in the woods, footsteps when no one is there, and voices whispering your name on windless nights.
Several of our actors and crew have had their own spooky encounters. One year, while setting up, a team member swore they saw someone walking between the trees in full costume… only none of our actors had arrived yet. Another time, a prop started swinging wildly in a closed building with no breeze at all.
Whether you believe in ghosts or not, the atmosphere here has a way of making you question what’s real — and what’s just part of the show.”**

What inspired you to open up a haunted attraction? What's your favorite part of the business?

“The inspiration for Lake Joy Trails of Terror came from a mix of passion and purpose.
I’ve always loved Halloween — the creativity, the costumes, the thrill of a good scare. But when my husbands sister passed away from breast cancer, We knew we wanted to use that love for something bigger than our self. We opened the haunt not just to entertain, but to raise money for causes close to our hearts. Over the years, our mission has grown to support families battling childhood cancer and illnesses, help build a special needs playground for our local school, and give back to our community in as many ways as we can.
My favorite part of the business is twofold — first, watching our guests come out of the trail laughing, screaming, and hugging each other because they had such a great time. And second, handing over the donations at the end of the season, knowing every scare and every scream helped make a real difference for someone in need. That’s what makes it all worth it.”

How has new technology (i.e. animatronics, special props, etc) helped you to enhance Lake Joy Trails of Terror?

New technology has completely transformed the way we bring Lake Joy Trails of Terror to life.
We’ve incorporated advanced lighting systems, fog effects, and sound design that allow us to control the atmosphere in ways we couldn’t before. Motion sensors and trigger-activated props help us time scares perfectly, so guests never see them coming.
Technology hasn’t replaced the heart of our haunt — our actors and volunteers are still the soul of the show — but it’s given us tools to amplify the fear, surprise, and fun in ways that keep people coming back year after year.”

Can Lake Joy Trails of Terror accommodate large groups? How many people can experience Lake Joy Trails of Terror together as a group?

Yes! Lake Joy Trails of Terror can absolutely accommodate large groups.
On the trail itself, we typically send groups of 6 people at a time to keep the experience immersive and ensure everyone gets their fair share of scares.
Whether you’re a family, a group of friends, a sports team, or even a company outing, we’ll make sure your crew has a terrifyingly good time — together.”

Does Lake Joy Trails of Terror offer any special deals, discounts, or coupons?

We give discounts to Military, First Responders, Nurses and all in the medical field

Anything else you'd like to let us know about Lake Joy Trails of Terror?

Lake Joy Trails of Terror isn’t just another haunted attraction — it’s fear with a purpose.
Every scream, every jump scare, and every laugh helps us raise money for families battling childhood cancer, build a special needs playground for our local school, and give back to our community in ways that matter.
We’re now in our 16th year, and every season we challenge ourselves to make the trail scarier, the sets more immersive, and the experience more unforgettable. From our brand-new Zombie Shoot to our dedicated Haunters with a Heart crew, we’re here to deliver an adrenaline-packed night you’ll be talking about long after Halloween.
Come see why your terror gives us joy — and be part of something bigger than fear.”**