Politics & Government

Salisbury Haunted Barn's Future in Doubt

The Salisbury Township Building Code Board of Appeals denies the haunted barn's owner waivers concerning ventilation and fire protection.

The owner of the Devil's Folly Barn Attraction in Salisbury Township says he's not sure whether it will open in October after the township's Building Code Board of Appeals denied requests for two waivers Wednesday morning.

Dominic Giles said he has no idea whether the popular attraction at 3350 Devonshire Road will open after the appeals board denied his waiver request for the barn's ventilation and fire protection.

"I always hope we'll open this year. It depends on how much it will cost," Giles said.

The board balked on allowing a temporary permit for ventilation after hearing testimony from Jeffrey Young of Code Master Inspection Services.

Young said that the barn is a temporary structure and that a certificate of occupancy is required each year. Young said the last time the barn had a certificate of occupancy was 2009.

"The ventilation of the building can be natural or mechanical," he said. 

Giles said the opening of doors, windows and the natural leaks of air through the barn provides enough ventilation.

Board member Chester DiRamualdo told Giles he must pay for the ventilation test.

"If it gets tested and it's close [to code standards] we'll see how close you get," he said. "Come back and if it's slightly off, we'll work with it."

However, the board was much more stringent concerning fire safety.

Giles, in lieu of a sprinkler system, purchased a 1965 pumper truck and has staffed it with certified personnel for the last four years.

That wasn't enough to satisfy board members, especially after Western Salisbury Fire Department Chief Josh Wells informed them that every fire truck in the state needs yearly inspection and certification.

"The fire truck needs inspection. It's a matter of fact and we can't change that," said board member Thomas Grello.

"There's no room for negotiation with the fire truck. It's a matter of public safety," said board member Myron Hayet.

Chief Wells said he would try to work with Giles to come up with a possible solution.

As for Giles, he told the board he hasn't turned a profit on the barn in the four years he's operated it.

"It's a pure love for it and I'm trying to keep it together," he said. "It's been a lot of blood, sweat and tears. I'm only open eight, nine, 10 days per year. I'm not the kind of person to give in."

Opening weekend for the Haunted Barn would normally be Friday, Oct. 4, and the attraction is normally open for four or five weeks, Giles said. 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Salisbury