‘Haunted’ house worth $229,000, jury says

DELAWARE — Delaware County jurors were left to decide which of two professional appraisers they trusted more to determine the value of a popular haunted house in Ashley.

After about 2 hours deliberating, at least six of the eight jurors found justice in the middle, ruling that the owners of the Haunted Hoorah will be paid $229,000 by the Buckeye Valley Local School District to acquire their property through eminent domain. The district must also pay the couple a share of the couple’s approximately $68,700 in legal fees.

That is about $100,000 less than owners Angie and Brent Stooksbury wanted, but $129,000 more than the $100,000 the district wanted to spend to acquire the property for use as a bus turnaround in connection with a planned expansion of the adjacent East Elementary School.

“I’d like for that figure to be a bit lower,” said Superintendent Andrew Miller after the verdict. “It would have been more money we can put in the project and invest in our kids.”

The Stooksburys bought the 2-story Victorian-style house at 530 E. High St. in Ashley five years ago for $11,000 at a sheriff’s sale. They eventually converted it into a haunted house that last October they say drew about 8,000 visitors who paid up to $35 apiece to be terrified by the creepy actors, frenetic music and gory decorations inside.

Appraiser Debi Wilcox, representing the Stooksburys, testified that the “special purpose” property would have practical value only to another haunted house operator.

She valued the house similar to other Ashley structures to determine a baseline, then added about $160,000 that Brent Stooksbury testified he spent on upgrades, including a fire sprinkler system, exposed electrical wiring (for a haunted effect) and customized interior.

Frank Hinkle, a certified appraiser representing the school district, argued the property should be valued at $100,000 — no more than any other similar building that needs work in the area. He said the property could be converted to a single-family home, offices, funeral home or even a day care with about $60,000 in renovations.

Before the case went before a jury, Angie Stooksbury had already been perfecting next Halloween season’s show, including boiled biscuits simmered in beef bullion and chocolate sauce to simulate internal organs which will be fed to visitors who dare ask.

And Brent Stooksbury has been busy seeking a new location for the Haunted Hoorah, preferably in or near Ashley.

“We’re definitely not having a 2018 season at the current site,” he said.