Non-profit will rent theater for haunted house and Christmas show
The Flomaton Town Council gave Russell Paul a tentative go-ahead to lease the old Strand Theater for $800 per month from August through January to host a haunted house and then possibly a Christmas show.
Paul said he's done haunted houses in Pensacola and they average 2,500 to 5,000 attendees on Friday and Saturday nights. He said the closest haunted houses to Flomaton now are in Evergreen and Foley.
Paul also said if it goes well he would look at a permanent lease or possible purchase of the building.
He did say he could work around a few leaks in the building and noted most of the plumbing had been pulled out.
“I'll basically construct a house within a house,” he said.
Mayor Dewey Bondurant Jr., said there needed to be an assessment made on the building, but Paul said he would take it as is, noting the toilets could be replaced and plumbing repaired. He also said he would make it American Disability Act (ADA) compliant and work with local non profits on the venture.
Paul said he would pay the town the first and last month rent up front.
He did say the tickets for the haunted house would be $20, but Councilwoman Lillian Dean said she felt the price was too high for Flomaton.
The council voted unanimously to move forward with Paul's proposal pending approval from Town Attorney Chuck Johns.
In other business Monday, the council:
- Voted to reappoint Beverly Simpson and Faye Knowles to the Flomaton Public Library board.
- Discussed getting security cameras at all parks in Flomaton.
- Tabled any action on an ordinance dealing with trash pickup.
