Greg Reinke makes ghosts, but he doesn’t believe in them.
He does, however, derive a certain pleasure from making people nervous and jumpy. If there’s a long line to get into the haunted house he runs with his brother, Chris, Reinke will pull an unsuspecting victim out of the crowd and strap him into an electric chair to make the wait more interesting.
As he ties the person down to the giant metal chair bedecked with leather straps and flashing lights, Greg may nonchalantly ask, “Are you nervous?” After the person invariably answers with a “yes” or a trembling nod of the head, Greg smiles fiendishly and says, “Good,” before pulling the lever that makes the chair shake and smoke.
It’s all in good fun, of course. The electric chair isn’t real, nor are the other horrific contraptions at The Reinke Bros. at 5663 S. Prince St. in Littleton. The spirit of Halloween at this shop is genuine, though, and that’s what matters to the Reinkes.
Greg, who also is running for Littleton City Council at large, has operated a haunted attraction at this Halloween shop for 32 years, making it the oldest haunt in Colorado. This season’s Haunted Mansion is the result of two years of planning and about $1.5 million worth of sets and props.
A lot of time, money and effort have gone into this haunted attraction despite a decline in visitors in recent years. Reinke thinks this is largely due to a greater awareness of terrorist attacks.
“It’s starting to get better again, but after 9/11, the haunted house just died,” Reinke said. “What was funny, though, was that no one would go to the haunted house, but our store was packed (with costume shoppers).”
Reinke says between 17,000 and 30,000 scare junkies come through the Haunted Mansion in October, so the venue is updated every year to keep it frightening but safe and family friendly at the same time.
So what is Reinke’s philosophy on Halloween?
“Halloween has become an adult party,” Reinke said. “It’s the one holiday that can be all about you. A guy can dress in women’s clothes and no one will care. People like to be somebody different for a night. It’s decadent and a lot of fun.”
For more information on the Reinke Bros. shop or Greg Reinke's run for Littleton City Council, call 303-795-5006.