In Rockford, a haunted mansion offers more than scares: it offers a new start

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Once a crumbling relic of the past, a historic Rockford home has been transformed into a spine-tingling spectacle by the very youth it will one day shelter.

With cobwebs, creaky floorboards, and eerie echoes, the Enchanted Mansion, at 2415 E State Street, opened its doors this weekend, not just as a haunted house, but as a beacon of hope for young people rebuilding their lives through the nonprofit Life Decisions.

“There’s about eight different rooms that we have done in the different themes of spookiness,” said program coordinator Amaya Castanon.

The home was donated to Life Decisions last year, inspiring the launch of its Rebuild, Relaunch, Restore campaign. The fundraiser is raising money to support transitional housing for youth. The kids planned, decorated,