The Legend of Nightfall, Tucson, Arizona

It is almost time for Halloween and many families will be heading to Halloween parties or haunted houses. Instead, how about visiting an entire town, which celebrates its own spooky traditions? The Town of Nightfall.

The historic town of Nightfall has been a southern Arizona tradition for over 15 years. Situated on old Tucson studios, Nightfall is a 40-acre township filled with haunted houses, live shows, good food and frightening characters, which are sure to scare children of all ages.

Background

Dr. Lithistrom and Jack McHansen established the town of nightfall in 1863. However, the history extends back 20 years to Colonel Lionel Hyde. This medical doctor and psychologist founded the Goulliard Asylum for the dangerously insane. In 1847, Dr. Hyde was found dead from a strange and unexplainable accident. The circumstances surrounding his death are a mystery even to this day.

Shortly after Dr. Hyde’s death, the Asylum was purchased by the Army of the United Sates. Dr. Icabod Lithistrom was placed in charge of former military “volunteers”. These “volunteers” helped him pursue his studies on the psychological effects of war on the human mind. With so many volunteers, the town of Nightfall was soon founded.

Jack McHansen, quickly became the first mayor and with the assistance of Dr. Lithistrom was able to run the town with an iron fist. The people who choose to reside and work in the town were kept under control by vows of secrecy sworn to the U.S. government.

By 1883, the U.S. government decided they had gathered enough information about the mental breaking point that they decided to close the asylum. Yet, in 1884, Dr. Jebediah Hyde, the long-lost son of Lionel Hyde, suddenly and unexplainably reappeared.