Spirits of the Wild

This Halloween, Blank Park Zoo becomes the hunting grounds for one of Iowa’s most chilling legends: the Van Meter Visitor.

First sighted in 1903 in the town of Van Meter, this mysterious winged creature was said to have glowing horn-like light on its head, bat-like wings, and a terrifying scream that sent the town into a panic. For several nights, residents reported seeing the beast soaring through the skies, leaving glowing footprints and vanishing into the darkness of an abandoned mine. To this day, the Van Meter Visitor remains one of Iowa’s most notorious cryptid legends.

Now, it has resurfaced at the Zoo. Can you capture it, or will you be captured?

Sip your way through the night with samples from some of Iowa’s finest distilleries and distributors. Discover the best of Iowa’s craft spirit scene. Dance under the autumn sky with live music, haunting beats, and a lively atmosphere. Think you can handle the ride? Take on the mechanical pumpkin, if you dare.

Volunteer Opportunities: Bar Captains & Bartenders, Quest Guides, Convergence Zone, Event Runner

Volunteer Times:

Eagle Bar (5:15pm – 9:45pm)

Gogo Bar (5:15pm – 9:45pm)

Africa Bar (5:15pm – 9:45pm)

Event Center Bar (5:15pm – 9:45pm)

Quest Guides (5:15pm – 10:00pm)

Convergence Zone (5:45pm – 10:00pm)

Event Runner (5:45pm – 9:45pm)

Volunteer SignUp: https://signup.com/go/UTqiTuh