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It is with incredibly heavy hearts that we share the news that our founder, Merlyn Linn, passed away on September 17, 2026.
For more than 40 years, Linn’s Haunted House was a part of Merlyn’s life—and he was the heart and soul of it.
Merlyn grew up on a farm near Dayton, Iowa. He moved to Des Moines at 10 years old, and started working as a box boy at Lutz Super Valu on 6th Avenue in Des Moines while in high school. After graduating from high school in 1956, he proudly served in the United States Navy. In 1959, he married his high school sweetheart, Shari Robinson, and together they built a life centered around family, hard work, and community.
In 1964, when Merlyn was just 26 years old, Frank Lutz offered to sell the store to Merlyn and Shari. They took a chance, worked incredibly hard, and built what would eventually become Linn’s Supermarket—a neighborhood institution that became familiar and loved by people throughout Des Moines and far beyond.
But it was in the basement of that store that Merlyn created something truly special.
In the late 1960s, Merlyn built a haunted house in his garage for his children and all the neighborhood kids to enjoy. Channel 8 even came out and featured it on the news.
Years later, with his children nearly grown, Merlyn decided to bring that same fun to the public—and Linn’s Haunted House was born.
Merlyn loved this place.
He loved seeing the same families return with their children and grandchildren. He loved hearing people laugh when they came out. He loved the groups and organizations that worked alongside him. And every October, he looked forward to opening those doors and sharing something he had built with his community.
He cared deeply about doing things the right way. He made safety a priority, he supported the people who helped make the haunted house possible, and he took enormous pride in knowing that something he created brought so much joy to so many people.
Merlyn was also so much more than a businessman and a haunted house owner. He was a husband, father, grandfather, coach, mentor, neighbor, and friend. He fixed neighborhood kids’ bicycles. He coached softball and baseball for more than 15 years. He played kick-the-can with the neighborhood kids. He showed up for his family and his community, over and over again.
He once said:
“What you do today, you have to live with tomorrow. I live each day as good as I can. That way I wake up tomorrow and feel good.”
That is the legacy he leaves behind.
And while this October will be incredibly difficult without him, we know there is one thing he would want us to do.
Keep the doors open.
So, in honor of Merlyn, Linn’s Haunted House will continue this Halloween season.
We will carry on the tradition he started. We will build, scare, laugh, work, and welcome people through those doors just as he did for so many years.
We hope you’ll come see us this year—not only for the scares, but to help us celebrate the man who made it all possible.
Thank you, Merlyn, for building something that became so much bigger than you ever could have imagined.
Thank you for the memories, the scares, the laughter, the hard work, and the countless people you brought together.
Linn’s Haunted House will always be your legacy.
We love you, Merlyn. ❤️
Until we meet again…
To honor Merlyn, come experience Linn’s Haunted House with someone you love. After all, there was nothing he loved more than bringing people together and creating memories for more than 40 years.
Voted Best Haunted House by readers of Cityview and visitors to DMHauntedHouses.com!
Location
In the basement of
Linn’s Supermarket
3805 6th Ave Des Moines, IA 50313
(See map for directions.)
Admission
Price of Admission: $25/ person.
Tickets available at the door only. Cash preferred, but cards are accepted.
Warning
Linn’s Haunted House is a huge indoor haunted house. Expect to spend up to 20 minutes making your way through the attraction. (Maybe more, if you get “separated” from your group…)
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