CNN iReport

This Halloween saw the 14th annual Howl-o-ween Spook-tacular at the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Northwest Arkansas near the beautiful town of Eureka Springs.  Patrons were treated to the only night of the year in which the park is open (regular hours are 9-5), and had the opportunity to be terrified by the Trail of Terror and the Habitat Hay Ride.  Watch the video to get a taste of what hundreds of people experienced Halloween night, 2009.

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge is one of the most phenomenally inspiring places I have ever visited!  I encourage you to visit the website and learn all about Turpentine Creek's wildlife, staff, interns, volunteers, RV park, and bed-n-breakfast:  http://www.turpentinecreek.org/ .

You can call Turpentine Creek Animal Refuge at 479.253.5841

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge was started in 1992 by Tanya Jackson Smith; her family sold everything they owned in order to purchase the site which now includes 450 acres and over 115 lions, tigers, courgars, and other "big cats" as well as other wildlife like bears, deer, donkeys...and a couple of very happy ducks, among others.

"At least 90% of the animals would be dead if it weren't for Turpentine Creek," says founder and president Tanya Jackson Smith.  Turpentine Creek was one of the organizations that had to step in recently and rescue 56 big cats from an wildlife refuge that fell on hard times.

Currently, the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge utilizes only 70 of their 450 acres because of funding limitations.  However, they are building their 28th habitat.

The story of Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge and the Howl-o-ween Spook-tacular cannot be fairly told in one 5-minute video.  For that reason, a longer video will be uploaded to Youtube by Monday morning, Nov. 2, 2009: http://www.youtube.com/BarbRad42