10/18/2026
From My Spin Bike — A Heartfelt Thank You from The Zoo Man!
Yesterday was another full day of work for The Zoo Man! Fridays and Saturdays during October are some of my busiest days of the entire year. And I wouldn’t have it any other way!
My Halloween celebration started the last weekend of September, and it has been go, go, go ever since!
Last Halloween season, I actually gave some serious thought to retirement. After more than 40 years of entertaining, educating, and telling stories, I wondered if perhaps it was time to slow down.
Well, that thought didn’t last very long!
I realized something about myself. I truly enjoy being The Zoo Man. I enjoy meeting people, sharing stories, making people laugh, and watching families and friends have a wonderful time together.
This Halloween season has been filled with adventures. Guests have explored Zoo Man’s Nightmare Underground haunted basement, climbed the stairs of our historic 1895 Opera House, and joined me on driving and walking Ghost Tours through the streets of Sleepy Eye, Minnesota.
In the coming weeks, I also have several cemetery tours scheduled for Saturday afternoons. There are so many fascinating stories waiting to be told about the people who once called Sleepy Eye home.
And before I know it, another Halloween season will come to an end.
This morning, while sitting on my Spin Bike, I started thinking about something that really touched my heart.
Where have all these wonderful people come from to attend my events?
I started making a list of communities represented by the friends and visitors I’ve met so far this Halloween season.
Wabasso, Redwood Falls, Renville, Arlington, Mankato, New Ulm, Worthington, Pipestone, Hanska, Evan, Essig, Owatonna, Willmar, Bird Island, Springfield, and Morgan, Minnesota.
Aurora and Sioux Falls, South Dakota, along with Yankton, South Dakota.
Bellevue, Nebraska.
And even Dallas, Texas!
And I am certain I have forgotten a few communities along the way!
As I continued pedaling my Spin Bike, I couldn’t help but smile.
People have traveled from neighboring towns, across Minnesota, and even hundreds of miles away to visit our little community of Sleepy Eye.
That means more to me than you will ever know.
You see, being The Zoo Man isn’t just about haunted basements, ghost stories, historic buildings, or walking through cemeteries.
It’s about people.
It’s about the friendships made along the way. It’s about watching a group of strangers become friends during a tour. It’s about hearing laughter coming from the haunted basement, watching someone’s eyes light up when they hear a fascinating piece of local history, and listening to guests share their own family memories.
Some visitors have been coming to my events for years. Others are experiencing The Zoo Man for the very first time.
Every one of you is appreciated.
I have always believed that the history of a small town deserves to be remembered. Every building has a story. Every street has witnessed something interesting. And every cemetery holds the memories of people whose lives helped shape our community.
As an author, historian, storyteller, and entertainer, I feel fortunate that I can share those stories with others.
And I feel even more fortunate that people are willing to take time out of their busy lives to come and listen.
We still have about two weeks remaining in our Halloween celebration. Tours are being scheduled Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, and a few Saturday early-afternoon opportunities are still available.
If you would like to experience a little history, mystery, laughter, and perhaps a good scare, I would love to have you join me.
Call or text The Zoo Man at 507-766-2523 to schedule your tour.
To everyone who has visited Sleepy Eye this Halloween season, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Thank you for supporting my little business. Thank you for supporting local history. Thank you for bringing your families and friends. And most importantly, thank you for allowing me to continue doing something I have loved for more than four decades.
Retirement?
Well, I guess The Zoo Man isn’t quite ready for that rocking chair yet!
There are still stories to tell, people to meet, and memories to make.
The Zoo Man — Bringing History Back, One Story, One Tour, and One Friendship at a Time!
Thank you, everyone!
— The Zoo Man
