The owner of a Springfield haunted house attraction, at the center of development controversy, said his building was the target of an apparent arson attempt.
Sterling Mathis, owner of Hotel of Terror at 334 N. Main Ave., said that a person on Saturday morning, Feb. 7, tried to burn the attraction’s front door in two deliberate attempts. He said security cameras recorded the man’s activity.
“He started by trying to squirt vodka on the door and lit that, and that didn’t burn,” Mathis said. “So he went somewhere, got a gas can, came back and started throwing gas on it.”
Mathis said a firefighter drove by during the man’s second attempt. The firefighter stopped the man and put out the fire, he said.
Damage caused by the fire was minimal, Mathis said. The main door and frame showed signs of fire damage, and a burnt smell wafted near the door Saturday at about noon. Mathis said a hasp securing the door was also damaged.
Mathis said the building’s sprinkler system would have activated if the flames had caught more strongly.
Mathis said the suspect also caught himself on fire in the process. He was taken into custody, and Mathis said he plans to seek arson charges against the suspect.
The Daily Citizen left a message for the Springfield Police Department watch commander for more information and will update this report if a response is received.
A decision on any potential criminal charges would come from the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office.
The building has been at the center of a long-standing disagreement related to bridge construction, as Mathis and the city of Springfield for years have disagreed on compensation terms.
The Springfield City Council in December authorized the use of eminent domain on the building in order to replace the adjacent Main Avenue bridge, classified as structurally deficient. Mathis and other supporters are working to get enough signatures on a petition to force the issue to a public vote.
Saturday’s attack adds stress to an already stressful situation, Mathis said.
“It’s a shame, with all the negative talk out there, it’s like a civil war, and there’s no reason for it,” he said. “It’s just so uncalled for.”
date: 2026-02-07 19:59:00
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