The smell is distinctly old.

When Dale Sherman slides open the massive door of a rustic, old barn, a musty scent immediately fills the nostrils.

It’s a creepy, old place, for sure, with dusty cobwebs galore, hooks and ropes that dangle from the rafters and a large hole in the floor covered by loose boards.

All things considered, it is the ideal site for the “Haunted Barn” attraction that is part of “The Haunting of Coupeville” this month.

Sherman’s Pioneer Farm on Ebey Road has been home to pumpkin patches, trolley rides and other kids’ activities for years.

But this is the first time that the historic Terry Barn on the property is being converted into a “Haunted Barn.”

And it was clear from a quick tour of the 19th century structure, that few props will be required to elicit a scare.

The original portion of the barn dates back to 1855, according to Sherman. It was once owned by Charles Terry, who passed the farm down to his son-in-law Ben Tufts, who built on to the structure.

Tufts sold the farm in 1956 to Edwin Sherman, Dale’s father, who started a successful Hubbard squash business and used the barn for storing squash.

That practice mostly ended on the family farm in the 1990s when two more modern barns were built specifically designed to store squash, relegating the historic barn to general storage of farming equipment and packing materials.

Until now.

The Coupeville High School tennis team has stepped up to lead the Haunted Barn project, with help from the Sherman family and others in the community.

There will be a scarier Haunted Barn for adults and older teens held from 5-8 p.m. on Oct. 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 and 31. Admission is $10.

A family-friendly version will take place from 3-6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday only between Oct. 18-29. Tickets are $5 with childen under 12 admitted for free.

Dale Sherman hasn’t been informed yet by his wife Liz if he’ll be part of the frightening cast.

“I hope not. I probably will be,” he said. “I’m sure that daughter Shannon and wife Liz will get me in there somehow, but I hope not. I’m going to pretend that I have something to do.”

Sherman’s Pioneer Farm opens at 8 a.m. Saturday to the public and will be open seven days a week this month, though trolley rides to the pumpkin patch only take place Saturdays and Sundays.

A pumpkin crop failure due to the dry weather led Sherman to buy pumpkins from two Mount Vernon growers for the first time.

Eight acres of pumpkins were lost but three acres of specialty pumpkins survived as did his signature crop of Sugar Hubbard squash.

“I am going to take those (pumpkins) and place them in the field. It just seems ridiculous,” Sherman said. “I’m supposed to have a crew here Thursday for sure.

“I hate to buy somebody else’s pumpkins but if I don’t have pumpkins, people won’t come back. I wouldn’t either. But the pumpkins we have out there, they’re gorgeous.”