As of October 3, 2026, Shepherdsville has a long list of projects still under way. The indoor half of a $25.2 million aquatic park is targeted for "fall." A renovated downtown bank is "nearly complete." A disc golf back nine is due "in the first two weeks of November." A 2,100-seat amphitheater is in progress. None of them has a confirmed opening day.
The things you can actually put on a calendar this month are temporary, and nearly all of them are in Shepherdsville City Park along West 1st Street by the Salt River. For October, the park is the city's whole fall season. That changes how you plan a weekend, and it explains why so many of the permanent additions will show up in the park and around downtown after Halloween.
Ten Nights Along the Salt River
The Shepherdsville Parks & Recreation Department has partnered with Scareview Manor on Halloween in the Park. It runs Friday and Saturday nights all October. From 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. there's a non-scary walk for all ages at $5. From 8:00 to 11:00 p.m. it turns into a haunted attraction recommended for ages 12 and up, at $10.
Opening night was Friday, October 2. That leaves nine nights: October 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30, and 31. Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, so the haunt runs on Halloween night itself.
Scareview Manor is new to the park this year. Organizer Cam Bullock told the Pioneer News that he ran it last year as Scareview Haunt in Hillview, next to that city's police department. When that space wasn't available again, Hillview Code Enforcement Officer Angie Hurst pointed him to Shepherdsville Parks and Recreation director Samantha Satterly. He then suggested the park himself. The route follows part of the riverside walking path and the disc golf area, and Bullock says it's wheelchair-accessible.
The early walk is the one families with young kids will care about. Bullock calls the non-scare walk "a fan favorite" from last year's event. Patrons walk the same route without the actors, and he says it worked well for little guests. He also says proceeds will go toward buying a permanent location. So even the haunt hopes it won't be temporary much longer.
A few practical details before you go:
- Tickets at the gate take cash or card.
- Advance tickets are sold through HauntPay, and fees apply. On the October 9 pages, a $5 non-scare ticket came to $6.38, a $10 general admission ticket to $11.96, and a $15 Fast Pass to $17.54.
- Getting in. The park entrance on the Frank E. Simon side, including the road to the baseball fields, is closed for construction. Plan to come in from West 1st Street.
Saturday, October 17, Is the Season in One Evening
The second October event in the park is the Fall Family Film Series. It shows a family-friendly Halloween movie on a 40-foot inflatable screen on the first three Saturdays of October: the 3rd, 10th, and 17th. Movies start at sundown. Bring blankets and lawn chairs.
The haunt runs on Saturday nights too, so all three film nights share the park with Scareview Manor. On October 17, the series finale adds a Fall Festival, which makes that evening the busiest night in the park this fall:
| Time | What's happening in City Park | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 5:00 p.m. | Fall Festival opens: inflatable corn maze, s'mores station, mini pumpkin keepsake decorating, graveyard tour, food trucks | Not listed by the city |
| 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. | Scareview Manor non-scary walk, all ages | $5 |
| Sundown | Final Fall Family Film Series movie | Not listed by the city |
| 8:00 to 11:00 p.m. | Scareview Manor haunted attraction, ages 12+ | $10 |
That night, a family with young kids could do the corn maze, take the non-scary walk, and watch the movie without leaving the park. Older kids and teens could stay for the 8 p.m. haunt.
The next day, Sunday, October 18, is on the Parks & Recreation calendar as the Shepherdsville Fire Department's 100 Year Anniversary Celebration. As of the Fall 2026 newsletter, the city hasn't announced a location, start time, or program, only "stay tuned for updates." Of everything else this month, it's the closest to having a set date, and it still lacks a place and a time.
The Same Ground Gets New Work in November
The haunt is set up in the park's walking path and disc golf area along the Salt River. That disc golf course is the next thing due in City Park. The Fall 2026 Parks & Recreation newsletter says the city is "on track" to finish the back nine and expects the full course done in the first two weeks of November. A ribbon cutting will be announced on the city's Facebook page.
The timing works out neatly. The last haunt night is October 31, and the city's target for the course is the first two weeks of November. If that estimate holds, the riverside part of the park will go from Halloween attraction to full disc golf course within a couple of weeks. "On track" is a projection, though. Until the city posts a ribbon cutting date, early November is still a target.
A short drive away in downtown, the Old Stone Bank at 416 South Buckman Street is in the same position. Bullitt County Tourism describes it as one of downtown Shepherdsville's oldest buildings. Parks & Recreation says its renovation is nearly complete. When it opens, it will be a visitors center with historical artifacts and pictures plus local art, with support from the Bullitt County History Museum. No opening date has been published. For relatives visiting over the holidays, it could become a good downtown stop, but only once the city sets a date.
The Aquatic Park Has a Season, Not a Day
The biggest project on Shepherdsville's list sits at 363 Joe B. Hall Avenue. It's a 40,000-square-foot aquatic park on a five-acre site that once held an abandoned grocery store. The facility's own site still says "Expected Opening: Fall of 2026."
Here is the most recent dated reporting, in order:
- July 16, 2026. WLKY reported that most of the work was finished and that Mayor Jose Cubero said the indoor portion would open when construction wraps up this fall. Inspections had delayed the $25.2 million project by about three months. The outdoor portion was set for the following spring, which means spring 2027.
- August 17, 2026. A storm hit the construction site and threw pieces of a waterslide more than a quarter mile. Senior Superintendent Don Hufstedler said some pieces had structural damage and the manufacturer might have to remake the slide entirely. He also said construction would continue on time.
- September 14, 2026. The city council adopted a 2026–27 budget amendment. The mayor said $2.5 million of the carryover funds would finish the aquatic park.
None of those updates includes a ribbon cutting or a first day of swimming. What is known is what each half will include. The indoor building is planned with an eight-lane competition pool, six pickleball courts, a concession stand, and a police station. The outdoor side, planned for spring, adds two 26-foot waterslides, a splash pad, a zero-entry pool, shaded seating, and space for food trucks. The storm damaged the slides, which are part of the spring half. The indoor half wasn't mentioned in that report.
Once the indoor half opens, the posted pricing looks like this:
- Daily rates. Free for ages 0–3. $5 for children 3–12 and seniors 60+. $7 for teens and adults. $20 for a family of four, plus $5 per additional family member.
- Family membership. $100 monthly, $200 for the season, or $650 annual.
- Indoor pool and pickleball hours. 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
The site also lists a second set of rates: a $15 two-hour non-member pass, Gold and Platinum monthly tiers from $40 to $100, and an optional $30 enrollment fee. It doesn't say which areas each tier covers. The six pickleball courts are described as open to the community, with hourly rentals, lessons, leagues, clinics, and tournaments, but no booking process has been posted yet. If your household plays pickleball or wants swim lessons this winter, the "Stay in the Know" sign-up on the facility site is so far the only way to hear about it first.
The aquatic park is one of several city projects. WLKY's July report also mentions a new skate park and town square. The September budget amendment included capital money for the amphitheater, a dog park, and sidewalks. Those are still being built too. So for now, the dates you can count on are still October's ten nights in City Park, and the next confirmed date will most likely come from the disc golf ribbon cutting.
If you live off Lazy River Drive or anywhere around Shepherdsville and want to know how all this new construction could affect your home's value or your plans, I'm glad to talk it through, whether that's this weekend or after the aquatic park finally opens. Reach out to Kelsey L Reneau through the contact page, or see the Lazy River neighborhood page for more on the area. Let's Connect.
