Headless Horseman Hayrides and Haunted Houses

Headless Horseman Hayrides and Haunted Houses is an amazing Halloween park open from mid-September to early November every year, and it's just a few miles from where we live!

Here's a description of the attraction from the website:

"The property incorporates over forty-five acres of naturally landscaped property that includes foreboding woods, surreal ponds, fruit orchards and more.  Headless Horseman Hayrides and Haunted Attractions is a unique, immersive experience with a theme that changes each Halloween season. Headless Horseman continually evolves with unusual monsters, amazing illusions, stunning special fx, unique and original costumes, makeup, animations and frightening detail. Headless Horseman Hayrides and Haunted Attractions is a family minded event."

To keep everyone safe and happily scared (of the haunted attractions not the COVID-19) extra steps have been taken to keep everyone safe - just follow the protocols!

See for yourself how scary the attractions are: Watch the promo video!

They explain what they mean by "family minded':

"Due to the nature of our attraction, this is NOT recommended for children under the age of 13.  Children 8 (or younger) will NOT be allowed on any evening walking trail, in the corn maze, or haunted houses.  Children age 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult at all times."

Well, my daughter would probably have loved this place at age 5, but it was a little older before she actually visited! And just because some 8 year-olds are thrilled by this, some 12 year-olds can't handle it (as well as some of us more timid adults!). Remember that now, no emergency exits from the hayride or the corn maze - you gotta make it all the way to the end!

They do have Children's Days, when they reduce the scare level somewhat. There's a daylight hayride and a friendly storyteller to tell the scary stories! Plenty of fun activities like a walk through the Magic Moon Maze, haunted gardens, Witch Hazel's Halloween haunted house, Dino Zone, and many other surprises that make this the perfect outing for families with young children.

Children's Days - A Tiny Taste of Terror - on two Saturdays in October. That is Saturday October 4th (rain date Sunday October 5th) and Saturday October 18th (rain date Sunday October 19th). The fun-filled event runs from 11:30am to 2:30pm. Online Reservations required

Quotes from Headless Horseman.

The Headless Horseman is a fictional character from the short story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow written by Washington Irving. The Horseman was a Hessian soldier killed in the American Revolutionary War by having his head shot off by a cannonball.

Legend has it that his ghost continues to ride at night, still searching for his head.

In Washington Irving's story, a local schoolteacher named Ichabod Crane is chased by the Headless Horseman on his way home from a harvest festival party. He rides across a bridge near the cemetery and thinks he's safe because the ghost can't follow. However, the Horseman throws his head at Ichabod Crane, knocking him off his horse, and then rides off. In the morning, Ichabod's hat is found beside a shattered pumpkin.

This is the book that my daughter has that contains the story of the Headless Horseman. Her grandparents gave it to her when she was 10, so it's suitable for children who enjoy scary stories of the slightly more literary kind!

This is a movie based on the legend of Sleepy Hollow, without staying true to the original Washington Irving tale.

But who cares, almost any movie by Tim Burton starring Johnny Depp would be unforgettable, and this is no exception! And it does still feature the Headless Horseman.

If you enjoyed the Halloween show, or missed it, or have kids who were too young for the scary experience, the Headless Horseman Hayrides and Haunted Houses team have created a Christmas spectacular - "A Frosty Fest"!

This family-friendly fun holiday light spectacular features wonderful COVID-safe winter attractions, including a drive through Frosty's Enchanted Forest, the Candy Cane Lane, the Magical Mansion, and much more!