Harvest of Horror at Fear at the Farm

Bloody Christmas planned for Nov. 15-16, 2024 

By Tara Adams 

Haunt Hunters App 

BLOOMSBURG, Pa. – The gentle whispering of leaves along West Fort McClure Boulevard mix with the soft, rippling sound of the Susquehanna River on a chilly October night.

But just across the street, that sense of calm is overcome by screams, the revving of chainsaws, and menacing voices warning visitors of a harvest of horror. 

Fear at the Farm combines a bit of comedy, scares, interactive scenes, and a whole lot of chaos.

And soon, that chaos will be joined by a few twisted jingle bells. The haunt recently announced its Christmas haunt, Bloody Christmas, will be held on Nov. 15-16, 2024. 

“That's kind of a fan favorite there,” Co-owner Adrian Swartzlander said. “We turn the whole house into a Christmas theme. I let all my actors come up with new designs.” 

Swartzlander owns the haunt, which is in its fourth year, with business partner John Berger.

Adrian Swartzlander
Haunt Co-owner

While the fall haunt includes a haunted hayride through a cornfield and the McClure Manor Haunted House, only the haunted house will be open for Bloody Christmas. 

Fear at the Farm emphasizes scares through interaction with live actors, rather than animatronics and quick reset scares.

“We're real big on actors,” Swartzlander said. “I'm not big on animatronics and stuff like that. There's nothing better than a live person.” 

And those live actors - who total about 55 between the hayride and haunted house - are known to bring the intensity by touching customers and using some profanity, while other characters add comic relief.

“A lot of haunts, they don't allow touch. Our actors are trained professionals, and they are allowed to touch customers,” Swartzlander said. “The customers are not allowed to touch them. It does make for a little more intense scenarios.”

In one of the more comedic scenes in McClure Manor, an actor tells customers they're about to go down a slide. The guests enter the side through the mouth of a large, devilish face along a wall.

“Guess where it goes?” the actor asks.

“To Hell!” a customer responds. 

“You're a very smart girl,” the actor tells her, as he then explains the proper way to go down the choppy, carpeted slide.

“You put your bottom here. You put your feet there. You shimmy down on your backside. The slide is very bumpy. It was made in China,” he said, as the customers erupted in laughs.

Once down the slide, however, the jokes end and a more sinister ambience begins to take over. Customers walk down a hallway filled with a hazy, red glow. Chains swing from the ceiling and what appears to be a poor soul can be seen caged behind bars.

“Welcome to Hell,” a character shouts. “He's coming for you.”

Guests then face a number of scares as the end of the walk-through approaches. 

“You have all different types of scares, so, usually the cheap trick is the jump scare,” Swartzlander said. “But we like to find different hiding spots, do different tricks with different electrical components, just things you wouldn't think would be there and in spots you wouldn't think somebody would be.” 

Swartzlander said the haunt is growing in size and in the number of customers. Bloomsburg University being nearby helps bring in the numbers, he said.

“It's a big college town, too,” he said. “So, we do get a younger crowd, but they enjoy it. They love the intenseness of it.”

Swartzlander said the haunted house has about 30 rooms, and the haunt changes about half of them every year.

“So, a lot of our return customers and locals, they just love it that you're getting something new every year,” he said. It's not the same haunt every single time you go through. And I do the same thing on the hayride - different scenes.”

In addition to the attractions, Fear at the Farm has a large midway with a fire pit, games, merchandise and food vendors that sell a mix of options, such as pierogies, kielbasa, ice cream, and burgers.

 

Swartzlander said he and Berger wanted to create an environment where customers could spend time hanging out at the attraction and feel as though they're engaged with all it has to offer.

“You can spend an evening of it - usually 20 to 30 minutes on each attraction, get food, play games. It's usually a nice evening out,” he said. “Just come on out and see us. Get out to all the haunts. Pennsylvania is number two behind Ohio … in the number of haunts. So, yeah, just everyone come out and see us.”

Massacre Mansion delivers old school “Frite”

The Simpson, Pa., haunt features a 1960s Funni-Frite funhouse

By Tara Adams

Haunt Hunters App 

A desolate, wooded stretch just off South Main Street in Simpson, Pa., is home to a frightful step back in time, where a vintage haunted attraction delivers old school ghouls, gags and scares.

Massacre Mansion, near Carbondale, doesn't boast many of the most expensive animatronics or high tech computer-generated effects. 

But what it does have is its own throwback niche in an industry that often pushes the latest and greatest in costly haunt innovations. 

Open for approximately 10 years, one of Massacre Mansion's biggest draws is an old Funni-Frite funhouse built in the 1960s, which attracts visitors from across the country. 

Two visitors trekked from Michigan on a recent Sunday evening to experience the unique Funni-Frite walk-through, Josh Rodney, the haunt's owner, said. There are few Funni-Frite funhouses still operating in the country, he said. 

One of the Michigan visitors, who goes by the name, Haunt Wizard Matt, said Massacre Mansion made the list of more than 50 haunts he and his travel partner planned to visit in eight states this haunt season.

Owner Josh Rodney 

“They love those Funni-Frite funhouses,” Rodney said of the travelers. 

The funhouse is the last attraction visitors experience. 

“We save that for last, because that's our favorite, too,” he said. “That's where it started. I would say that's our strong point.”

Visitors can expect to see gag doors, hallway entrances shaped like keyholes, hand-painted character walls, and many scares and tricks inside the old funhouse.

Rodney came across the Funni-Frite structure on an amusement website and made the trip to the Pittsburgh area to haul it back to northeastern Pennsylvania.

After refurbishing it and adding on three trailers to increase the length of the walk-through, he used it for years as a haunted fundraiser in Scranton, before the haunt expanded to its current location - the site of an old sawmill. 

“We started growing and getting bigger, and we added a maze that used to be under just a 20’ by 40’ tent - we added that on,” Rodney said. “And then we got big enough to the point where we needed the space, and we found this place. It was an old sawmill, and it was sitting overgrown … there was a ton of work we had to do to get it to the point it's at.”

He and his crew converted the old sawmill building into a black light reactive maze and turned a field at the rear of the property into a haunted corn maze.

“We try to add something every year. We just added the game trailer this year,” Rodney said of the carnival-style games.

The haunt now has four attractions: a corn maze called Pumpkins Wrath, Blacklight, which is the blacklight maze, Harvester of Souls Hayride, and Massacre Mansion.

The haunt's attractions build fear and suspense through quick startles, narrow labyrinth-like hallways that keep visitors guessing where the next scare might be, and committed actors who interact with and often follow guests as they try to navigate their way out. 

“I'm old school. I'm not a big fan of animatronics. I like actors that actually startle you, jump scares, or something funny,” he said. 

While the attraction does have some pneumatic and animatronic props to fill spaces, Massacre Mansion doesn't focus on those types of scares.

“For the most part, we're all actors,” Rodney said. 

The haunt also doesn't rush guests through the four attractions, which gives actors more time to interact with the visitors.

“I don't really push the animatronics or the quick reset. I don't do the conga line. I don't do any of that stuff,” he said. “I know places get busy, but I hate that.”

The attraction has actors of a variety of ages, including his 5-year-old daughter, Mariah. Visitors encounter Mariah in a maze, as she is holding a glowing tray full of spooky goodies, such as eyes, fingers, ears, and insects.

Mariah's mother said this is her first year as a scare actor, and she couldn't wait to have a part in the haunt. She also said Mariah picked out the items for the tray herself and then painted them. 

Mariah asks guests if they want to play and then issues are warning as they walk past her: “Run!” 

Five-year-old Mariah, in her first year as a scare actor 

The couple's older daughter, Mandie, also is an actor in the Blacklight maze. 

“It's all friends and family. It's all people who know each other,” Rodney said. 

Rodney said Massacre Mansion, while it does have plenty of scares, can also accommodate younger haunt fans who might not be ready for the more intense frights.

“If we're not super busy, and word can get out there … we can accommodate some younger [visitors]. We don’t want to make you hate Halloween,“ Rodney said. 

“We're not trying to make the kids not want to come back. That's not our goal,” he said. We try to be scary. Adults have told us that it's very scary. But if they bring kids, the actors will shake their hands and give them a high-five … especially if they're not having a good time, (they) try to make it so they want to come back, so they like Halloween.”

Rodney said he hopes adjusting the scares to each group that walks through will create more fans of haunts and Halloween.

“We're trying to make more fans, instead of scaring people to the point they don't want to come back,” he said.

Fright Fest Extreme delays, lack of communication from park irk haunt fans

By Tara Adams

Haunt Hunters App

JACKSON TOWNSHIP, NJ – Nearly three weeks after its planned launch, three of the nine haunted mazes advertised at Six Flags Great Adventure's Fright Fest Extreme remain on hold, including a maze based on the show, “Stranger Things.” 

LIsa M. Ryan, of the Office of Communications for the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, which oversees park inspections, said six of the mazes have passed inspections and are operating. 

“Review and approvals for the remaining three attractions are currently in process,” Ryan said. 

Fright Fest Extreme was initially set to open at Great Adventure on Sept. 13. But with only two mazes ready to go, Six Flags announced that the event would operate as a “preview weekend.” 

The park's Facebook page stated two mazes would be open during the preview - Big Top Terror and The Witches Reflections - as well scare zones, rides, and shows.

The preview continued the following weekend. 

Six Flags did not give a reason for the delays, only stating it was a result of “unforseen circumstances.” 

Park officials also did not respond to Haunt Hunters App when asked about the reason for the delays or when the full event would open.

The stalled opening and lack of communication from park officials about the reason for the delays irked haunt fans and people who already bought tickets, many of whom took to social media to blast the park. 

“At this point, you guys should consider being transparent,” one person wrote under a Great Adventure social media post. “Weekend 3 of this, and you try to keep glazing over it like nothing is happening. The event is more than (one-third) over after this weekend.”

Another commenter wrote, “Lmfao. Just close the event. Almost out of time at this point.” 

“Ridiculous! I bought an annual pass to keep getting preview weekends?” said another commenter. 

Several ticket holders wrote they would be asking for refunds.

“What is going on? I will be requesting a refund for my membership I paid for for the added bonus of getting Fright Fest with the membership,” one ticket holder wrote.

“So I bought the ticket to Fright Fest Extreme Saturday. Is it gonna be a preview and I'll get my money back, or is it actually gonna happen?” another ticket holder asked.

Three weeks after the initial start date, Six Flags announced that entry to Fright Fest Extreme would now be included with general admission tickets, but a “maze pass” would be needed for access to the park's newest haunts, according to a social media post made by the park.

Fright Fest Extreme also includes five scare zones, four shows, and rides.

The haunted mazes that are now open are:

The Conjuring Universe

SAW 20th Anniversary 

Army of the Dead

The Asylum

The Witches Reflections 

Big Top Terror

Stranger Things, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Trick ‘r Treat have not yet opened. The park's website lists these mazes as “coming soon.” 

Ryan said that the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs’ (DCA) Amusement Ride Safety Unit is working in cooperation with DCA’s Southern Regional Office to coordinate the inspections of these Six Flags attractions.

Inspections of the park’s haunted attractions involve plan review and issuing permits as buildings within a specified use group and as amusement attractions. Both categories involve different inspection requirements, Ryan explained.

Buildings with a specified use group include inspection approvals for relevant building, electrical, and fire codes. Amusement attractions require a separate engineering plan review and permit issuance, Ryan said. 

The amount of time it takes to inspect each attraction varies, Ryan said. The goal is to ensure attractions are as safe as possible for the general public. 

“These inspections entail scheduling and coordination with the multiple parties involved in creating the amusement attraction. These parties include fire alarm contractors, fire sprinkler contractors, building and electrical contractors and, of course, the contractors and designers of the buildings and the ride/attractions,” Ryan said. “As stated previously, the inspections cover the completed building, electrical, and fire components, as well as review, approval, and independent inspection of the amusement ride design and installation. These reviews vary in time based on things such as building square footage, layout complexity, third party vendor/installer completion, and certifications, etc.”

A Menacing Fate: Dorney Park's Halloween Haunt Scares Guests

By Tara Adams

Haunt Hunters App

ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Shrieks and screams cut through the hazy glow of burning steel stacks, as the sounds converged from both the evening sky and walkways at Dorney Park and WildWater Kingdom’s Steel Yard.

The screams from above came from the park's new Iron Menace, a 160-foot dive coaster that suspends riders for 3 seconds face down at the top of the hill, before plunging them at a 95-degree angle into an inversion. 

“That is sick,” one park guest shouted in awe, as he watched the drop.

Roaming ghouls caused the screams on the ground, as they scared park guests who ventured into the Steel Yard: Forge Your Fear scare zone, part of Dorney’s 2024 Halloween Haunt. 

The park transformed the Steel Yard area into the scare zone, which is themed to the backstory of the Iron Menace coaster and haunted maze, The Ghost in the Machine, also a part of Halloween Haunt.

“After nearly a century of being boarded up, the gates to the infamous McTavish Steel Yard have finally swung open, granting brave souls passage through the remnants of what some believe to be an ‘evil place filled with torment and agony.’ Will the spirits allow visitors to pass unscathed?,” asked a written statement from the park.

Based on the reaction of visitors, not all passed unscathed, as some jumped, screamed, and ran away from the wandering Steel Yard spirits.

Entrance to the Steel Yard

Steel Yard: Forge Your Fear Scare Zone

The spooky Steel Yard activities are two of the 13 attractions featured at Halloween Haunt - seven haunted mazes and six scare zones. 

Demented clowns, ghostly villagers, werewolves, and ghoulish scallywag pirates were among the monsters wandering scare zones elsewhere in the park.

“This is Mary,” said a villager in The Hollow scare zone, while holding up a bloody head. 

The villager, wearing a blood-stained 18th Century-style dress, explained, “Mary was a good friend of ours, and then she studied a little bit of witchcraft when she wasn't supposed to. They caught her a while ago, and after they burned her, some of her was left. And they fed her to the wolves.” 

On cue, two werewolves began stalking guests, one of them gnawing on the remains of who might have been Mary. 

Halloween Haunt kicks off each evening with its monsters marching through the park to their respective scare zones and haunted mazes. 

Crowds are also greeted to an opening ceremony led by Hecate, known as the “ruler of Haunt.” 

After an unfortunate man named Derek meets his demise at the hands of Hecate, the dark goddess tells the crowd she'll be performing rituals throughout the park with pieces of his body to “preserve the spirit of Halloween Haunt.”

Hecate also commands her monsters to “get to work” frightening park visitors for the evening.

“Now, to my beautiful, grotesque creatures, it's time for us to awaken from our slumber,” Hecate shouted. “It's time for us to feast on the fear of our willing guests. It's time for Halloween Haunt to begin!”

Halloween Haunt runs on weekends through Oct. 27th. 

           2024 Halloween Haunt Lineup

Haunted Mazes:

• The Ghost in the Machine
• Tourist Trap
• Blood on the Bayou
• Trick or Treat
• Blackout
• Necropolis 
• Roadside Stop N’ Chop

Scare Zones:

• Steel Yard: Forge Your Fear
• Carnival
• Port of Call
• Midway Misfits
• The Hollow
• Dystopia 

LANCASTER, PA (Haunt Hunters App) - Field of Screams in Lancaster, Pennsylvania is always in the discussion as one of the best haunted attractions in the haunt industry. Many different news outlets such as USA Today have ranked Field of Screams at the top of their lists. The awards, honors, accolades and recognition, have not side-tracked brothers Jim and Gene Schompf to slow down in the 30 years in business. The Schompf brothers continue to raise the bar and push to new levels for future generations.

"We still love doing this," says co-owner Jim Schompf, "We spent so much time in the off-season preparing new things for the upcoming season. I like watching how the new upgrades and changes are received by our customers."

If you have been to Field of Screams in the past, you will immediately notice some of the new changes. Walking from the parking lot towards the entrance, visitors are directed towards the new massive ticket house. This new structure has allowed for a better flow of foot traffic into Field of Screams. The ticket booths are very fast and efficient using all state of the art technology, making the payment process smooth and easy.

The landscape at Field of Screams could easily be on the cover of any outdoor magazine with its visual design. New lighting is draped across the entrance perfectly to add to the ambiance. Signage is usually an aspect that many haunted attractions tend to forget about, but this important detail at Field of Screams is delivered at the highest levels, as the signs on the property is clear and well lit.

"We make everything in our metal shop," says co owner Gene Schompf, "We have designers who came up with the concepts for the metal fences that highlights the different aspects of each house."

These metal fences create the barriers for the defined areas, a VIP/special event area that provides catered events and is home to the chainsaw bar. The midway itself is packed with energy and action with so many different activities. Just keep your head on a swivel as some of the customers are chased out of the haunted houses with chainsaws. Local bands are featured on the main stage and provide the background music as you make your way to the different areas of the midway.

The gift shop is packed with all kinds of Field of Scream merchandise, from t- shirts to jackets. A new addition for 2024 is the FOS varsity jacket that comes in Halloween orange or blood red. Both are really well made and would appeal to any haunt enthusiast. The Halloween-themed games in the midway might rival any carnival. Try your luck at the basket toss using the head of a zombie. Selfie spots are vast as there are plenty of opportunities to go viral. Hungry? Food trucks surround the far corner with all kinds of specialty food items that you would expect for the fall season.

Decide your fate at Field of Screams by selecting the order you would like to experience the four attractions. Haunt management always recommends doing the hayride first because that will be the first one to close at the end of the night. The others include the Asylum, Den of Darkness and Nocternal Wasteland.

As you make your way back to your car at the end of the night, be on the look-out for the two iconic clown characters of Krunk and Bonjo who could deliver one final scare to top off your night.

Bring the Best Haunted Attractions to your Smart-phone when you tapp the Haunt Hunters App

Field of Screams 2024 in Lancaster, PaPhoto byHaunt Hunters App

Friday the 13th Kicks Off Spooky Season 2024

NEW JERSEY/ NEW YORK/ PA (Haunt Hunters App) - The official start date to the Fall is Sunday, September 22, 2024, but with the infamous date of Friday the 13th coming the second weekend in September, many places are using this as the un-official start to spooky season. With that, there are many places in the tri-state area that will be open to provide you with some pre-halloween tricks and treats. Here are a few suggestions of some destinations that will be offering up some scary fun on Friday, September 13, 2024.

Brighton Asylum, Passaic, New Jersey - Located on the border of Passaic and Clifton, this well known haunted attraction never disappoints. Always open for special events throughout the calendar year to provide your with some screams and scares. One of the highlights of your visit is alwayds the entertainment outside of the Asylum. Frankie is their most popular inmate, who will make you take your guard down and smile upon your arrival, just to have you scared and screaming before going into the attraction.

For mor information visit Brighton Asylum

Friday the 13th Filming Locations - Take in all of the original filming locations from the horror classic Friday the 13th that was filmed in downtown Blairstown, New Jersey. The main street businesses embrase the date, and welcome visitors to enjoy and partake in all of the activities. One of the hot-spots will be the Blairstown Diner that was featured in the original movie. Many different cast members from the movie will be on hand throughout the day.

For more Information: Blairstown Diner - You can also refer to the Blairstown Diner Facebook Page for the most current intinerary.

Type in Movie Locations App on your smartphone, you will be instally taken to the mobile based App that will provide you with a play-by-play of all of the Friday the 13th movie filming locations.

Headless Horseman, Ulster Park ,New York - This highly rated haunted attraction has been around for over 30 years and brings some high level scares. You begin with a hayride through the woods that delivers hollywood level scenes. The headless horseman scene is so true to form, which makes it one of the best in the industry. For those who like great storylines, the Headless Horseman offers some backstory's to help you prepare for what to expect during your visit. 13 Haunted houses await your in Ulster Park.

For More Information: Headless Horseman

Waldorf Estate of Fear - Lehighton ,PA - A Special event at the Waldorf Estate of Fear brings you to Hell House LLC for 24 Hours of Fear. This event combines horror and paranormal investigation at the Waldorf Estate of Fear. Horror movie fans will instantly recognize the Waldorf as the filming location for Hell House.

For more information visit Waldorf Estate of Fear

Fronzetta Costumes, East Strousburg, PA - Not too early to go check out costumes at the famous Fronzetta costumes. This is one of the best costume shops in the country that has been in business since 1981. Once you walk through the door you will be transported to a whole new world. This is a must stop for any Halloween enthusiast.

Visit Frazettas Costumes

You can purchase tickets to the best haunted attractions for 2024 on the Haunt Hunters App

30 Years of Screams at Trail of Terror CT

Wallingford, CT (Haunt Hunters App)- In 1994 it all all started for Wayne Barneschi like most Haunted Attractions of the modern day, with some Halloween decorations at his house that quickly esculated into a monster of its own. Home-made props decorated all over his property quickly grew beyond the space available. Fast forward 30 years later, this monster has grown from his home to the Trail of Terror, which is one of Connecticut's best Halloween destinations.

As you pull up to the Trail of Terror, there is no mistaking the action and energy that explodes from the woods of Connecticut. The screams and sounds of Halloween are everywhere. The costumes and characters are brought to life by actors of all ages. This brings a specific type of Halloween energy that is very unique to the Trail of Terror. Each character and themed area is well thought out and executed down to the last detail in every set. So much so that even a scary eye exam set has fun hidden messages such as "get an eye exam Wayne".

The Trail of Terror is celebrating 30 years in the business which has benefited local charities for 30 years. According to their web-site, they have donated over $2 million dollars for local charities, and individuals in need. Something that the Haunted Attraction industry as a whole is known for, giving back.

For More Information: Trail of Terror

Address: 60 N Plains Hwy, Wallingford, CT 06492

Phone: 833-600-0054