The leaves are turning color and there is definitely a chill in the air—all signs point to the autumn season, frightening fun, and riding along on some of the most perfect hayrides to be found.
Daredevil adults and courageous kiddies alike can enjoy a nice splash of traditional Halloween fun by heading out to the array of local farms offering a chance to take in the nighttime Pennsylvania scenery with bumpy wagon-like adventures that’ll sure scare the bees knees out of even the bravest of souls. If you’re looking for a spooky-good time, tons of giggles, and just the right dose of family-friendly fright, head on out to one of the Keystone State’s most terrific haunted hayrides. Buckle up folks, because here are the best hayrides in Pennsylvania.
Celebrate Fall At These Pennsylvania Hayrides!
1. Sleepy Hollow Hayride – Newtown, Pennsylvania
Beginning each October, Active Acres Haunted Farms gets busy bringing fun and frights to visitors seeking the best Halloween experiences. Ride along with friends and family on a real hay wagon through over two hundred acres of dark fields and woods once the sun goes down.
At Sleepy Hollow Hayride, you’ll find three of the best haunted attractions in the Philadelphia area. In addition to the infamous hayride, there’s a chance to explore the old Malfate Manor, which is quite possibly the most haunted house in Bucks County, as well as to venture into a “field of fright” maze. There are even tons of live music and bonfires to keep warm with near the farm. Get ready to get those thrills and chills on.
2. Harleysville Hayride – Schwenksville, Pennsylvania
If you dare to be terrified in the Harleysville countryside, take a trip on one of the most frightening twenty-five minute rides in the state. There’s a wagon that departs every ten minutes that winds through an array of dark woods and corn fields, over lots of wild creeks, and then past a legendary haunted barn that’s sure to have those goosebumps raisin’ up for sure. It’ll all be work it when you make it back though, since pumpkins, face painting, superb food, and homemade cider await all hayride survivors hoping to enjoy a wonderful family experience.
What’s even better is that all proceeds for the ride are used to help out abandoned, abused, and at-risk children in the Montgomery County community courtesy of New Life Youth & Family Services. Each year, the Harleysville Hayride becomes a massive community effort boasting hundreds of volunteers from all over the region. Spread the word.
3. Bates Motel – Glen Mills, Pennsylvania
So the Bates Motel & Haunted Hayride has been voted the top haunt in the country by Hauntworld Magazine, USA Today and many other national publications—it’s even been featured on the Travel Channel! For over a quarter of a century, the Haunted Hayride at Arasapha Farm has been scaring visitors with an eclectic mix of amazing props, digital FX, and superb actors in extraordinary professional makeup.
Get prepared for twenty-five minutes of action packed, heart pounding fun through the dark forests of Arasapha Farm, located just outside of Philly. You’ll find huge, detailed sets, giant monsters, and pyrotechnics galore, such as a hundred foot-long, forty-foot-tall drive through an insane asylum, a full scale mockup of a New England church, as well as a two hundred-foot-long cave. With over seventy-five actors and almost thirty different scenes, this Pennsylvania attraction has even added a special thrill this year in honor of its silver anniversary! Creep on over to the Bates Motel to discover the most incredible display of terror and mayhem next to Hollywood.
4. Fear Grove – Zion Grove, Pennsylvania
Take a haunted hayride through fields and woods before strolling (or running) through “Dark Corners,” the newest attraction at Zion Grove. During the day, you and the family can enjoy pumpkin sales and daytime hayrides by appointment, but come dusk, be prepared to face your worst fears!
Located just ten miles from Hazleton and thirty miles from the Wilkes-Barre area, Fear Grove offers a night-time haunted hayride like no other. It really is chock full of your worst nightmares—i.e. witches, zombies, scarecrows, and many more terrifying sights that’ll have you screaming throughout the night. Make sure to keep a watchful eye out for everyone’s favorite ghoul named Zandur McSeedly, a large pumpkin head with a bad attitude. He likes to sneak up on his victims so don’t find yourself getting caught by full surprise.
5. Hallowscream Nights – East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
For great nighttime fun and challenges, as well as tons of screams, check out an awesome Haunted Hayride with aerial zip lines and a tree ropes course. Open Saturday nights from the last Saturday in September through Halloween, this twenty-minute hayride takes guests through the Pocono TreeVentures backwoods, through ghoulish scenes with insane clowns, zombies, mad butchers, and intense lights and effects, all while offering unique aerial ropes tree courses and dual racing zip lines. Go out with the fam bam for an evening of nice Halloween fun, challenges, and scares. It’s definitely worth the trip out to Monroe County.
This article was written by Pamela Chan.