Sandyland Acres Haunted Hayride & Farmers Revenge (Petersburg, KY)
“Countryside Creeps!”
By Noah Wullkotte: Jollypumpkin@aol.com
Petersburg, Kentucky is quiet and restless under the pale moon light. Its winding roads are intense and on fall nights there can be heavy fog. This small town has bred fear since 2006 thanks to Gene and Brenda Webb of Sandyland Acres. They’ve turned their peaceful farm into a utopia of scares with a unique take on the haunted hayride.
From the distance, you can see a silo shooting flames into the air and the loud engine of a tractor can be heard. Screams fill the atmosphere and monsters are hiding as they wait to pounce on their prey .Once you hop aboard the wagon, you’ll meet Sandyland Acres’ newest mascot who is simply known as “The General”. Obey his orders or you might not survive this terrifying trip. There are many famous horror movies that you’ll recognize at Sandyland Acres and lots of original scares that will have you shaking in your boots.
Pamela Vorhees seeks revenge for those who let her little boy Jason drown many years ago. You’ll get to know Jason a little better as he storms the wagon and looks for his next victim. This is a clever scene with details some people might not notice. There’s a small lake next to the cabin. It features a young Jason drowning. There’s also a sign that reads “Camp Sandyland” instead of “Camp Crystal Lake”. This scene is straight out of the original Friday the 13th when Jason wore a sack over his head and his mother was the killer.
A new scene for 2013 is the Jeepers Creepers reenactment. You’re enjoying a ride through a haunted cornfield when suddenly you hear a song playing. It’s “Jeepers Creepers” by Paul Whiteman and His Swing Wing. A mysterious truck follows you through the cornfield and it eventually takes a different path. A minute or two later, The Creeper is seen standing on top of the old beat up truck, spreading his wings. This ancient demon is hungry and needs to wet his appetite. Will you be his next meal?
Other famous horror movies at Sandyland Acres include The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Silence of the Lambs and more. This is an intense hayride, but there are a couple of scenes that are more entertaining than scary. Sandyland Acres has its own take on The Headless Horseman. Many hayrides have him galloping alongside the wagon, but this time he can be seen on a bridge. Another entertaining scene is the “Alien Invasion”. A UFO has landed in a cornfield and an alien in black stands there as he watches the tractor drive by. It’s not scary, but it’s unique.
Sandyland Acres tries to appeal to a large audience by using unique effects and a variety of scenes. A new effect for the 2013 season is a skeleton on a rocking horse that glides across a zip line. Many years ago, Sandyland Acres used a witch and I’m glad that they decided to bring the effect back. It’s simple, but unexpected. There are a lot of things you’ll experience at Sandyland Acres that are unexpected. You’ll be chased by a truck that shoots flames and there are many times when actors will jump on the wagon or you’ll hear loud bangs. Sandyland Acres has a lot of scenes, but a few fail to be effective. This was the case with the clown house and werewolf cage.
But with all things considered, the majority of the hayride is pretty scary. Your journey into the dark abyss is over 20 minutes long and it’s action packed. Tickets are $12 which is the going rate for haunted hayrides.
After you’re finished with the hayride, be sure to check out Farmers Revenge. Farmers Revenge is Sandyland Acres’ version of a haunted house. It’s an old school type of haunt that isn’t heavy on props, but has a lot of spooky scenes and a handful of actors. You’ll enter a dungeon with a chained up prisoner, a snake infested jungle, a chicken coop full of zombies, a bloody kitchen and more. There are some props that might catch your eye like an impressive vortex tunnel, a ghoul rising from its coffin and more. The acting is decent, but the haunt is on the short side and pales in comparison to the hayride.
Tickets for the hayride are $12 a piece and $15 for VIP. Tickets for Farmers Revenge are $10 a piece. Combo Tickets are $20 without VIP. There are plenty of concessions available at Aunt Susie’s Concessions and The Spooky Gift Shop. Get yourself a hot dog or maybe a Sandyland Acres’ Calendar. New this year is Kettle Corn which I absolutely love. It’s $3 for a small bag and $5 for a large. There are different flavors available like chocolate, caramel and original. I recommend original.
Sandyland Acres is a unique hayride that has a dedicated fan base. You’ll have a great time getting scared to death while reliving your favorite horror movies.
Final Stab For Each Haunt.
*Sandyland Acres Haunted Hayride: Length-9 Design-9 Props/Animatronics-8 Acting-8 Scare Effect-9 Final Stab: 8.6
*Farmers Revenge: Length-6 Design-6 Props/Animatronics-6 Acting-6 Scare Effect-7 Final Stab: 6.2
www.sandylandacres.com