Sandyland Acres Haunted Hayride & Farmers Revenge (Petersburg, KY)
“The Return of Mortimer Sneed!”
By Noah Wullkotte: Jollypumpkin@aol.com
The winding roads of Petersburg, Kentucky lead to land which is cursed. Drive a little bit and you’ll find a farm that’s dark and evil with soil tainted with the blood of the innocent. What kind of crops grow here and why does a sense of dread come over me when I pass this place?
Flames shoot from the top of a tall silo and a creepy scarecrow with a pumpkin head stands guard. A man by the name of Mortimer Sneed welcomes you to Sandyland Acres Haunted Hayride. Don’t cross the deadline or else. The tractor begins to move and you’re off on an unpredictable journey where your fate is painted in blood.
Monsters dwell at Sandlyland Acres and your favorite horror movie icons call this land their home. Meet your favorites like Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees, Leatherface and more. Many of the classic horror characters are tall and imposing. Michael Myers is 6”4 and Leatherface is 6”8. His head almost hits the ceiling of the barn.
Sandyland Acres is different from your usual Haunted Hayride since the actors are able to walk up steps and scare groups on both sides of the wagon. At certain points, the tractor will stop as ghouls and monsters approach passengers. This gives actors time to focus on certain people whether it be a woman holding onto her boyfriend or a tough guy who you would never expect to huddle in a corner. There are plenty of scenes that will shock and make you scream out loud.
We suggest that you get a seat in the back since this is where you’ll get up close and personal to the various chase scenes. My favorite is the truck chase that features shooting flames. The driver gets extremely close to the wagon before he stops and drives in a different direction. Much of the hayride is more immersive this season.
The cornfield is so close that it hits the wagon. Even The Headless Horseman reaches out and touches people. Speaking of the cornfield, The Creeper from Jeepers Creepers returns and likes to spread his wings as he stands on top of his truck. This is a very unique scene where a classic rendition of the Jeepers Creepers song from 1938 plays on the truck’s radio. Having the truck lit up would make this scene a little more intense.
Things really heat up at Sandyland Acres. You’ll feel the heat from real flames in the Skeleton Army area of the haunt. Cover your ears because there are killer hillbillies who are ready to fire their shotguns at anyone who dares to trespass. Become part of the dead in the spooky graveyard or become one of the Fisherman’s victims in the “I Know What You Did Last Summer” scene. One thing I do miss at Sandyland Acres is the flying witch (sometimes it’s a skeleton) and the Alien Crop Circle scene. Yes, little green men aren’t necessarily creepy, but it was still entertaining. You’re seeing less and less alien scenes at haunts these days.
The lighting has been improved at Sandyland Acres and many scenes now have a nightmarish glow. This hayride can definitely be a living nightmare where your worst fears are front and center. You’ll see clowns, psychopaths, screaming victims and an array of off the wall characters.
You’re definitely going to get your money’s worth at this hayride. It’s a little over 20 minutes long and tickets are only $12 a piece. VIP tickets are $15 a piece which is a deal for those who don’t want to wait on busy nights. Tickets for Farmers Revenge are $10 a piece and a combo ticket for both attractions is $20.
Farmers Revenge is Sandyland Acres version of a haunted barn. It’s an old school style haunt with a variety of scenes. You’ll experience a dark maze where monsters are hiding and watching your every move. A chicken coop has a couple of zombies who want to feast on a severed foot. There’s no real theme at Farmers Revenge. There are typical scenes like a carnival, haunted dinning room, a snake infested forest and more.
Their vortex tunnel is one of the best around and you’ll even see a horror movie character or two. Customers on the outside get to view people struggling to find their way out of the darkness in a live video projected onto the barn. Farmers Revenge is around 5 minutes long, but this depends on how long you’re in the dark maze. It’s fun while it lasts and it will remind you a little of a carnival funhouse.
Both attractions are polar opposites of each other. The Haunted Hayride is more for thrill seekers while Farmers Revenge is more of a spooky experience. We recommend both, but if you only had to chose one then it would definitely be Sandyland Acres Haunted Hayride. Your best bet is to purchase a combo ticket for $20 so you can get access to both attractions.
After you’re finished with the haunts, be sure to check out Aunt Susie’s Concessions for a bite to eat or get yourself some fresh Kettle Corn. The Spooky Gift Shop offers a variety of handcrafted gifts, Sandyland Acres Memorabilia and more. I use my jewelry coffin all the time for storing change.
Experience some Farm Fresh Fear at Sandyland Acres Haunted Hayride and Farmers Revenge. Mortimer Sneed wants to meet you.
Final Stab For Each Haunt.
*Sandyland Acres Haunted Hayride: Length-9 Design-9 Props/Animatronics-8 Acting-9 Scare Effect-9 Final Stab: 8.8
*Farmers Revenge: Length-5 Design-6 Props/Animatronics-6 Acting-7 Scare Effect-7 Final Stab: 6.2
www.sandylandacres.com