Sandyland Acres Haunted Hayride (Petersburg, KY)
“A Frightful Hayride That’s Fun For All”
By Noah Wullkotte: jollypumpkin@aol.com
The dark and winding road leads to a haunted farm known as Sandyland Acres. This haunt is located in the small town of Petersburg, Ky which has a population around 600. It’s their 19th year of fear and we were ready to get scared to death. The weather was perfect when we arrived on a Friday night, but we still prefer it being a little cooler out. A large silo can be seen off in the distance. Suddenly flames shoot out from its top. This definitely got us amped-up for what we were about to experience. We got our tickets and entered the line for the haunted hayride. Two jack-o’-lantern totem poles could be seen at the end of the line. A killer clown scared the crap out of a little girl who wasn’t paying attention to her surroundings. We waited only a short amount of time before it was our turn to experience this year’s hayride.
We hopped aboard and were told the rules before the tractor drove off. Sandyland Acres is one of the more unique haunted hayrides we experience because many of the scenes are modeled after classic horror movies. The Feed & Seed Company features a chainsaw maniac and a screaming girl who wants to escape. The cornfield can be a scary place at night. Two massive scarecrows with scythes guard its entrance. There’s only so much you can do with a cornfield and Sandyland Acres does a good job at utilizing different special effects. You’ll heard loud bangs and feel the heat from flames.
Your favorite horror movies come alive at Sandyland Acres. Michael Myers can be seen at the Myers House with a cop car next to it. He walks up on the wagon and torments passengers. You’ll also meet Jason Voorhees himself. After his scene is finished, he fights with Michael Myers. This was pretty cool and a great way to make a scene unique. Every 23 years for 23 days The Creeper gets to eat. This scene is from Jeepers Creepers 2 and it features a school bus full of screaming victims and a large tunnel. This is one of the more intense scenes at Sandyland Acres and one of the more effective. Leatherface from The Texas Chain Saw Massacre does a great job as he does the classic chainsaw dance. The Exorcist Reenactment is also very fun. Don’t stare at the possessed girl or you might become possessed yourself. The power of Christ compels you!
Over the years Sandyland Acres has become known for its wild vehicle chases and boy are there plenty. You’ll be chased by a truck and a semi. Both shoot flames and get very close to the wagon. We loved it. The Headless Horseman makes an appearance as he gallops away while he rides a real horse. This is always a fan favorite. You’ll meet a lot of off the wall characters. One of my favorites were the backwoods hillbillies who wanted to know who stole their moonshine.
There are details here and there that you might miss if you aren’t looking closely. An example of this is the 30 foot tall windmill in the Texas Chain Saw Massacre scene. This is a frightfully fun haunt. Yes, there are some things that to be improved. The clown scene could be more intense and the actor playing Michael Myers could have been larger in stature. Scenes could use more detail. Having furniture move in The Exorcist reenactment would add to the intensity. But these are minor complaints for a haunt that is great for the entire family and for those who want to enjoy a great fall event.
Total tour time was 17 minutes which is a little shorter than last season. It could be longer for you depending on how fast the tractor moves and the interaction with the various characters. After we were done with the haunted hayride, it was time for Farmers Revenge. This is Sandyland Acres’ version of a Haunted Barn. Skeletons cling to the building and a large skull has red glowing eyes. The barn is illuminated with green lighting. A video screen is attached to the side as it shows a live feed of people entering the dark maze.
This haunt always reminds me of a classic Jaycees Haunted House from years ago. It’s on the short side lasting only 5 minutes, but it’s fun none the less. You’ll experience scenes such as a dark maze, mine shaft and more. Since this is a short haunt, we aren’t going to go into detail in order to not give away all the surprises. There are some interesting props with the vortex tunnel being the best. The acting is decent with my favorite character being the psychopath in the straight jacket. Ghost Face from the Scream franchise was also good.
Tickets for the hayride are $20 and the Haunted Barn (aka Farmers Revenge) is $15. A combo ticket is $30. Remember that it’s cash only at Sandyland Acres. $15 is a little high for the Haunted Barn considering its short length, but it’s a pretty good deal when you purchase a combo ticket for $30. So, we definitely recommend the combo ticket for a night of haunting entertainment. Sandyland Acres has a pretty cool gift shop they call “The Haunted Gift Shop”. It offers unique items like custom made horror dolls, lamps, Sandyland Acres T-Shirts and much more. My favorite doll was the one with a clown holding a severed head in a shopping cart. The Haunted Snack Shop sells walking tacos, pretzel & cheese, hot dogs, Rice Crispy Treats, Hot Chocolate and more. The farm is beautifully decorated with various props. Don’t forget to get your picture taken in front of the massive electric chair as you take a seat. There’s also a 12 foot skeleton.
Sandyland Acres is one of those haunts that does a great job embodying the Halloween spirit. It has intense moments and if you love horror movie scenes then you’re in for a treat. Please note: Farmers Revenge has not been scored.
Length-8 Design-8 Props-8 Acting-8 Scare Effect-8
Final Stab: 8.0
www.sandylandacres.com