HAUNTFREAKS.COM - Shady Brook Farm

We arrived at Shadybrook Farm before the sun had set and were able to walk the grounds before their “Horrorfest” would begin. A nice family atmosphere, the grounds were set up for a diversified evening of entertainment as many of the attractions are doing these days.
During the day the farm would host “Pumpkinfest,” an event which we hope to make this year with some children that we found on the front step of the HF camp…. Pumpkinfest features a pumpkin picking hayride (Pumpkins are not included in the admission price but are an additional expense) and a scaled down version of the “Barn of Horror,” just for the little ones.
Several carts were on the grounds offering a variety of food, hot dogs and burgers, Pork Roll and Cheese, funnel cakes, apple slices with warm caramel, hot cider, hot chocolate and the like…. And if your sweet tooth was not satisfied, marshmallows were available for toasting at the bonfire. Anyone wishing to host a private event can rent a tented picnic area on the grounds.

A large stage had been built to host bands on selected nights as well as a smaller stage area for Karaoke (Scare-ee-okee), which we hear had been a hit with the local kids / teenagers. For the big kids, there was the opportunity to ride in “Cadiac Arrest,” a “Monster Hearse” jacked up to “Bigfoot” proportions. After watching the vehicle 4 wheel up and down the hills on the farm, the boys could not resist and us girls relaxed by the fire.
The event featured three attractions, Alien Invasion, The Barn of Horror and the Hayride of Horror and while all three were entertaining, it was the Hayride of Horror that won the group over.

We wandered around the grounds waiting to meet up with our contact Dave, who was frantically moving about getting people in position for the evening. Meeting up at the Barn of Horror, we were granted access to the building with an opportunity to photograph. The Barn was of traditional themes, complete with Frankenstein monster, laboratory scenes and evil clowns. Avoiding stairs, one accessed the various floors of the house by climbing steep ramps…
On our way over to Alien Invasion we were stopped in our tracks by a “Mad Max” type vehicle. Brian couldn’t resist the photo op and we would meet up with this vehicle later… on a dark and lonely road….
Alien Invasion was a mix of 3-D effects and Alien themes. Long black hallways speckled with luminous 3-D paint guided us into large scenes of Alien encounters including a room that appeared to be inside the ship, aliens entrapped in glass, and a crash site that made for “astronaut autopsy.”
The houses were well done but the most appealing attraction at Horrorfest was the Hayride of Horror.

This was by far not the scariest hayride we had been on, but one of the most entertaining. In speaking with Dave we learned that it had been specifically designed this way… the houses to be a little more intense but the hayride to be geared towards family fun. It was here that we would find ourselves chased by the Mad Max car…. The car speeding up behind us, veering to the left and up the embankment along side of the path…. Crashing into a building and exiting the other side and off onto the path…. Or so it seemed…

a cleverly designed prop to match the car gave this great effect…. Small musical skits lightened the mood, “Who can take a body….” (Done to the Candy Man theme) set us off on our journey and we would conclude with “Putting on the Ritz” a recreation of the routine form Mel Brooks “Young Frankenstein.”
No story of this event would be complete without complimenting the staff. The crew here was great, the event runs completely on salaried staff (no volunteers) and is a prime example of “You get what you pay for.” We could have sat and watched one young man in particular for hours; running around as an escaped patient, he spooked all who crossed his path with such fervent effort…

arguing with himself, he flung himself to the ground in front of us in “Fight Club” manor and continued to wrestle with his inner demons… (And on the gravel no less…. Now THAT is dedication… I think… it’s SOMETHING anyway…)
It’s no surprise that this location has dedicated itself to family fun. Also known for its light show at Christmas (that Brian and I will attempt to make again this year…. Did not get the opportunity to last year) they have put together a great attraction for all…. A great start for older kids who are beginning to feel they can take on those things that go bump in the night and a fun twist on the norm for the rest of us. We hope you’ll get out to visit them this Halloween season, and give them our warmest regards.