Harvest of Horror is not happening for 2019.
We sent our bravest parent contributor Jackie Vest to the Harvest of Horror at Denver Downs Farm (Kidding Around sponsor). If you have been wondering exactly what happens at these mysterious scary attractions and how old your kids needs to be before you give it a try, she has all the answers for you!
This October you and your older teens must check out the Harvest of Horror at Denver Downs Farm – if you dare! Four haunted attractions full of freakish clowns, serial killers, and creepy Christmas cheer await your senses. Not one grown adult in my party escaped without a scream!
What to expect at Harvest of Horror
Get your ticket and walk past the roaring family fun as you head in line for a hayride through the pitch dark, up to the unseen top of the hill– leaving the laughter and happy music far behind you. The tractors drop you off to get in line for haunt after haunt, each one progressing in horror. Expect loud sounds, blood, gore, gruesome surprises, chainsaws, fog machines, and tons and tons of creeps!
These attractions are truly not suited for young children. Some teens (and even adults) may find them to be too much. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and saw that most older teens did too! On the other hand, a young teen and his dad were just ahead of us at the first haunt and the teen did not fare so well. He had his face buried in his dad’s shirt and sobbed the whole time. Wisely, they decided not to continue on the rest of the tour.
Haddonfield Inn
You WILL find Michael. Or worse, he WILL find you. This haunt is the first one you will encounter and, while very creepy, it is not nearly as intense as the last haunt. If your party (especially younger teens) has trouble with this house, they may want to reconsider going further.
Santa’s Slay
This house has some seriously creepy charm going on. I don’t know if it’s the body hanging from the Christmas lights or the screams coming from within… either way… no one walks out of this house. They RUN!! Ps: watch out for Fluffy.
The Freak Show
This is the main event and it does not disappoint! We ALL lost it at some point in this creepy clown show. If you think you’re tough, beware – something in there is sure to make you scream like I did, “I DON’T LIKE THIS!! WHAT IS THIS?!?!? I WANT OUT OF HERE!!!!!” I’m in my thirties. Random 6ft teen boys were burying themselves down my husband’s back like baby koala bears.
Camp Crystal Lake
Upon your thrilling exit from The Freak Show, you are shuffled into a creepy haunted school bus which will take you back to the unhaunted family fun area.
Words of advice for those brave enough to go to Harvest of Horror
Wear comfortable closed shoes like sneakers or boots. You will do a lot of walking through mulch, grass, dirt, etc.
Initially, I thought that the ticket prices were high. However, after going through it, I would absolutely pay to do it again. It is worth it!
Plan for about 3 hours to spend at the farm. More if you want to do some of the family activities.
Prepare to stand in long lines. We did not expect to spend MOST of our time waiting in lines. Perhaps if we were expecting that, it would have made the waiting a little better. From the time we left the family area to the time we arrived back, it was about 2 ½ hours. We got through each of the haunted houses pretty quickly, which means that a huge chunk of that time we spent standing in lines.
There is a $15 option to upgrade your ticket to a “Fast Pass” and avoid the lines – I recommend this for adults who don’t want to wait in line. Teens don’t seem to mind waiting/socializing.
Arrive early and plan to spend some time in the 10-acre corn maze after the haunts! (totally creepy) Your ticket is also access to dozens of fun barnyard activities, live music, bonfires, and more, perfect for the big kid in you!
Err on the side of caution when evaluating whether your teen may be able to handle this. It. Is. Disturbing.
Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves!! Days later and we are still laughing and reminiscing over the best scares and our weakest moments. I highly recommend this attraction to any adult or older teen! So, what are you waiting for? Get over there!
Plan your own trip
Tickets:
$30 regular
$45 with fast pass
Thursday 7 pm-11 pm
Friday 7 pm-12 am
Saturday 7 pm-12 am
Sunday 7 pm-11 pm
Denver Downs Farm
1515 Denver Road
Anderson, SC 29625
864.222.0336
Visit the Harvest of Horror website here.
Are you brave enough to enter Denver Downs Farm’s Harvest of Horror?
Jackie Vest is a writer and at-home-mom of two energetic little boys. She enjoys adventuring around the beautiful Upstate, the hilarity of kiddo-raising, outdoor fitness with friends, and her Favorite 5 C’s: cooking, crafting, camping, coffee, and chocolate. You can connect with her via her blog at: JackieVest.com.