By Kelsey Rogers, Editor-in-chief
Pennsylvania isn’t the first place that comes to mind when you think of a frightening place to be on Halloween. However, the tall looming trees and the chilling air that sweeps through the valleys make for the perfect opportunity for a night of scares.
Whether you’re looking for a more terrifying thrill or a family-oriented day with a group of little ones, there are venues in Pennsylvania that offer it all.
Knoebels Hallo-fun at Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, Pa. Knoebels has free admission and free parking year-round. Many of the rides are decorated for more of a frightening experience during the evening; riders on the haunted antique cars can expect ghouls and monsters of all kinds jumping out from bushes and scaring them on their hauntingly dark drive. Riding the phoenix, one of Knoebels’ award-winning wooden roller coasters, will send a chill down your spine as you creep toward the top of the first hill in complete darkness, unaware of when the coaster will take its first plunge into the deep unknown.
Park-goers can participate in cookie decorating, pumpkin painting, bingo and body art or glitter tattoos. Families can spend a Sunday morning at the Alamo, one of the in-park restaurants, for a character breakfast. A breakfast buffet is provided from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. where members of Knoebels’ “Boo-Crew” dressed in their best spooky attire will be interacting and taking pictures with guests. Families can indulge in an 18 inch pizza pie at Cesari’s Pizza, with mozzarella cheese so gooey that it instantly pulls apart when grabbing your first slice. For a sweet treat, the candy apple orchard draws crowds with the crisp smell of granny smith apples that can be turned into hot cider, apple cider slush or dipped in a vat of sticky caramel.
The Elysburg haunted house is put together by local fire departments and over 100 volunteers. The Elysburg haunted house is not recommended for children under 13 years old. Strobe lighting is utilized in parts of the attraction and no flashlights or cell phone lights are allowed. The venue is open every Friday and Saturday in October and begins at 7 p.m.
Thrill-seekers looking for the ultimate night of fear should flock to the Field of Screams, located in Lancaster, Pa. According to their website, Field of Screams has “Four world-class, high-quality, intense Haunted Attractions that are sure to make your heart rate and your hair stand on end.” The four attractions mentioned are the haunted hayride, frightmare asylum, nocturnal wasteland and den of darkness. The haunted hayride pulls the brave at a slow, churning pace in a tractor as they are pulled into the depths of a corn maze. The den of darkness features an interactive maze of its own that guests have to walk through.
Doctors and nurses with mutilated faces scream in torment as visitors try to navigate through what seems to be endless rooms with screams at every turn. According to their website, “In the frightmare asylum, no one can hear you scream.” The nocturnal wasteland is featuring new and revamped scene and pathways for the 2019 season, as frightened faces creep slowly down a dark, narrow path with over grown vegetation.
“It’s exhilarating. There are multiple areas to visit and tons of scares around every corner,” said Stephanie Shirk, a local and former employee of Field of Screams. “It’s definitely not an experience for the faint hearted, but at the same time, something that everyone should try to endure. Being able to say you survived the terrors at FOS, even as a local, is truly a huge accomplishment.”
Field of Screams also offers a daylight, non-scary event for younger families.
“We are always looking for wars to evolve as a business,” said Jim Schopf, owner of Field of Screams.
“We have the land and the infrastructure but were not open during the day so we realized there was an opportunity to create a day-time, friendly event for kids since FOS is more for adults.” Field of Screams is open Thursday to Sunday every weekend until Nov. 15. The parking lot opens at 5:30 p.m. and the park gates open at 6 p.m.
