Headless Horseman Hayride
Encyclopedia
The Headless Horseman Hayride and Haunted Houses (also known as H5) is an outdoor haunted attraction
in the Hudson Valley
area of New York. It is located in Ulster Park, about 10 miles (16.1 km) from Poughkeepsie
, New York. This haunted attraction
covers 45 acres (182,108.7 m²) and includes a hay ride, corn maze, and five haunted houses. The attraction has been rated as the "#1 haunted attraction in the United States by Haunt World Magazine, and listed as one of the "Top 20 Hometown Haunted Houses in America" by Fangoria
. H5 has been featured on Emeril's Halloween
special and the Travel Channel
, and draws celebrities as customers as well.
H5 is located on a 45 acres (182,108.7 m²), 200-year-old farm that some employees report is actually haunted. The facility, which was named Tourism Business of the Year by the Ulster County Development Corporation in 2008, has garnered a reputation for tailoring the terror experience to the individual customer.
The sets designs, writing, and acting have led industry publication Haunt World Magazine to repeatedly list H5 among its Top 13 haunted attraction list, "America's Best Haunted Houses," and as its No. 1 Best Scream Park.
Patrons are first taken on a hay ride on a wagon which holds 25–30 customers. Customers are given ample opportunity to be scared by actors during the trip, which is facilitated by a "storyteller," another actor who is on the wagon for the ride. Each year the hayride has a different theme, and the storyteller narrates the tale, interacts with other characters, and sets the mood for customers. The veteran actors along the trail attend regular acting classes to sharpen their scaring skills. There is some debate about the ideal place to sit on the wagon for the most enjoyment, but the hayride is scary enough to cause some customers to jump off the wagon, or knowingly leave valuable possessions behind.
ist Lady Galaxy and sideshow performer John Shaw. Various costumed actors and animatronic creatures are found throughout the site.
–
Haunted attraction
A haunted attraction is a form of entertainment that simulates the experience of entering a haunted location that might be inhabited by ghosts, monsters, criminals, humorous characters, and other such creatures...
in the Hudson Valley
Hudson Valley
The Hudson Valley comprises the valley of the Hudson River and its adjacent communities in New York State, United States, from northern Westchester County northward to the cities of Albany and Troy.-History:...
area of New York. It is located in Ulster Park, about 10 miles (16.1 km) from Poughkeepsie
Poughkeepsie (city), New York
Poughkeepsie is a city in the state of New York, United States, which serves as the county seat of Dutchess County. Poughkeepsie is located in the Hudson River Valley midway between New York City and Albany...
, New York. This haunted attraction
Haunted attraction
A haunted attraction is a form of entertainment that simulates the experience of entering a haunted location that might be inhabited by ghosts, monsters, criminals, humorous characters, and other such creatures...
covers 45 acres (182,108.7 m²) and includes a hay ride, corn maze, and five haunted houses. The attraction has been rated as the "#1 haunted attraction in the United States by Haunt World Magazine, and listed as one of the "Top 20 Hometown Haunted Houses in America" by Fangoria
Fangoria
Fangoria is an American magazine devoted to horror and exploitation films, which has a number of associated brands:* Fangoria Comics* Fangoria Films* Fangoria RadioFangoria may also refer to:* Fangoria , a Spanish electro pop band...
. H5 has been featured on Emeril's Halloween
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
special and the Travel Channel
Travel Channel
The Travel Channel is a satellite and cable television channel that is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, US. It features documentaries and how-to shows related to travel and leisure around the United States and throughout the world. Programming has included shows in African animal safaris,...
, and draws celebrities as customers as well.
Background
The hayride opened for the Halloween season in 1992. As of 2007 it featured eight distinct attractions and employed over 130 people during the season. Owners Michael and Nancy Jubie started the attraction out of a love of Halloween and experience with disguises. Michael has written articles about safety in outdoor haunted attractions, and lectures about his experiences in the industry.H5 is located on a 45 acres (182,108.7 m²), 200-year-old farm that some employees report is actually haunted. The facility, which was named Tourism Business of the Year by the Ulster County Development Corporation in 2008, has garnered a reputation for tailoring the terror experience to the individual customer.
Production
A year-round crew is employed to develop and implement the annual themes at the attraction. The storyline is developed by the Jubies, Joe Guarente and Dave Berman in concert with the production crew, headed by Ed Wentz and Ernie Bonelli. Creative Director Rob Corsino both develops the sets and oversees the makeup professionals as they create a look for each actor that complements the set and writing.The sets designs, writing, and acting have led industry publication Haunt World Magazine to repeatedly list H5 among its Top 13 haunted attraction list, "America's Best Haunted Houses," and as its No. 1 Best Scream Park.
Hayride
Hayride Themes
- 2011: Hell's Cavern
- 2010: Escape of Prisoner X
- 2009: Revenge of the Hollowmen
- 2008: Once Upon a Terror
- 2007: The Black Spider Sideshow
- 2006: The Night of the Collector
- 2005: The 13th Sacrifice
- 2004: The Night of the Bogeyman
- 2003: The Season of the Witch
- 2002: The Necromancer
- 2001: Dr. Dark's Evil Carnival
The Corn Maze
The corn maze is the second stage in the visit. Numerous actors are hidden in a one-way (i.e., customers cannot make a wrong turn and lose their way) maze to scare passersby.Corn Maze Themes
- 2008:
- Dark Harvest: Evil Reaping
- Freak Way Walk-Thru
- 2007: Dark Harvest
Haunted Houses
Several haunted houses, each designed with a new theme annually, are also part of H5. They are frequently covered in local media.House Themes
- 2009
- Glutton's Slaughter House
- The Feeding: Flesh They Crave
- The Mansion of Dahlia Blood: Phantom Harbor
- 2008
- Bad Seed Fertilizer Co.: The Nightshade Experiments
- The Feeding: Flesh They Crave
- The Mansion of Dahlia Blood: Phantom Harbor
- 2007: Bad Seed Fertilizer Co., The Feeding, and The Mansion of Dahlia Blood
The Creature
Appearing in 2007, the Creature was a 150 feet (45.7 m)-long inflated attraction that appeared to be a sleeping dinosaur or dragon. Customers passed through the mouth and walked past internal organs on their way through to the back end.Other activities
H5 includes several other attractions, including three eating establishments (Croaked Crow Cafe, Evil Eatery, and Witch Hazel's), four gift shops (Magic Moon Gifts, Ghoulish Gifts, Witchy Woman, and Scarewear), and other entertainers including Spray paint artSpray paint art
Spray paint art is an art form using spray paint, traditionally on posterboard, but can be done on any non-porous material, such as wood, metal, glass, ceramic or plastic...
ist Lady Galaxy and sideshow performer John Shaw. Various costumed actors and animatronic creatures are found throughout the site.
Charity Benefits
- 2008: Profits from opening night will be donated to the Children's Annex, an autismAutismAutism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
services provider in the Hudson ValleyHudson ValleyThe Hudson Valley comprises the valley of the Hudson River and its adjacent communities in New York State, United States, from northern Westchester County northward to the cities of Albany and Troy.-History:...
. - 2007: A behind-the-scenes look at the hayride was used to raise money for The Queen's Galley, a Kingston, New YorkKingston, New YorkKingston is a city in and the county seat of Ulster County, New York, USA. It is north of New York City and south of Albany. It became New York's first capital in 1777, and was burned by the British Oct. 16, 1777, after the Battles of Saratoga...
-based food bankFood bankA food bank or foodbank is a non-profit, charitable organization that distributes mostly donated food to a wide variety of agencies that in turn feed the hungry. The largest sources of food are for-profit growers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers who in the normal course of business have...
.
Children's Day
Billed as a "Tiny Taste of Terror," Children's Day takes youngsters on a scaled-down daylight hayride and through the corn maze, all of which are modified for a youthful audience.–