TimesLeader.com

November 2

Scream of the crop

Combining haunted house, giant corn maze, trail, Miller’s Orchards produces thrills.

MARY ONDRAKO mondrako@scrantonedition.com

For some, the scarier the better.

And a sixth-generation farm nestled deep in Clarks Summit offers just the right atmosphere to come face to face with some of the freakiest creatures of the night.

Miller’s Orchards at 1515 Fairview Road has been offering a thrilling adventure for scare seekers for the past four years. Jamie Stuenzi, the farm’s fall events coordinator, said each year the popular attraction grows and adds new, state-of-the-art effects. Beginning this year, it has adopted the name, “Haunted Harvest” because it combines a giant haunted corn maze, haunted trail and mini-haunted house.

For those who dare, it takes 30 to 40 minutes to navigate.

The corn maze is especially frightful, consisting of a series of twists and turns in pitch dark where visitors don’t know what may be lurking ahead. They are only guided by eerie sounds from within the fields.

Miller’s takes pride in its seven-acre corn maze, which transforms into a different themed display each year. This year, the field was carefully cut and crafted to feature two characters from the TV sitcom, “The Office,” which highlights the daily adventures of employees at a fictitious paper company in Scranton. Past themes included “Giants vs. Eagles,” NASCAR and the 2008 presidential race, John McCain vs. Barack Obama.

“We always look for something with strong national and local appeal,” Stuenzi said.

“We cut the maze ourselves and it is quite difficult, especially when the design has so many curves like our caricatures this year,” he continued.

All the demons lurking in the Haunted Harvest also do good for the community, as partial proceeds of the attraction benefit the Ronald McDonald House in Scranton.

“We are strong believers in giving back to our community and The Ronald McDonald House has had a direct impact on several family and friends,” Stuenzi said.

During the past three years, he said more than $20,000 from the haunted attraction has been donated to the charity.

The attraction is a real treat for visitors, because it combines the elements of a dark outside, working farm and cornfield, taking people through dark tunnels and even quicksand. There is also Old Man Miller’s cabin and workshop which will have guests so frightened they will gladly take their chances in the cornfield. And every step of the way lie little surprises from monsters along the trail to ghosts that inhabit the mini-haunted house as well as villains and other creatures waiting for their next victims.

Orchestrating this attraction is no small feat.

“Hundreds of hours of preparation go into every season,” he said. Plans for next year’s maze design will begin shortly after the new year and be finalized by the end of March. In May, the real fun starts with the physical structures and equipment being put in place so they can concentrate on cutting of the maze beginning in June.

The last chance to experience the adventure this year is Saturday, beginning at dusk with the last person admitted at 10 p.m.

“Usually the last visitors of the night get the best scare,” Stuenzi said. “Our actors tend to follow them out so at different points they may enter a tunnel or dark area and instead of the typical, single chainsaw firing up, it may be three or four from all directions.”

For more information on this and other fall activities at Miller’s Orchards, visit www.millersorchard.com.

If you dare

Haunted Harvest at Miller’s Orchards, 1515 Fairview Road, Clarks Summit, will offer its last scare of the season Halloween night beginning just after dusk. The last visitor will be admitted at 10 p.m.