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It is virtually impossible to walk away from the Headless Horseman and not be impressed. It’s as if someone scooped up Broadway and put it in the middle of a field in upstate New York.
Located on a 250 year-old farm, the entire attraction features a mile-long hay ride, corn maze, magic/illusion show and seven haunted houses spread out over 45 acres.
Headless Horseman employs over 350 actors that work on extremely impressive sets. You begin on a 20-minute hayride. You’ll weave in and out of fields; spooky, life-size towns; and covered roadways. (Pro tip: If you can nab a seat in the middle of the hayride, do it. If the middle’s full and you have to pick a side, sit on the same side as the narrator.)
The namesake headless horseman is a recurring theme throughout the haunt. In each instance, his appearance is utterly brilliant.
The attention to detail in Headless Horseman’s numerous haunted houses is outstanding. From the old-time televisions in the hotel to the optical illusions, they definitely didn’t skimp on any detail, no matter how big or small. They use pretty advanced techniques to scare you, too, including a walkway where the walls, ceiling and floor close in around you.
The actors also deliver. They didn’t miss a beat when it came to their storylines and they delivered some memorable one-liners including, “Relax. They need their feet to stand trial,” and, “Put one foot in front of the other. Unless you want to leave them here.”
The cornmaze was combined with a side show theme, which kept you oblivious to lurking actors. And an “Alice in Wonderland” theme in the greenhouse was especially well-done.
The Feeding was our favorite haunted house, and not just because the cowboy who took our tickets kept us entertained as we waited in line. It had, by far, the best storyline, the best actors and the best props. The autopsied ape at the end — which is still alive, mind you — was a great finish.
Overall, it is very polished and very well-done.
For those who need a food or shopping fix , there are four food concessions, as well as four gift shops where you can buy anything from severed hands to scented oils to ceramic decorations. Do yourself a favor and try the cider doughnuts.
Rating: 5 Tombstones out of 5
