Headless Horseman Hayrides and Haunted Houses
 | This article contains promotional content. (July 2019) |
| Company type | Haunted attraction |
|---|---|
| Industry | Theatre |
| Genre | Theatrical/Interactive |
| Founded | September 20, 1992 |
| Founder | Michael and Nancy Jubie |
| Headquarters | Ulster Park, New York , United States |
Area served | National |
| Services | Entertainment |
| Owner | Michael and Nancy Jubie |
Number of employees | 350+ |
| Website | Headless Horseman Hayrides |
The Headless Horseman Hayrides and Haunted Houses (or H5) is an outdoor haunted attraction in the Hudson Valley area of New York. It's located in Ulster Park, about 6 miles (9.7 km) from Kingston, New York. This haunted attraction covers 65 acres (260,000 m2) and includes a hayride, corn maze, and five haunted houses.[1]
Background
[edit]Michael and Nancy Jubie opened the hayride for the Halloween season in 1992,[2] stemming from a disguise business Michael Jubie developed during his time as an undercover police officer, and inspired by the couple's love of Halloween.[3] As of 2015, it featured twelve distinct attractions and employed over 350+ people during the season.[3] H5 is located on a 65-acre (260,000 m2), 200-year-old farm.[4]
Attractions
[edit]Hayride
[edit]
The hayride takes place on a wagon which holds 25–30 people, and is facilitated by a "storyteller," an actor who is on the wagon for the ride. Each year the hayride has a different theme, and the storyteller narrates a tale and interacts with other characters.
Corn maze
[edit]Numerous actors are hidden in a one-way maze to scare passersby.
Haunted houses
[edit]Several haunted houses, each updated annually with a new theme, are also part of the attraction.[5][6]
The Creature
[edit]Appearing in 2007, the Creature was a 150-foot (46 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.
Other activities
[edit]H5 includes four eating establishments (Croaked Crow Café, Evil Eatery, Witch Hazel's and Deadly Doughnut) and four gift shops (Magic Moon Gifts, Ghoulish Gifts, Phantom Photos, and Scare wear).
Charity benefits
[edit]- 2013 & 2014: Hosted Bark-for-Life event to raise money for cancer.
- 2008: Profits from opening night were donated to the Children's Annex, an autism services provider in the Hudson Valley.[7][8]
- 2007: A behind-the-scenes look at the hayride was used to raise money for The Queen's Galley, a Kingston, New York-based food bank.
Frosty Fest
[edit]In 2007 the owners relaunched Frosty Fest,[9] a Christmas-themed event that had originally been conceived and attempted early in the attraction's run.
References
[edit]- ^ Lindsay Pietroluongo (October 2, 2008). "Make Halloween memorable: Hang out at the Headless Horseman". Poughkeepsie Journal. Archived from the original on July 6, 2014. Retrieved October 5, 2008.
- ^ Katie Young (September 16, 2006). "The fright stuff: Headless Horseman keeps up its scare tactics". FreemanOnline.com. Daily Freeman. Archived from the original on December 7, 2006. Retrieved October 12, 2008.
- ^ a b Kalet, Beth (September–October 2015). "The Monster Maker". Ulster Magazine. Times Herald-Record. pp. 16–19.
- ^ Hoevel, Ann (October 31, 2006). "'Haunters' work year-round to scare up Halloween frights". CNN. Archived from the original on December 18, 2008. Retrieved January 23, 2009.
- ^ "Why is fear fun? - PoughkeepsieJournal.com - Poughkeepsie Journal". poughkeepsiejournal.com. October 4, 2008. Archived from the original on October 4, 2008. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
- ^ Tomcho, Sandy; Wells, Kristina (October 5, 2007). "Local Haunts Reviewed". RecordOnline.com. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved November 1, 2007.
- ^ "Autism Press Release" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 28, 2008. Retrieved August 24, 2008.
- ^ Bonnie Langston (August 29, 2008). "Fall show helps Annex arts". FreemanOnline.com. Daily Freeman. Archived from the original on August 2, 2009. Retrieved October 12, 2008.
- ^ "Museums and Attractions in Ulster County NY". ulstertourism.info. October 6, 2007. Archived from the original on October 6, 2007. Retrieved July 16, 2022.