Sandyland Acres – Review (Petersburg, KY)

Overall Score – 4.1/5

(all ratings scored out of 5)

Haunted Hayride

Curb Appeal – 4.2/5
Scare Factor – 3.4/5
Actor Enthusiasm – 4.6/5
Creativity – 4.4/5

Overall – 4.2/5

Todd – Sandyland Acres offers a hayride which while not the scariest thing around, is fun and refreshing from all the other haunts.

The trailers that hold ~25 people will be pulled by a tractor to various scenes depicting murder and mayhem. A lot was changed this year, mostly in the scenes and sets themselves.

The formula remains the same. At some points other trucks will chase you, while in other areas the actors will come aboard and make threatening gestures and invade your personal space.

My personal favorite change this year was a final area where 3 scenes are staged. This year, true life murderers were featured. Younger visitors may not be familiar with these infamous faces, but it was a nice touch.

Visiting Sandyland is a nice change of pace. It’s a little more family friendly and it’s nice to be able to ride through a haunt and take it in. A lot of work goes into this one and it’s much appreciated.

Donna (The Frightmaster) – We arrived at the Sandyland Acres location late on a moonless Saturday night just as the last tractor-pulled hayride was leaving.  Even though it was well past midnight, the actors still put on a great show.  The hayride takes you past Motel Hell, then through a very creepy and scary cornfield where you never know when or where someone will jump out at you.  Next you’re being followed by the semi truck and Jeepers Creepers is playing on a loud speaker.  The tractor takes a turn down a path into the woods and you ride past…..a large pirate ship!  This was an amazing edition this year and the canon fire was so unexpected everyone on the ride jumped out of their seats.  The themes change from one horror movie to the next and it’s fun to see your favorite horror characters come to life right in front of you as they jump on the hayride and literally get in your face!  Many of the scenes on the hayride have changed from last year but some of your old favorites are back (flaming truck, headless horseman).  The barn scenes are well done and the actors are very convincing!  I loved the snow machine.

This is the 10th year for Gene and Brenda’s Sandyland Acres haunted hayride and I’ve watched it grow from literally a backyard haunt to something that rivals any other professional haunt in the country.  This is one to see!
Trust me, if you love outdoor, creepy, scary, characters in your face, fun and creative haunted hayrides – do NOT miss this!

Teresa – This takes place on a farm, so you really feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere. I love the flame effects. They really add atmosphere. This part is in the style of a hayride, so you go through with a group of people, sitting on bales of hay. You’re pulled by a tractor through corn fields, while various characters you may recognize from horror movies chase you in vehicles, on horse-back, or some even climb aboard when you stop at one of the familiar scenes, and confront you face-to-face! The characters are fun and the actors engaging. They are good at targeting “victims” who will squirm and scream. However, because you are sitting with a bunch of other people, this isn’t as scary as some other haunts, and is great for a spooky family night out if you have older, braver kids. They changed some scenes from last year, and added a new effect which was quite a surprise. I won’t spoil it, but it was a nice touch. It is fun to try to figure out which movies all the various scenes and characters are from, and the vehicle chases are lots of fun!

Tammy – What a fun hayride haunt! Actors are great with interacting and jumping in the hayride – they always seem to figure out whose the most scared and target that person.  Ride is a good length with a spooky riding thru the tall fields of corn.  I like the atmosphere and that’s fun and scary all in one.  Fire, trucks, cars – always fun!  For those that like true life horror movies that’s what they deliver this year!

Andy – I really enjoy Sandyland Acres because for me it’s a old school, traditional haunt. The actors really get into it by jumping in and out of the hayride. The trucks are super awesome and are probably one of my favorite features of any of the haunts that I’ve been to! Very fun/ spooky haunt. Loved the barn this year!

Farmers Revenge

Curb Appeal – 3.8/5
Scare Factor – 3.8/5
Actor Enthusiasm – 4.2/5
Creativity – 4/5

Overall – 4/5

Todd – Sandyland also offers a small indoor haunt called “Farmer’s Revenge”. The production value is pretty good for the unsuspecting barn. It starts off with a pitch black maze that you must navigate. Once you find your way through that, you’ll pass through some more traditional haunted house scenes.

Donna (The Frightmaster) – This is an indoor haunt that just keeps getting better and better and seems longer than the small building it’s located in would physically allow.  Not sure how they do that?  This is one of the most fun, creepy, scary indoor haunts I have ever been to.  I love the dark part where you have to feel your way along the wall.  This year several new scenes have been added (tunnel, squeeze bags, water sprayers) and the old ones ramped up on the scare-meter.

The Farmer’s Revenge is severely CREEPY and fun at the same time.  Gene and Brenda are inspired when it comes to creativity and do so much with the room they have to work with it is truly amazing!
This is the way to design an indoor haunt.  Loved it!

Teresa – This part starts with a short video from the farmer to give you some backstory to what you are about to experience. If you’re afraid of the dark, go with someone you can hold onto! There’s a creepy array of evil characters you’ll encounter and lots of feeling your way, and there’s a surprise or two waiting. This is a nice counter-balance to the hayride part where you’re passively sitting with a safe bunch of people around you. Here, your little group is on its own. This would still be fun for older, braver kids and it isn’t too long if they do get really scared.

Tammy – Like the dark area because you are left to find your way thru a maze with intermittent lights and creepy actors appearing, getting shot with some type of liquid, shocked at times on the walls and walking thru things that you just aren’t sure what it is!  Some good jump scares and a really creepy clown!!  Fun!!

Andy – Farmers revenge was also a very traditional/old school haunt for me.  The dark maze was super tricky. Great jump factor. Loved the spinning tunnel! Great haunt!