A McHenry citizen sits on her front porch taking in the fall air and feeling the breeze. This is nice, but not enough for her. She has an itch to participate in something mischievous and spooky today, but what? A haunted house, or maze? Thinking, she eventually ends up on Google. She searches, “Fall activities near McHenry County.”
McHenry has various unique ways of celebrating our spooky season. Ever since our McHenry haunted house and hayride have been discontinued performing annually due to insurance costs and other issues with the Jaycees and Wonder Lake Ski Team, many citizens have found new alternatives to do on their October weekends.
One popular McHenry County destination is Richardson’s Adventure Farm in Spring Grove. There are so many things to do at the farm such as, Live Pig Races, giant slides, pedal carts, wagon rides, pumpkin picking, the 700′ Zip Line, ORBiting, campfires, food and fun for the whole family. Richardson’s is also the holder of the world’s largest corn maze.
“The MCHS Dance team all took a trip to Richardson’s farm this past weekend and it was so cute,” Junior Matzally Vazquez says. “We rented out one of their bonfires, did all the activities there and took cute photos. It was such a fun bonding moment.”
If you were looking for something slightly spookier, this year, located on the property grounds of Richardson’s farm, yet a separate attraction, there’s a new haunted house called, “American Nightmare.”
“Every fall, haunted attractions like this one draw visitors from all over, which helps nearby restaurants, gas stations and shops make more money. It also creates seasonal jobs for local teens and adults who want extra income,” MCHS senior and, “American Nightmare,” scare actor Kiera Miller says. “Overall, it’s not just about scares. It’s about bringing life and excitement to the area.”
There are also other farms to visit in McHenry this season, like Stade’s Farm & Market and Harm’s Farm & Garden Center. Harm’s Farm sells Homegrown seasonal perennials and other plants, but they also have a petting zoo and children’s playgrounds.
If you’re looking for more of an intense scare, The Old Joliet Haunted Prison, a haunted attraction within a former prison featuring laser tag and actors, isn’t too far of a drive away.
“I brought my kids for a memorable night at their first haunted house,” Patrick Jacobs says in his Google review. “I wasn’t sure if my ten year old daughter would go through or not and once we got close, she was terrified and didn’t want any part of it.”
Tickets for the Old Joliet Haunted Prison start at $19.99, though prices increase closer to the date and are often cheaper when purchased online in advance. There is no admission fee for Haunted Trails Joliet, but it operates on a “pay as you play” system where you purchase a FUN Card for its rides and games.
“Then, [scare actors] Angie and String Cheese started talking to her and before I knew it, she went through all 3 attractions and loved it. Terrified, but loved it!” Jacobs says. “The entire staff is extremely helpful, fun and clearly wants to make sure that every customer has a great experience facing their fears and building memories.”
Doing something as simple as taking a walk in the park, or raking leaves can keep the ‘Spooktober’ spirit alive.
Autumn activities bring people together, give families and teens something fun to do and help local businesses make money. Haunted houses, pumpkin patches and fall festivals make McHenry more exciting and give people more reasons to visit. It’s important to be active in the community, because it helps create a spooky, festive environment for everyone.