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Thursday, October 08, 2009
The haunted house: It’s a Halloween practice as common as dressing up and asking for candy.
Except now, thanks to ambition and tradition, you can enjoy a haunted anything. Haunted trails. Haunted corn fields. Haunted barns.
Like Christmas come early, the region gifts us with a plethora of haunted attractions. Check out some of the scares, parties or hay rides at the pumpkin patches.
The Boo Review
The Evil Community of Talon Falls, including the haunts Dead End Haunted House and Pirates of the Dead End.
Aiming for a Universal Studios theme park-level haunted attraction in western Kentucky is setting the bar high.
And Todd Ferren has no problem trying to clear it every year.
In its 11th year, the Talon Falls attraction employs 150 volunteer actors, two large projection screens, interactive cemeteries and more.
“We’ve gone all out this year,” Ferren said. “We go for over the top every year. We want it to be like a mini Universal Studios Halloween horror night in Paducah.”
Ferren said changes include all three attractions being on the same site, with no bus rides from each required.
Visitors can buy tickets online, and the ghouls and goblins ratchet up their act using 8-foot tall stilts and hiding places even within the line waiting to get in. Ferren includes everything from traditional zombie-type characters to tree people, hiding in camouflage. And like so many area haunted attractions, the Talon Falls folks share a portion of proceeds with charities, including the American Red Cross and West Kentucky Crime Stoppers. Ferren said Talon Falls has raised more than $70,000 for the organizations in 10 years.
Where: 2932 Ky. 849 West, Melber.
Hours: 6:30-9 p.m. weeknights. 6:30-11 p.m. Friday, Saturday.
Cost: $15 for Talon Falls and Pirates of the Dead End. $12 for Dead End Haunted House.
More: www.talonfalls.com.
Toxic Halloween
Where: 3430 James-Sanders Blvd. in Paducah, the former Circuit City building.
Hours: Open Thursday-Sunday in October. 7-11 p.m. Thursday and Sunday. 6-11 p.m. Friday, Saturday.
Cost: $18.
More: www.toxichalloween.com.
Walking Ghost Tours in downtown Paducah
Where: Tours start at the Market House Theatre, 120 Market House Square.
Hours: Tours leave at 6, 6:45, 7:30, 8:15, 9 p.m. each Saturday in October.
Cost: $14 adults, $6 6-12 years old. Age minimum is 6.
Features: Performers in full costume cover six blocks telling ghost stories and creepy legends referenced by research at the McCracken County Public Library, according to Michael Cochran, theater director. Cochran said the tours last about one hour and 15 minutes, and are on rain or shine.
More: www.mhtplay.com or call 270-444-6828.
Boo Bash party
What: A costume-only party hosted by the 20/30 Group of Paducah, with live DJ and drink specials.
Where: Upstairs at Martin Fierro Argentinean Grill, 314 Broadway.
When: 8 p.m.-? Halloween night.
Cost: $10, $15 for couples.
More: www.twentythirtygroup.com.
Zombie Walk
The deal: A whole crowd of locals will dress as zombies, walk downtown in character and then watch a showing of the original “Night of the Living Dead.”
When: 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24.
Where: Starts at Ninth Street and Broadway, across from Fat Moe’s Bar & Grill at 902 Broadway.
Cost: Participants are asked to bring a canned food item or donation to benefit the McCracken County Family Service Society and Paducah Renaissance Alliance.
More: www.zombiewalk.com.
The Industrial Slaughterhouse
Where: Off Ky. 80 past Willett Street in Fancy Farm.
Hours: Open at dusk every Friday-Sunday in October. Also open Oct. 28, 29.
Cost: $10.
More: www.theindustrialslaughterhouse.com.
The Haunted Barn and Erebus
The Haunted Barn is a 6-year-old attraction in what used to be an indoor paintball field, according to owner Kevin Solomon.
Solomon said Erebus is a separate attraction in an adjoining garage.
Solomon said it takes about 40 minutes to get through the barn and its 20 or so ghouls. He also channels Paducah’s folk lore and ghost stories in the form of Della Barnes. Locals may know several tales involving the old Paducahan, but all of the rumors involve murder, jealous rages and stories of her beauty. Solomon said you can learn more by coming out to his barn.
Where: 5105 Mayfield-Metropolis Road.
Hours: 7 p.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday nights in October. Also open Oct. 29 and Nov. 1. Erebus, a separate attraction, is open the same times.
Cost: $8 for The Haunted Barn. $7 for Erebus.
More: Call 270-366-5000.
Night Terrors: A Vampires Lair by the Haunt Sisters
Where: 31301/2 Estes Lane.
Hours: 8 p.m.-midnight.
More: Call 270-519-2985.
House of Horror
Where: 914 Heater Store Road in Smithland.
Hours: Dusk-11 p.m. every Friday, Saturday in October.
Cost: $5.
More: www.myspace.com/smithlandhouseofhorror
Wurth Farms
Wurth Farms operates all year, and opens to the public in October, according to employee Loretta Stringer.
“We’ve got a little of everything,” Stringer said. “There’s a petting zoo, pony rides, straw maze, hay rides back to the pumpkin patch.”
Stringer said the farm’s opening to the public has been going on at least 10 years.
To complement the pumpkin patch, and inflatable attractions, this year a local band will play from 1-4 p.m. both days, Stringer said.
Where: 1720 S. Friendship Road.
Hours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. every Saturday in October. Noon-5 p.m. Sundays.
More: Call 270-554-1403.
Beggs Family Farm
Where: 2319 state Highway U in Sikeston, Mo.
Hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturdays in October. Noon-6 p.m. Sundays.
Cost: $9 per person.
Features: Haunted attraction, corn mazes, corn cannons and more.
More: Call 573-471-3879 or www.beggsfamilyfarm.com.
Check out an online list of pumpkin patches in every state at: www.pumpkinpatchesandmore.org.
A-maize-ing Farms corn maze
Where: Behind Gibson’s Pharmacy, 175 E. Broadway in Mayfield.
Hours: 5-10 p.m. Wednesday, Friday. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday. 1-6 p.m. Sunday through Halloween.
Price: $10 6 and older. Free for 5 and younger.
Features: Hay rides, fall decorations, corn cannon and three mazes.
More: Call Sam Brown at 270-705-4992.
Contact Adam Shull, a Paducah Sun staff writer, at 270-575-8653.
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