| Winner of the 2005 "A Tour 'D Fright' Sleepy Hollow Hayrides
Courtesy of the Bucks County Courier Times Fellow panelist Lauren Kimmel and I visited Sleepy Hollow with open minds, despite hearing rumors from both sides of the horror-spectrum. Sleepy Hollow was the only hayride that was actually permitted to grab at you. I found this to be a huge jolt factor, as it drives all the squeamish people into a frenzy of anticipation (Lauren was an excellent example). That frenzy becomes a contagious fright-fest for anyone within anxiety range. The costumes were detailed and colorful. A small, but clever part is a stretch of the ride “decorated” with crucified pumpkins that were depraved but funny. This made the experience both cute and scary. Aside from a stellar hayride, Sleepy Hollow takes first place because of its incredible haunted house. Before stepping in, everyone fills out a card with their name and biggest fears. The list includes phobias and fears alike — heights, spiders, drowning, darkness and of course, claustrophobia. This adds a slightly personal touch to your experience, as the scare-ers now know the scare-ees on a more personal level. The actors were stonefaced to the weakly disguised fear of little kids heckling when frightened. Sleepy Hollow’s haunted house was very theatrical and convincing, even though the majority of the employees were high school students. The performers called out for Lauren, but I was betrayed and shoved in a small wooden box with a trap door. Whitney Dearden, a fellow reality panelist, was the stage manager for the entire experience. Despite us screaming out her name every time we were frightened, she played her role with professionalism. The sounds were awesome, too. Whispering voices call out your name as you walk through a makeshift graveyard. Screams are both distant and close. A disconcerted confusion keeps you looking into the darkness. Holograms, projections, strobe lights and trick doors were part of the special effects. These additions went well beyond the norm of red paint and screams. As a finishing touch, there is live music later in the evening. When I was visiting, a festive country music band played to a crowd, which huddled around six large bonfires. Lauren and I roasted marshmallows with thrill seekers of all ages. While still keeping a welcoming atmosphere, Sleepy Hollow provided all the scares and professionalism of a great hayride.
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