Conner Prairie has been a favorite attraction of mine since I was a kid, but who would think that as I grew older it would still be calling my name? Attend the Headless Horseman attraction and you’ll understand why.
The grounds are stunning at sundown, but they get a little creepy at night – and Conner Prairie takes advantage of that with their Haunted Hayride. Grab an express pass so you can skip to the front of the line for this spooky tour of their backwoods. Actors hidden in the trees, cloaked in black, will come out of nowhere as they scream and BOO you while the tractor pulls you along and the incredibly creative haunted houses and cemeteries keep you visually entertained. The real scare comes with the headless horseman who rides up alongside the hayride several times, chasing you out to town. Toddlers, teens and adults will get their fill of entertainment on this ride.
Make sure you have an empty stomach when you arrive. Smells of kettle corn, hot chocolate and frosted nuts waft through the air, taunting you to pull out your wallet and get a taste. Prices were affordable and families all over were enjoying any one of the dozen or more food vendors available. I seriously regretted eating dinner prior to this adventure.
While I walked around, mesmerized by the beautiful fall landscape at Conner Prairie, I enjoyed seeing all of the kid-friendly activities: a carnival games midway, making S’mores over fire pits, pumpkin chunkin’, a spooky marionette show, Halloween movie showings and so much more. If you’re bringing the whole family, get there at 6 when it opens and plan on staying a few hours to take in all of the excitement!
If you’re feeling brave or looking for a wider view of the scenery, hop aboard the 1859 Balloon Voyage (not included in admission), a tethered hot air balloon ride that goes up, up, up above Conner Prairie. Get their early and get on the balloon at sundown – I didn’t make it up, but I can only imagine how beautiful it has to be up there!
Don’t forget The Apple Store, open late for Headless Horseman, which was serving hot apple cider and cold apple slushes. This was the perfect end to a beautiful and spooky evening at Conner Prairie, and you still have time to attend! Headless Horseman will be open October 25-27 – don’t miss out or you’ll have to wait another year!
