Community Corner
Halloween Trips: Terror Behind Walls, Bates Motel, Owl's Eye Maze
Spooky sites to see as we lead up to All Hallow's Eve in the Delaware Valley.
Though celebrated Oct. 31, Halloween really defines the entire month of October. In Philadelphia and nearby counties there are countless fall festivals, haunted houses, ghost tours, pumpkin patches, hayrides—you name it, which get the ghouls and gals ready for the holiday.
We gave you some of our earlier this month, but check below for more details and some more Halloween festivities you can visit on one tank of gas.
Bates Motel
Address: 1835 Middletown Road, Glen Mills, PA
How Far From Broomall? About 13 minutes or 9 miles.
Admission: There are a variety of packages, but most tickets range from $15 to $30. The choir will be selling discounted admission tickets to the haunted motel. For more information, visit .
Hours:
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- Sun to Wed: 6:30 to 9:30 pm. Thur: 6:30 to 10:30 pm. Fri to Sat: 6:30 to 10:30 pm.
- Open daily through Oct. 31
Summary: This Delaware County haunt features a variety of attractions everyday through Halloween. It includes haunted hayride, corn maze and creepy tour through the iconic Bates Motel. Lots of special FX and movie makeup on the latter feature.
Links:
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Owl's Eye Hay Maze
Address: 9201 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, PA
How Far From Broomall? About 27 minutes or 17 miles.
Admission: $8 to $20
Hours:
- Fri: 6 to 8 pm. Sat: 10 am to 6 pm. Sun: 10 am to 5 pm.
- Weekends through Oct. 30
Summary: The Woodmere Art Museum in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia boasts a massive hay maze formed in the shape of an owl's eye. With day and dusk trips through the maze, the attraction is very kid friendly and a good excuse to spend an afternoon shopping in Chestnut Hill.
Links:
Spirit of '76 Ghost Tour
Address: 325 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA
How Far From Broomall? About 32 minutes or 14 miles.
Admission: Adults, $17.50. Children, $12.50
Hours:
- Varies each night, but often 6 and 7:30 p.m. tours.
- Through Oct. 31
Summary: Billed as "one part history, two parts haunt," this ghost tour weaves through Old City Philadelphia and debunks/regales participants of colonial-era mythes. Spooky features include stops at cemeteries, an Edgar Allen Poe haunt, and Pine Street to visit its infamous witch. Also included are movie facts from famous films shot in Philly. The after-dark walk is OK for kids.
Links:
Terror Behind the Walls
Address: Eastern State Penitentiary 22nd Street and Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
How Far From Broomall? About 29 minutes or 12 miles.
Admission: From $20 to $30
Hours:
- Sun, Tues-Thurs: 7 to 11 pm. Fri-Sat: 7 to midnight. Mon: Closed
- Haunted tours go through Nov. 12
Summary: One of Philadelphia's most recognizable facilities, Eastern State Penitentiary is an ancient city prison turned tourist site. For the 20th straight fall, the former prison hosts its annual "Terror Behind the Walls" Halloween tour. Though daily historical prison visits occur all year, this features after-dark walks through a haunted, ghoulish and occasionally jarring prison. Some family friendly days exist, but most tours aren't recommended for children under 7.
Links:
Fright Factory
Address: 2200 S. Swanson St., Philadelphia, PA
How Far From Broomall? About 34 minutes or 16 miles.
Admission: $25
Hours:
- Thur, Sun: 7:30 to 10 pm. Fri-Sat: 7:30 to 11 pm.
- Open: Oct. 27-31
Summary: Four haunted attractions in one, this Fright Factory located near Penn's Landing, offers a spooky look into a chemical factory, asylum, cemetery and even your mind. Similar to Terror Behind the Walls in exploring abandoned relics of Philadelphia, Fright Factory advises young children to pass up this adventure.
Links:
Valley of Fear—Haunted Hayride
Address: 301 W. Bristol Road, Feasterville, PA
How Far From Broomall? About 44 minutes or 35 miles.
Admission: Different packages but Fear Pass for all four attractions is $35 (Fri/Sat) and $30.
Hours:
- 7 to 10 pm
- Oct. 26-31
Summary: Located at the Phoenix Sport Club in Bucks County, the Valley of Fear sits on 30 acres and features four haunted attractions—two haunted houses, a hayride and a walking Scary Tales tour. Numerous ticket packages exist, as well as do deals. Each night can also be concluded with entertainment and food at the PumpkinHead's Picnic.
Links:
Happy Hauntings
Address: 2249 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, PA 17602
How Far From Broomall? About 1 hour and 6 minutes or 49 miles.
Admission: Ages 3 and up: $21
Hours:
- Sat. and Sun: 3 to 9 pm
- Through Oct. 30
Summary: Geared toward the kids, Happy Hauntings is Dutch Wonderland's Halloween adventure for families and their kids. The Lancaster amusement park's activities include a costume contest, trick-or-treat trail, and the usual kid friendly rides.
Links:
Hershey and Dorney Park Frights
Address: 100 W. Hersheypark Dr., Hershey, PA, and Lincoln Ave. and Hamilton Boulevard, Allentown, PA
How Far From Broomall? About 1 hour and 41 minutes or 83 miles/about 1 hour or 55 miles.
Admission: Both are around $30
Hours:
- Hershey—Fri: 5 to 10 pm. Sat: 2 to 10 pm. Sun: 2 to 9 pm.
- Dorney—Fri: 6 to midnight. Sat: Noon to midnight. Oct. 30: Noon to midnight
Summary: Pennsylvania's two local amusement parks both go all out for Halloween. Dorney Park boasts both indoor and outdoor mazes, shows and, of course, access to many of the usual rides. Similar attractions exist at Hershey Park, in addition to trick-or-treating for kids under 12 and at Creatures of the Night exhibit at ZooAmerica.
Related Topics: Halloween 2011
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