Autumn Adventures

Ellicottville Boasts Autumn Adventures at Pumpkinville and Courageous Undertakings at Nightmare Hayrides

There aren't many things better than a crisp fall day.  In Ellicottville, NY, the hills of Holiday Valley and HoliMont are virtually on fire with color, the shops are bustling with people gearing up for ski season, and a general excitement is apparent everywhere. If you're visiting our slice of heaven this fall and are looking for a few activities, I've got a couple of hot tips for you …

Pumpkinville

Ahhh, the legendary Pumpkinville.  Everyone has heard of it. But, if you've been living under a giant gourd most of your life, I'll drop some knowledge on you for all the things you can expect over there on Sugartown Road.  I'll warn you now: your smartphone may think it knows everything, but use caution when Siri is telling you how to navigate the rolling hills outside of town - she's misleading sometimes!  Fortunately, there are large orange signs directing you from virtually every direction leaving town, so follow those instead.  

Of course the primary attraction speaks to the name of the business - PUMPKINS!  They're literally everywhere.  Every shape, size and shade of orange, ripe for you to sink your mother's new knife set into.  They are without question for sale on site. Pumpkinville also hosts a pretty intense weigh-off contest each fall, with contenders bringing in pumpkins via flatbed that will leave you scratching your head wondering how the heck they get so big.  

However, if you're not terribly enamored with gourds, Pumpkinville also has a variety of other activities to keep you and the little ones entertained. There's a petting zoo filled with farm animals, hayrides, pony rides, a corn maze, gem mining (think gold rush), and one of my personal favorites - corn cob cannon shooting.  Hay bale targets await your assault as you lock and load the cannon with corn cobs, if you manage to hit one, there are prizes to be had.  

One weekend you’ll definitely want to hit up at Pumpkinville is their annual Apple Cider Festival, this year scheduled for Sept. 22-23. Witness apples being pressed into all sorts of delicious seasonal treats.  (The press they use is over 120 years old, keeping this long-standing tradition alive for future generations.)  

These are just small glimpses into a few of the fun things Pumpkinville has to offer, during their season, Sept. 15-Oct. 31. To learn more about Pumpkinville, give them a shout at 716-699-2205 or click over to www.Pumpkinville.com.

Nightmare Hayrides

The regionally famous Nightmare Hayrides.  Who knew … you can save a trip to those fancy haunted houses in Buffalo and Southern Ontario, and get the bejesus scared out of you right here in Ellicottville, NY!  Normally I scoff at haunted houses, but I can assure you - these hay rides indeed raise the hair on the back of your neck.

Owned and operated by John and Karen Kent (the same fine family behind the Ellicottville Rodeo), Nightmare Hayrides offer the perfect solution for a Friday, Saturday or Sunday night during the month of October. No reservations are needed, and it costs a mere $15 for an experience you'll want to repeat annually.  

I caught up with John, who was actually just taking a break from building some ramps for this year’s offering.  (John and Karen never cease to amaze me … can you believe they took only four days off after the largely successful Ellicottville Rodeo, and immediately started working on their Nightmare Hayrides program for this year?!)  I knew John wouldn't give away the farm so to speak (or haunted barn) but he did reveal a few new additions for this fall. Among them, some bounce houses for the younger ghoul seekers, as well as a mechanical bull inside the barn. He was also proud to announce that there will be a brand new parking scenario in place up there, with an expanded lot (if you've ever been, you know there used to be a wait sometimes to get in the place!)  John also revealed he and Karen visited a Halloween Expo this past March, to add even more to their current lineup of heart stopping scare tactics.  

So what's it all about? Let's dive in ...

Upon arrival, you'll be loaded into a tractor drawn hay wagon.  For the next 25 minutes, the tractor drawn wagon will weave its way down an eerily dark path, where every time you get comfortable (and you KNOW it’s coming) you get another scare to your system.  John says he dares even the toughest critic to sit there and not crack a smile or “let out a squeal” while the wagon makes its way around the property.  Not to give too much away, but if you've ever heard a chainsaw inches from your body, you'll start to understand the level of fear we're dealing with here.  

As if you hadn't already pee'd your pants twice, the saga then continues as you exit the wagon and begin a trek through a maze over an acre of land that will leave you clutching whoever it is that joined you on this crazy adventure. They've added even more attractions to this section, and continue to improve their property year after year.

The anxiety doesn't stop there. Upon gathering your composure, there's still one more hurdle of horror - the haunted barn.  As if this barn weren't creepy enough, there are more scares awaiting inside, with air cannons surprising you left and right, claustrophobic walls (no explanation needed), as well as a vortex tunnel that will test your equilibrium like no other.  

All in all, this adventure takes around 40 minutes, and will leave you wanting more, no matter what your blood pressure and heart rate tell you.  If you have more questions, or for group rates, reach out to John and Karen Kent at Nightmare Hayrides, 716-699-4839, or click through to their website at NightmareHayride.com.