Community Corner
Field of Screams Pennsylvania: The Original Haunt That Still Defines Fear
As haunted attractions come and go, Lancaster County's Field of Screams prepares to open its 33rd season this September.
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MOUNTVILLE, Pa. — Every fall, when the corn grows tall and the nights turn crisp, a familiar sound echoes across Lancaster County: the rattle of wagon wheels on dirt paths, the shrieks of startled visitors, and the sinister laughter that drifts from a farm field in Mountville. For more than three decades, Field of Screams Pennsylvania has been more than a haunted attraction; it has become a seasonal institution, a landmark of fear, and the standard by which all other haunts are measured.
Founded in 1993 by brothers Gene and Jim Schopf on their family farm, Field of Screams began with a modest haunted hayride. Thirty-three seasons later, it has grown into one of the most elaborate and enduring Halloween experiences in the country. While other attractions in the Mid-Atlantic region are pausing or retooling, Pennsylvania’s Field of Screams is preparing once again to welcome thousands of visitors to the farm gates this September 12.
A Legacy of Fear
What sets Field of Screams apart is its history. The attraction is the original “Field of Screams,” predating imitators by years and establishing itself early on as a cornerstone of the haunted entertainment industry. The Schopf brothers combined theatrical ambition with agricultural grit, transforming barns, silos, and cornfields into immersive worlds of horror.
Over time, the haunt has expanded into four flagship attractions: the Haunted Hayride, the Den of Darkness, the Frightmare Asylum, and the Nocturnal Wasteland. Each offers its own brand of terror, from classic horror storytelling to high-tech special effects. For returning guests, the draw is not just nostalgia but reinvention — new sets, new scares, and new surprises layered onto the tradition.
Fear in Context: A $7 Billion Holiday
Halloween is now the second-largest commercial holiday in the United States, after Christmas, with more than $7 billion spent annually on candy, costumes, and seasonal activities. Nearly 90 percent of households with children participate in Halloween events, and haunted attractions have become one of the holiday’s fastest-growing sectors.
Nationwide, there are about 1,200 professional haunted attractions and thousands more charity-run events, but Pennsylvania has consistently been recognized as a hotbed of haunts. Within that competitive landscape, Field of Screams Pennsylvania has maintained its dominance, proving that authenticity, innovation, and consistency resonate with audiences.
Consistency in a Shifting Landscape
Haunted attractions are notoriously difficult to sustain. Weather, costs, and audience demand often force seasonal haunts to shutter after only a handful of years. Yet Field of Screams in Pennsylvania has defied that trend, thriving for more than three decades without interruption.
“There’s a reliability to it,” says Jim Schopf, “People know that come September, Field of Screams will be there and it will be bigger and scarier than before.”
It’s this continuity, the ability to reinvent while remaining familiar, that has kept Field of Screams a fixture on the fall calendar for more than three decades.
A Cultural Touchstone
Calling Field of Screams a haunted house understates its impact. For Lancaster County, it has become a tourism driver, drawing visitors from Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington D.C., Allentown, Pittsburgh, and beyond. For generations of locals, it has been a rite of passage—the place where first dates are tested in the hayride’s darkness, where families return year after year, and where Halloween feels incomplete without a visit.
As it enters its 33rd season, Field of Screams Pennsylvania remains what it has always been: the original, the authentic, and the enduring face of Halloween fear. It stands as a reminder that Halloween is about more than fear—it’s about tradition, community, and the thrill of returning year after year to a place where the scares are as familiar as they are unforgettable.
What’s New in 2025
This year’s season kicks off on Friday, September 12, and runs select nights through Halloween and into mid-November. Beyond the four main haunted attractions, Field of Screams has curated a calendar of special events, ranging from live concerts to themed nights that bring an extra layer of spectacle to the farm. Guests can expect immersive upgrades, fresh scenes inside familiar attractions, and the kind of fine-tuned fear that comes from decades of experience.
For fans who make an annual pilgrimage, the draw isn’t just the scares but the atmosphere. Food vendors, games, photo ops, and a lively midway turn the farm into a festival ground of fright. It’s as much about community as it is about chaos.
If You Go
- Opening Night: September 12, 2025
- Location: 191 College Avenue, Mountville, PA
- Attractions: Haunted Hayride, Den of Darkness, Frightmare Asylum, Nocturnal Wasteland
- Special Events: http://fieldofscreams.com/events
- Tickets: http://fieldofscreams.com/tickets
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