Hayride of Horror & Curse of the Bayou 2021

Hayride of Horror and Curse of the Bayou
Lockport, Illinois
Visited on: Friday, October 8, 2021

Vital Signs:
Opened: 2015
Number of seasons-to-date: 7
Number of attractions: 2
Number of actors: 40
Fun Fact: put on by Lockport Park District, many kids as actors (families working together), offers not so scary hayride on 10/18 & 10/24 this year

Hayride of Horror and Curse of the Bayou are a pair of attractions that are operated by a theatrical group on a very large piece of land owned by the Lockport Park District. While “park district” haunted houses haven’t always earned the best reputation, this is definitely an exception to that rule. We are first welcomed to the midway, which is filled with horror movies, carnival foods and snacks, food trucks, and even a visit by some jugglers and crowd-favorite, Pogo. The mood is certainly set for fall fun, but the team here has designed two very different options for two different haunted experiences. Let’s walk down that dark trail together.

The namesake of the attraction, “Hayride of Horror” is a hayrack ride pulled by a real tractor that takes patrons through several fully surrounding scenes filled with gaggles of young actors and actresses who are hungrier than ever. Some of our favorite horror movie monsters, and other creatures of the night, attack the wagon and even board at certain parts. Everyone was treated to reunions with Michael, Jason, zombies, and witches all running amok! Our favorite scenes and casts included the graveyard and circus scenes. (AND major credit to the young actors and actresses who fully committed and crawled their way through the wet mud to ensure superior authenticity!)

Our favorite note was the host of our ride, Peek-a-boo. Not only did she add to show by keeping younger guests on their toes, but she was also quick-witted and exchanged playful banter with the “older folks” too!

While the hayride is intended for families and children of all ages, the second attraction was scaled up to teens and those looking for the next level of scare. “Curse of the Bayou” is more than just a second/accompaniment attraction, it is a solid stand-alone experience in its own right. Here, patrons ditch the safety of the wagon and are forced to explore the uneven trails through the dark dense woods. Creatures of the Night lurk in the darkness as unknowing guests haplessly wander into the middle of the spider’s liar: the Voodoo priestess’s maze.

Inside the Voodoo priestess’s maze, guests are plunged into a dark, tight maze filled with twists and turns. Dead-ends? There’s more than a handful! Turn-arounds and false exits? They got ‘em! This is not only a fun maze filled with well-trained actors, but also a maze that can successfully make you laugh and scream at the same time! Bravo!

Monsters of Note: Peek-a-boo, the Voodoo priest, and the Voodoo priestess! Oh, and Michael Myers, of course!

The Bottom Line: Hayride of Horror and Curse of the Bayou are a great one-two punch for Halloween thrills and chills for the entire family! The environment is safe, playful, and just spooky enough to make sure that kids of all ages will have a hard time closing their eyes anytime soon!

But, don’t just take our word for it, check out media from our visit: