Sonny Acres Haunted Barn and Hayride 2022

Sonny Acres Haunted Barn and Hayride
29W310 North Avenue
West Chicago, IL 60185
https://sonnyacres.com/haunted-hayride/
Visited on Sunday, October 9, 2022

Vital Signs:
Number of attractions: 2 that are haunted, multiple others
Number of actors: 60
Setting: Outdoor
Parking: Free, on-site
Fun Fact: Coupled with a fall festival, this farm destination is perfect for the whole family to celebrate the season!

For more than 125 years, generations of families have tended to Sonny Acres Farm, which is located on a beautiful family-run farm in West Chicago, Illinois. Every year in September and October, the farm runs their annual Fall Festival which features all things fall. Pumpkins, petting zoos, and amusement rides, oh my! Not to mention, take a stroll through their Sweet Shop for some delicious sweets or buy some seasonal decorations, yummy jams, butters, and more from their Farm Fresh Store. Here, you have guests ranging from 7 days old to 100 years old, all enjoying the best season around, autumn.

While we were eager to partake in the Fall Festival activities, we were there for more important matters: The Haunted Barn and Haunted Hayride. The mastermind behind these attractions is a veteran in the haunted attraction industry, and for his second year taking over these attractions, Spike Mike took it up a notch with what he had to offer patrons.

We began our evening with a night under the stars as we took a ride on their Haunted Hayride. Here, patrons boarded traditional hayracks pulled by tractors and were launched into the darkness of the enchanted woods ahead, not knowing what lurked onward. Now, words don’t even do it justice (don’t believe us, check out our media images from the night) but as we began our journey, we passed below huge trees all set with hundreds of hand-carved and lit pumpkins adorning it. Don’t try to count, you won’t be able to, but after our ride, we were told there’s at least 170 pumpkins between the 2 trees, with more to come for next year! Anyone would feel the way we do when we say that we wish we could take those trees and transplant them into our own yards at home, they are that iconic!

In Illinois, there aren’t many hayrides that we get to experience. So, for us, we always enjoy something we don’t get to experience very often. The creators, builders, and actors here made this hayride memorable beyond words. This is not a “laid back” show, it was a constant production, before and after our hayrack passed the scenes. Incorporating attacks from all angles, actors effortlessly directed our attention one way, while others attacked from another and continued to follow our wagon as we escaped.

Taking us through the woods, with vibrant lighting, fog, animatronics, and the perfect blend of actors, scenes here were superb! We traveled anywhere from the circus to the garages, and even a trip to the movie theater that exploded with buttery delight and let us all take a snack with us for the rest of our journey! Another favorite moment was that of the railroad crossing where a train came headed right for our wagon. The special effects put into that scene was detailed beyond words and well executed! Bravo!

As our wagon continued under the full moon sky, we came across The Purge. Themed after the series of movies, the last portion of the hayride introduced us all to a night filled with chaos. With fire, chainsaws, and no sense of being safe on the wagon, actors attacked and were unruly never letting up. It was truly as if we were set in the movie and The Purge had commenced and we were all victims. As we exited the hayride, we had nothing but smiles on our faces.

The night wasn’t over for us as it was time for us to experience the Haunted Barn. Set inside a 2,000 square-foot barn, this year’s theme was “The Curse of the Scarecrow.” Now, for those thinking that this is a tiny attraction, take that out of the equation! We want to emphasize the BEST use of space. Within every single inch of this attraction is detail and sets from floor to ceiling. Every scene we entered continued with the scarecrow theme and filled with twists and turns. The actors in here waited patiently for the perfect moment to attack. Our favorite part of this attraction was the indoor corn maze, yes that’s correct, indoor! Complete with the perfect lighting, winding pathways and pure smell of cornstalks, our group weaved throughout bringing a few scares along the way. Be careful and check everywhere, you never know where the next attack is going to come from!

For our second year of visiting these attractions, there is no doubt that these attractions are a must-see for all lovers of fall and Halloween. Add in the perfect sweet treat, delicious cider, home decorations, and perfectly sized pumpkin to take home, and this is a fall-enthusiasts heaven.

The Bottom Line: Although this may be set on a family farm, make no mistake that these two haunted attractions are scary. Bringing classic haunting styles to life, it’s the perfect icing on the cake to incorporate an already fall friendly atmosphere! Fun for the whole family, no matter what age, everyone is sure to enjoy their time here. We can’t wait to see what they have up their sleeve for next year!

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