Sad to say, but Halloween might be the least-scary thing about 2020.

Still, area scare attractions are doing their best to bring the heebie-jeebies to the masked masses, even in the midst of covid-19 restrictions.

“Halloween seems like one of the few things you can do this year, because everyone’s wearing a mask and you can socially distance,” says Lauren Jones, communications coordinator for Westmoreland County Parks and Recreation.

Unfortunately, Jones says, the parks department canceled its annual Hobgoblin Hikes out of concern for its volunteers, most of them high school and college students.

Kennywood’s Fright Nights and Idlewild’s Hallowboo also were canceled. A message on the website of Hundred Acres Manor Haunted House in Bethel Park says the season opening has been postponed, but they’re leaving a jack-o-lantern lit in case that changes.

In the meantime, there are plenty of places to get your fright on, and they’ll be doing their best to keep you safe.

The zombies might not be right in your face — they’ll menace you from 6 feet away, and workers will be right behind them, sanitizing as the undead shamble along.

‘Covid killers’

Zombies of the Corn in Beaver County has a team of “Covid Killers,” identified by the slogan on their T-shirts.

“Their whole job is sanitizing the equipment, and they take it very seriously,” says general manager Alex Krischke.

Individual scare attraction websites provide information on changes that have been made because of the pandemic and on covid-19 safety guidelines and practices in place, for staff and visitors.

“Our scarers’ masks have been improvised to look like part of the costume,” says Fred Porebski, owner of Freddy’s Haunts in Aliquippa.

Both Porebski and Jeff Johns, owner of Lonesome Valley Farms Valley of Terror in Mt. Pleasant Township, have reconfigured their attractions to accommodate social distancing.

Porebski and his team have transformed an enclosed Haunted Trail into a half-mile outdoor walk.

“We had to sit down and think about it. We had to relocate everything, and it took us about a month,” he says. “People go through in the groups that they came in with. It slows us down, but that’s what we have to do.”

The Lonesome Valley hayride of past years is a private vehicle drive-thru experience this time around.

The 6-mile hayride route was designed for tractors pulling wagons through fields, Johns says. Making it vehicle-friendly took some engineering.

“A drive seemed to be the safest thing to do, but it was not without challenges,” Johns said. “We’ve adapted pretty darn well.”

While the scare actors keep their distance, there’s still “a lot of eye candy” such as special effects, CO2 blasts and pyrotechnics. The drive-thru also provides unexpected benefits for some visitors.

“It’s good for the younger kids, because the scares are not as up-close,” Johns says. “We had one man in a wheelchair who wasn’t able to do the ride before, who could experience it from the comfort of a vehicle. So, there have been some bright spots.”

Krischke was afraid that people would be reluctant to come out, but Zombies of the Corn sold out on opening weekend. Johns and Porebski report good crowds, too.

“The only problem is we’re too busy. People are staying longer,” Porebski says. “Like the old proverb, be careful what you wish for.”

“It seems like everyone is grateful to be outside in a safe environment,” Krischke says.

Get your scare on

Check out the chills and thrills at the following locations. Be aware that some require advance reservations in order to control crowd sizes.

• Allen’s Haunted Hayrides & Tavern of Terror, Smock, Fayette County: Includes a 1-mile hayride, a 3,500-square-foot tavern haunt and reservations-only bonfires. Open Fridays and Saturdays during October, along with Oct. 29. Attractions are $15 each, or $25 for both; a bonfire for up to 25 people is $30.

Details: 724-677-2589 or allenshayrides.com

• Cheeseman Fright Farm, Portersville, Lawrence County: Haunted hayride, corn maze and multiple walk-though attractions on the farm’s 650 acres. Open Fridays-Sundays during October. Advance registration required; general admission is $20. Pumpkin patch open Saturdays-Sundays in October; hayrides are $4 per person, pumpkins priced by the pound.

Details: 724-368-3233 or cheesemanfrightfarm.com

• Demon House, Monongahela: Haunted activities and attractions, outdoor horror movie theater, campfires and music. Open Fridays-Sundays through Nov. 1 and Nov. 6, 7 and 13. General admission is $20, $15 on Sundays.

Details: 724-797-4140 or demonhouse.com

• Freddy’s Haunts, Aliquippa, Beaver County: An immersive, indoor haunt has been converted to a ½-mile outdoor experience. Snack bar available. Open Thursdays-Sundays through Oct. 31. Cost is $15.

Details: 724-650-0050 or freddyshaunts.net

• Fright Farm, Smithfield, Fayette County: Attractions include the Hayride of No Return, Slaughter Grounds, Terror Maze and Fest-Evil Midway. Open Thursdays-Sundays through October. Tickets start at $25.

Details: 724-564-7644 or frightfarm.com

• Haunted Hills Estate Scream Park, Uniontown: Six attractions and activities featuring actors, animatronics and special effects, along with midway games, concession stand, gift shop and live entertainment. Private bonfires are available. Open Fridays-Sundays through October and Nov. 7. Tickets are $25 for two attractions or $30 for six.

Details: 724-984-5915 or hauntedhillsestate.com

• Haunted Hills Hayride and The Valley of Darkness Haunted Walking Trail, North Versailles: Outdoor adventures through a deep, dark woods. Private campfires available. Open Thursdays-Sundays during October. Price per attraction is $15 Friday-Saturday, $13 Thursday or Sunday. Price for both is $20 Friday-Saturday, $18 Thursday or Sunday. Proceeds benefit Autism Society of Pittsburgh.

Details: hauntedhillshayride.com

• Haunted Mini Golf at Hopewell Windmill, Hopewell, Beaver County: Ghosts and ghouls haunt the decorated course as golfers putt with glow-in-the-dark balls. Open 3-9:30 p.m. weekdays, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. weekends. Cost is $12, or $10 for children under 12.

Details: 724-375-5350 or hopewellwindmill.com

• Lonesome Valley Farms Valley of Terror, near Westmoreland Fairgrounds, Mt. Pleasant Township: Haunted hayride experience has been converted to a vehicle drive-­thru. Open Fridays-Saturdays during October. Non-haunted corn maze is open Sundays during October. Haunted drive-thru is $10 per person, or $40 per vehicle up to six occupants. Corn maze is $10. All tickets cash only.

Details: 724-423-4920 or Lonesome Valley Farms on Facebook

• Lincoln Caverns, Huntingdon, Huntingdon County: Ghosts & Goblins Tours include spooky narrated cave tours and a nighttime haunted trail through the woods. Saturdays during October. Tickets start at $19.98, purchase in advance online or by phone.

Details: 814-643-0268 or lincolncaverns.com

• ScareHouse, Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills, Frazer: Ranked one of “America’s Scariest Halloween Attractions” by Travel Channel and featured in numerous media outlets. Open Fridays-Sundays through Nov. 1, Fridays-Saturdays Nov. 6-14. Advance tickets required; general admission is $19.95, skip-the-line admission is $34.95.

Details: scarehouse.com

• Zombies of the Corn, Freedom, Beaver County: Includes a Zombie Compound walk-through, Zombie Shoot paintball, maze, campfire ghost stories, outdoor movie screen and snack bar. Open Fridays-­Saturdays during October and Sundays Oct. 25-Nov. 1. Admission starts at $35.

Details: 724-775-6232 or zombiesofthecorn.com

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