Frightland Scares Up Halloween Fun
Eight Haunted Attractions at Middletown Delaware Park
Oct 12, 2009
Frightland is a complex of eight haunted attractions – some indoors, some outdoors, all scary, and all tons of fun. If you're thinking about visiting a haunted house this year, consider Frightland, which the Travel Channel called 'one of America's scariest Halloween attractions.' It's also considered a top spot by industry insiders at Hauntworld, publishers of Haunted Attraction magazine.
Where is Frightland?
Frightland is located just outside Middletown, Delaware on Route 14 and Port Penn Road 1 mile south of the St. Georges Bridge. Not far from I-95, the complex of haunted attractions is centrally located to attract visitors from the nearby Philadelphia, Baltimore and Delaware Mid-Atlantic regions and beyond.
Here's a summary of the eight haunted attractions, which are tied together by the theme of the mythical Idalia farm family's dark past.
The Eight Haunted Atractions at Frightland
The Attic
The upstairs portion of the haunted barn is only for the very brave. There is no lighting whatsoever, so visitors find themselves feeling their way through the dark maze by holding onto the walls – and each other. The concept of fear of the unknown is best discovered at this particular attraction.
Barn of Horror
Directly below the attic is the haunted barn where Dr. Thaddeus Idalia's daughter allegedly hanged herself before Frightland moved in. Dark shadows, ghoulish figures and horrifying scenes meet visitors at every corner, and in some corners that don't even seem to exist.
Idalia Manor
The main home of the dysfunctional Idalia family includes rooms that seem traditional in most households, but hold only horror here. Dr. Idalia is rumored to have gone mad upon hearing of his daughter's suicide, and this is the place where his spirit- and some spirits even more frightening- have been known not to rest. It's said strange and bizarre experiments took place in the dark basements of Idalia Manor.
The Escape
Apparently the proliferation of crime and lunacy on the Idalia farmstead necessitated the creation of an on-site penitentiary, and The Escape is a jail scene where guests will find electrifying results as prisoners and guards vie to be the most horrifying.
Haunted Hayride
Perhaps the most popular of haunted attractions at Frightland, the hayride is not a calm ride through the countryside. Chainsaws, terrifying clowns in a haunted carnival, and creatures from beyond the grave await guests, as well as a 20-foot high animated pumpkin beyond your wildest fall harvest imagination.
Haunted Woods
Well, the hayride brings guests there, but doesn't give them a ride back. They'll have to walk through haunted woods to try to find civilization again, and it won't be easy what with all the corpses, lively vegetation and other spooky creatures following nearby in pitch darkness. Lions and tigers and bears? You wish!
Forgotten Asylum
Apparently the secrets of Dr. Thaddeus Idalia are many, one of them uncovered not long ago. It's the underground insane asylum where the patients and their offspring wait for visiting hours. Visitors may notice chains, straitjackets, and some blood in the dark underground cell compound.
Town of Redemption
This former mining town turned ghost town is covered in filth and horror as the former townspeople, victims of town water supply poisoning, have become outlaw lunatics, running the town's saloon, butcher shop and other brutally haunted buildings. The ghosts aren't very friendly to the town visitors.
Other Frightland Activities
There are also non-haunted attractions at Frightland. Guests with younger children can attend the daytime Fall Festival which includes a pumpkin patch, hay ride, face painting, crafts and a corn maze. Also new is a fossil dig and gemstone mining. There are traditional carnival rides on a midway adjacent to the haunted attractions (which have a separate entrance) and carnival food stands as well. There's also live entertainment on a huge stage.
In addition to weekends in September and October, Frightland is also open the weekend following Halloween for those not willing to let the most spooktacular holiday go. Visit the Frightland website for ticket prices (recommended: the "RIP Ticket" which allows visitors to skip long lines), hours, directions, and more information.
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