WOODWARD—If you’re looking for a good scare this Halloween, but you don’t want to see the usual haunts, then Nightmare in the Country is for you.
This somewhat obscure farm is northwest of the Woodward airport entrance off the beaten path from State Highway 15. Using GPS to 38368 S. County Road 195 may or may not get you there, said co-owner Kenton Baird, citing it’s better to look at the map on their website for directions.
When Baird moved back to Woodward from Denver, he decided to buy the little farm west of town. The idea to gut the old barn and rebuild it into a haunted house came from a discussion with his mom and his middle sister while they were sitting around the table one day.
“If you want a good time, it’s not your typical haunted house,” Baird said. “You won’t see a lot of movie monsters. This is as original as I can make it.”
He added part of the attraction is having a haunted house at an old farm adds an organic and authentic feel.
The first year he opened Nightmare in the Country, he was amazed at how many showed up. The following year websites that promote Halloween haunts rated his farm as the No. 1 terror destination in the state.
Because this is the 15th year, they have a movie screen with old footage from yesteryear along with old commercials to give visitors a trip down memory lane.
When Nightmare in the Country first opened, friends and family helped Baird and his sisters (who are co-owners) run it. Today it’s more involved now and they average 40-60 employees for the season. One year they hired 120 people because they had six attractions on the farm.
For 2024, there are two massive attractions for visitors, The Manor and Hallucination Alley, and each takes about 30 minutes to complete. Both attractions cost $15 each or a dual ticket for $30. Like Disney parks, there is a fast pass option for either at $25, which means the fast pass holder gets in quicker for that attraction rather than having to wait in the regular line. Tickets may be purchased online or at the door.
Nightmare in the Country is open from 8-11 p.m. today, Oct. 19, and again next weekend, Oct. 25-26.
No alcohol or illegal substances are permitted on the farm. Security along with video cameras are strategically placed throughout the farm. Also, the only photos allowed are the ones taken at the Facebook photo booth at the end. Due to proprietary reasons, there is zero cell phone usage inside Nightmare in the Country just like a movie theater.
For more information or to order tickets online, go to nightmareinthecountry.com.