Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail, an incredible spooky attraction near Plant City, is celebrating its tenth season with three original outdoor trails, two exciting escape rooms, fun games, and a BRAND NEW hayride attraction. As a huge fan of all things horror, I ADORE this locally-owned haunt, and I am so thrilled to see their much anticipated Witching Season finally commence!
We were honored to be invited to attend a special media night preview of the upcoming attractions and entertainment coming to this year’s Halloween event. Thank you, Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail, for inviting us out!
*There are NO spoilers for the 2023 Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail Halloween event in this article.*
Now, let’s explore all there is to see and do at this year’s Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail!
Legends of Halloween Haunted Hayride
BRAND NEW for 2023, The Legends of Halloween Haunted Hayride is an approximately 15 minute experience including a pre-show and immersive, tractor-driven hayride through a variety of spooky scenes and Halloween stories. The Hayride includes live actors, special effects, detailed sets, innovative jump scares, and a bone-chilling finale!
I LOVE this addition to Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail! Essentially a theme park-style dark ride using live actors, I think this new attraction is absolutely game changing. You won’t find anything else like it in the state of Florida, and you must NOT miss it!
Haunted Trails
Like all of Sir Henry’s Halloween events, this year will feature three, highly detailed and themed trails with original (and super creepy) storylines.
*All italicized trail descriptions are from the Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail Facebook page.*
Tales From The Dead
The tragedy of Sir Henry is a story one will not soon forget. The great Showman and his band of freaks were once the most famous, beloved troupe of their day. Following the brutal murder of Sir Henry’s Bride, they fell from grace due to the rumors and hearsay. Many moons have passed, and a new legend has emerged. It is said that on Halloween night in his abandoned mansion, the phantom Sir Henry and his misfits come back from the grave to hunt the Bride’s killer. Trick, or treat? Find out for yourself as you venture into Sir Henry’s former home. But beware…it’s best not to be caught with blood on your hands, even if it is part of your costume – they cannot tell the difference, and are mad with revenge.
Perhaps my favorite of the three trails (though it’s always difficult to choose), Tales From The Dead is a delightful trek into Sir Henry’s lore. With one of the most stunning and impactful story introductions, guests are able to explore Sir Henry’s former mansion – from the grand entry parlor to a claustrophobic closet. Plunging guests into near complete darkness and plenty of unsettling encounters, this trail is filled with terrifying jump scares and darkly horrifying moments. I loved the opportunity to walk through this house and learn more about the characters and legends behind Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail.
Wicked Waters
The manic witch Griselda haunts the desolate swamp on the outskirts of town. Desperate for more power, she is in search of the lost staff of Beatrice hidden in the depths of the swamp. Legend has it that if found and a secret ritual performed, it would bring back from the dead the most powerful witch known, Beatrice. Griselda, armed with an ancient scroll, finds the staff and preforms the dark ritual, which requires human sacrifice and her own blood. Beatrice returns to her full strength and vows to terrorize those who entrapped her. She opens the whole swamp and raises all the dead bodies hidden underneath the bog. Ancient beings of death now roam the land, wreaking havoc on the town. But this is only the beginning, will you survive the witching season?
Filled with watery imagery and cursed creatures, Wicked Waters was, in my opinion, the scariest of this year’s trails. There were lots of unexpected jumps and organically terrifying sights that definitely made me scream (and I’m not that easy to startle). I was also impressed by the sheer amount of storytelling moments and character developing scenes involved in this trail. The actors were all invested in their roles and told their pieces of the story beautifully. I so appreciate their chilling and engaging performance!
Moonlight Massacre
Deep in the heart of the forsaken town of Boggy Meadow, a creaky old house stands as a grim reminder of the horrors that unfolded within its walls. As the story goes, a sheep farmer named Thomas, had been driven to the brink of despair by three consecutive failed sheep markets. A mysterious figure named Beatrice, disguised as an old hag soon appeared and promised him endless fortune. Beatrice lured Thomas into a sinister pact, mentioning a dreaded “curse of the moon” in passing.
Initially, it seemed as though fortune smiled upon Thomas and his loved ones. But with the arrival of the first full moon, a malevolent transformation consumed Thomas—a primal beast, a wolf driven by insatiable rage. In a frenzy of bloodlust, Thomas unleashed unspeakable horrors upon his own family, staining the walls of their once-happy home with a crimson trail. As the cycles of the full moon persisted, the curse unleashed its wrath upon the unsuspecting town of Boggy Meadow. The residents, one by one, became victims of Thomas’s monstrous fury.
Has Beatrice at last destroyed the town of Boggy Meadow? Find out this season at Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail!
Definitely the most visually stunning of the three trails, Moonlight Massacre is brimming with gory makeup effects, realistic monster costumes, and immersive settings. The makeup actually made me gasp. It’s wonderfully gruesome, and the trail itself is filled with incredibly intricate scenes and settings. Moonlight Massacre brings guests through a standing church, forboding town square (with actual store fronts and buildings), and a thickly wooded “wilderness.” I just LOVE the beautiful scenery, horrifying effects, and bloody imagery on this trail!
Escape Rooms
In addition to the haunted trails and hayride, you can enhance your night of fear with one of Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail’s unique escape rooms! These 3-minute long games are filled with fun storytelling elements, detailed environments, and challenging tasks. There are two escape games this year: Poppy’s Playroom and Final Voyage. Each game costs $5 per player.
We got to experience Poppy’s Playroom, and it was so much fun (while we did not get to play Final Voyage, we were allowed to take a peek inside – and it is just as detailed and themed)! I will not be giving away any spoilers or hints for the game, but I will tell you that the given tasks were enjoyable and achievable within the three minute time frame. If you are interested in this sort of activity, I recommend giving Poppy’s Playroom or Final Voyage a try!
Fun Games
If escape rooms aren’t your thing, or you’re looking for even more scares, try one of Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail’s add-on games. There are two choices during the 2023 event, Axe Throwing or Skull Throwing.
Axe Throwing
Take your best shot at Sir Henry’s Axe Throwing booth. At $5 for 9 throws, guests can test their skill at hurling (blunt, plastic) weapons at small targets. It’s fun to see how close you can get to the bullseye!
Skull Throwing
Similar to axe throwing, guests can try their hand at tossing skulls into far away buckets. It’s a fun, spooky twist on a traditional game-of-skill!
Sir Henry’s Swag Shop
At Sir Henry’s Swag Shop, you’ll find a wide selection of branded merchandise (like jewelry, ornaments, household goods, clothing, and more). With such a variety of available items, there’s bound to be something that satisfies every haunt fan. We even found trail-specific scented candles and a versatile sport bag!
Sir Henry’s Haunted Tales
Along with the exclusive event merchandise at Sir Henry’s Swag Shop, you can pick up your copy of Sir Henry’s Haunted Tales, its sequel Sir Henry Love’s Revenge, or the recently released Sir Henry: Season’s End. These anthology novels feature the origin stories and complicated histories of some of the attraction’s most beloved original characters. With stellar reviews and reception from local readers and enthusiastic haunt fans, these books are a special treat for those of us who appreciate spooky stories and Florida-born flair. If you’d like to learn more about the Sir Henry’s Haunted Tales trilogy, read my previous interview with the book’s authors.
Freaky Thoughts: Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail
One of my absolute favorite locally-owed haunted attractions, Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail offers a completely unique kind of spooky experience. Its characters and trails are filled with powerful lore and carefully crafted storytelling. And this year’s haunts include some terrifying scares and special effects!
And if three highly themed and detailed trails aren’t convincing enough, consider the brand new Legends of Halloween Haunted Hayride. This incredible attraction is simply amazing. As I said before, it’s basically a theme park-style ride in the middle of a local haunt. I’ve never experienced anything like it! If you are a spooky fan, DO NOT MISS the tenth season of Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail!
Visiting Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail
Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail officially opens Friday, September 29 and will run weekend evenings through November 4. This year, the attraction is offering a total of four ticket levels:
- General Admission – General admission tickets include one standby entry to each of the three haunted trails. The Haunted Hayride is NOT INCLUDED in this ticket.
- All Access – An all access ticket includes one standby admission to each haunted trail and the hayride.
- VIP – The VIP option includes one front-of-the-line entry to each haunted house and the hayride. VIP ticket holders can revisit the trails in the standby line.
- Season Pass – If you want to come back multiple times throughout the spooky months, consider a Season Pass. This ticket includes one time, front-of-the-line access to each house as well as the Haunted Hayride. Passholders can visit the trails in the standby line as many times as they wish.
Dates and arrival time slots WILL sell out, so make sure to buy your tickets as soon as possible! You can find available dates and ticket types on Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail’s website.
Know Before You Go
- These trails take place outside on unpaved paths. I highly suggest wearing closed toed, comfortable shoes.
- Just like anywhere in Florida, there may be bugs! Wear bug spray for your comfort and protection
- You MUST buy your ticket online, in advance. No tickets will be sold onsite.
- Parking is FREE at Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail.
Attraction Information:
Address:
2837 South Frontage Rd
Plant City, FL 33566
Phone:
(844) 754-7900
Email:
sirhenryshauntedtrail@gmail.com
Dates/Hours:
Select days through Nov 4
Follow Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
