The Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride in Glen Mills, PA
The Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride in Glen Mills, PA (just outside of Philadelphia, PA).......what else do we need to say!?!? This place is an HRC favorite, so we checked them out on Saturday, 10/7/17. Bates is a top haunted attraction, as rated by many reviewers, haunt industry publications, and television shows. And we totally see why! Bates has 3 main attractions; the Bates Motel, the Haunted Hayride, and Revenge of the Scarecrows Haunted Trail. In addition, there are coffin rides, escape rooms, great food, and awesome merchandise.
The Haunted Hayride is an amazing experience. From the entrance, through a dragon’s mouth, through the mineshaft, snake pit, insane asylum, and many other scenes, you will wonder when it ends; at least 25 scenes! We’ve done tons of hayrides, but none have given us such a feeling of being transformed to different places. The scenes engulfed us, making us forget we were actually on a Hayride through a farm. Their actors seemed to come out of nowhere, at times. Look out they come at you from above, below, and behind! You will be scared! They have the perfect recipe of animatronics, detailed sets, pyrotechnics, and live actors. And a huge applause for the return of the Headless Horseman; indeed an all-time favorite character.
Revenge of the Scarecrow Haunted Trail is a great long walking trail that combines scenes, buildings, and corn trails. We love the perfect distance between scenes. We were enjoying the ambiance of the corn field when actors, ideally positioned, startled us several times. Their corn is just thick enough to allow for optimal hiding spots. Some of our favorite scenes were the human-devouring Venus flytrap, the mausoleum, the hillbilly house, and the swamp. Don’t rush through the Trail; take in the detail of their scenes and the strategic actor placement.
The Bates Motel combines crazy in-your-face actors, sensory overload, and mind boggling rooms. This place really makes you wonder ‘who comes up with this stuff?’ Rooms that move, props that seem to come to life, and stellar actors. This haunted house has everything the true haunt enthusiast looks for, from the entrance to the exit. The details speak for themselves. The Bates Motel does not disappoint!!!!
Our overall experience was top notch, Hollywood quality attractions and actors. This is a true gem in the Northeast! Well worth a road trip to experience it. And please, take our advise, get there extra early or get the VIP tickets to skip the long lines. Bates has huge crowds, because they give you your money’s worth.......and some!!! Bates has been giving scares for 27 years; what a great asset to the haunt industry!
