AUBURN - Organizers at Auburn's Haunted Hayride like to try new ways to frighten people every year. In fact, they don't have a problem changing things every few minutes.
Sam Tenney / The Citizen
The Cayuga County Sportsmen's Association will be running its Haunted Hayrides on the two weekends before Halloween.
The Cayuga County Sportsmen's Association will be running its Haunted Hayrides on the two weekends before Halloween.
If a group goes through the ride and they don't get scared enough, the ghouls will get together and figure out a better way to do it the next time around.
“It's like putting on a different act each time the people go by,” said Mike Flanigan, of Auburn, who helped organize this year's hay ride “We're always thinking about what we can do better for the next one.”
Organized by the Cayuga County Sportsmen's Association, the Haunted Hayride will offer thrills and chills to all who dare for the next two weekends. The annual event is the club's largest fund-raiser, often attracting more than 2,000 people a year.
Visitors take an approximately 20-minute ride through the woods above the Sportsmen's clubhouse.
The ride goes through 10 scenes that range from creepy to downright gory - witches looking for ways to cook children, men losing their heads on a guillotine, cursed campgrounds, headless horsemen and more.
Almost 100 club members and other volunteers construct the scenes. Many of them will be also waiting in the woods in costume, looking to make some people scream with surprises of their own.
“You really get into it and start putting on a show,” said Flanigan, whose costume will include a mask, a sickle and some loose heads. “It's like being on a stage.”
While people wait for their rides at the clubhouse, they will be able to snack on hot dogs, popcorn, cider and other goodies.
The clubhouse will be decked out in its own creepy decor, with witches serving visitors in front of tombstones with names like “Barry Dalive” and “Hugh R. Ugly.”
According to coordinator Bob Catalfano, this hay ride will be bigger than past ones, as more people have been working on designs and decorations. Catalfano added that he hopes the weather holds, since last year's hay ride had to be closed down for two days because of rain.
But whatever the weather forecast, it's not hard to find people to volunteer, Catalfano said.
“People enjoy this event,” he said. “Everyone pitches in, so we get great ideas up here.”
On Sunday afternoon, Mark DiVietro was working with family members on their own idea - a scene depicting a haunted campsite.
While DiVietro took a break, his brother Joe and brother-in-law Steve Baier discussed where to put the casket and the body parts.
DiVietro, 34, said he has worked on the Haunted Hayride all eight years it has existed, and every year, his family's scene is different.
“It's fun, just getting everyone together to support the club,” he said. “(The hay ride) just draws everyone into it.”
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net
If you go
What: Haunted Hayride
When: 7 to 9:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 19, 20, 26 and 27
Where: Cayuga County Sportsmen's Association, 4620 Rockefeller Road
Cost: $5
For details: Visit www.cayugacountysportsmens.com
“It's like putting on a different act each time the people go by,” said Mike Flanigan, of Auburn, who helped organize this year's hay ride “We're always thinking about what we can do better for the next one.”
Organized by the Cayuga County Sportsmen's Association, the Haunted Hayride will offer thrills and chills to all who dare for the next two weekends. The annual event is the club's largest fund-raiser, often attracting more than 2,000 people a year.
Visitors take an approximately 20-minute ride through the woods above the Sportsmen's clubhouse.
The ride goes through 10 scenes that range from creepy to downright gory - witches looking for ways to cook children, men losing their heads on a guillotine, cursed campgrounds, headless horsemen and more.
Almost 100 club members and other volunteers construct the scenes. Many of them will be also waiting in the woods in costume, looking to make some people scream with surprises of their own.
“You really get into it and start putting on a show,” said Flanigan, whose costume will include a mask, a sickle and some loose heads. “It's like being on a stage.”
While people wait for their rides at the clubhouse, they will be able to snack on hot dogs, popcorn, cider and other goodies.
The clubhouse will be decked out in its own creepy decor, with witches serving visitors in front of tombstones with names like “Barry Dalive” and “Hugh R. Ugly.”
According to coordinator Bob Catalfano, this hay ride will be bigger than past ones, as more people have been working on designs and decorations. Catalfano added that he hopes the weather holds, since last year's hay ride had to be closed down for two days because of rain.
But whatever the weather forecast, it's not hard to find people to volunteer, Catalfano said.
“People enjoy this event,” he said. “Everyone pitches in, so we get great ideas up here.”
On Sunday afternoon, Mark DiVietro was working with family members on their own idea - a scene depicting a haunted campsite.
While DiVietro took a break, his brother Joe and brother-in-law Steve Baier discussed where to put the casket and the body parts.
DiVietro, 34, said he has worked on the Haunted Hayride all eight years it has existed, and every year, his family's scene is different.
“It's fun, just getting everyone together to support the club,” he said. “(The hay ride) just draws everyone into it.”
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net
If you go
What: Haunted Hayride
When: 7 to 9:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 19, 20, 26 and 27
Where: Cayuga County Sportsmen's Association, 4620 Rockefeller Road
Cost: $5
For details: Visit www.cayugacountysportsmens.com
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