Don't Miss Out on the Scary-Good Fun Taking Place at Neal's Lodges Haunted Hayrides!

Chills & Thrills

TexasHauntedHouses.com recently sat down with Yvonne Davenport of Neal's Lodges Haunted Hayrides, to discuss what's new at the attraction for the 2018 Halloween Season! Located in Concan, this haunt is sure to get your heart pounding and your blood flowing!

What's new at Neal's Lodges Haunted Hayrides for 2018? Do you have any new rides, attractions, or special features that Haunt Seekers should know about?

I don't want to disclose too much, but I'm pretty sure some Nuns will be present for the hayrides this year!

What are you most excited about for the 2018 Halloween Season?

The enthusiasm of all of our characters who are a part of our cast! Knowing the planning they do year-round to create the scariest scenes possible is thrilling!!

What differentiates Neal's Lodges Haunted Hayrides from other local haunts in Texas?

This hayride travels along a river! The atmosphere down there is creepy at night even without the added sounds, lights, smoke, etc!

How long has Neal's Lodges Haunted Hayrides been in business? Can you tell us a bit more about Neal's Lodges Haunted Hayrides's history?

This is our 7th year! The amount of characters and scenes the first year was pretty limited. It was comprised of mostly our staff and family who we smeared face paint on and begged them to act "scary". Since then, we have had the most enthusiastic cast develop (80-90 on average). The characters are all volunteers - so they are there because they LOVE TO SCARE PEOPLE!!!!! We've also had guests tell us they've been to the LA Haunted Hayrides and that we are just as good! We consider that an honor because that hayride is made up of serious aspiring actors!

What's your favorite experience since opening Neal's Lodges Haunted Hayrides?

I've loved acting in it, but I also love being a character that creeps people out as they stand in line waiting for their turn. It's fun seeing people come back year after year who love what we do!

How long is a typical haunt experience at Neal's Lodges Haunted Hayrides from start to finish?

The actual hayride is between 20-25 minutes.

On a scale from 1 to 10, how scary would you say Neal's Lodges Haunted Hayrides is? Why?

I'd say our hayride is about an 8.5 on a scale of 1-10.

Does Neal's Lodges Haunted Hayrides's property have any real haunted history? Do you have a spooky encounter you'd like to share?

There have been rumors that our bar, Joe Jimmy's, is haunted. I know of 4-5 stories of encounters in that old barn that we turned into a bar.

What inspired you to open up a haunted attraction? What's your favorite part of the business?

Our business is mostly summer tourism so we are constantly thinking of ways to get people to come stay with us throughout the year. We love Halloween, and like I mentioned before, with the creepy atmosphere the dark river bank offers, we knew offering haunted hayrides would be a success!

How has new technology (i.e. animatronics, special props, etc) helped you to enhance Neal's Lodges Haunted Hayrides?

Honestly we don't use a lot of new technology. Loud music and smoke are the most technical things we offer. Our characters do such a great job - we don't need animatronics!

Can Neal's Lodges Haunted Hayrides accommodate large groups? How many people can experience Neal's Lodges Haunted Hayrides together as a group?

Yes! Our trailers can accommodate about 22-24 people!

Does Neal's Lodges Haunted Hayrides offer any special deals, discounts, or coupons?

We are a 2 day event that sells out, so we do not offer any discounts. The best deal that we provide is that on Saturday night, included in the price for the hayride, is free entry to our (haunted) bar where we will have a live band!

Anything else you'd like to let us know about Neal's Lodges Haunted Hayrides?

Although we do not recommend this event for children under the age of 10, we do have trick or treating for the kids, and a costume contest, on Saturday night. Neal's Lodges and Joe Jimmy's are family friendly. Even though we work REALLY hard to scare everyone down on the river, the atmosphere at Joe Jimmy's (where everyone can: hang out while waiting their turn, have a drink and bite to eat from the Snack Shack, enjoy the music and dance) is wholesome and festive! This event will sell out! Advance tickets are a MUST! (If you show up without a ticket - there will still be a good time to be had at Joe Jimmy's!)