A Mom's Review of the Scary Los Angeles Haunted Hayride

For two years my daughter has been wanting to check out Los Angeles' Haunted Hayride. And, for two years, I've said no. Mainly because I heard it was far too scary for children under 10 years of age.

I happen to have a child who LOVES all things scary. From Goosebumps to roller coasters  if it sends a shiver down her spine she is thrilled. But what is too scary exactly and how do you know when to draw the line? 

Luckily movies have a rating system and offer plenty of reviews to let us parents make informed decisions.  Books display  summaries and age appropriate information on the back cover.  But with amusement parks and events... we simply have to trust word of mouth, those that have gone before us and good old mama and papa instincts.

So, after much online reading and asking around I decided to say yes this year to The Haunted Hayride.

Here is what I have to share with you fellow parents. It is both super duper with a cherry on top scary and comically fun. 

It is most definitely NOT for all children. Even my daughter, with her high tolerance for fright, was buried in my chest hiding under the Mad Hatter hat she was wearing.

 I kept whispering in her ear, asking her if she wish we hadn't done this to which she replied, "NO! IT'S AWESOME!" and then she would bury herself deeper into my chest.

When it was all over and we were unloaded from the hay-bed the first thing my daughter said was, "Let's do it again!"

Scary can be both a wonderful, adrenaline rush or an event that leaves a child never wanting to venture out on Halloween again. Navigating fun fear and just plain fear can be so challenging.

So, what advice can I give?  If you have a child who loves to be scared her or she will most likely enjoy this experience (even if at times it may not look like it).  If you have children who are easily spooked, are prone to nightmares, and don't enjoy masks, loud noises, or fake blood... this is most definitely NOT for them.

However, if you have children of different ages with different levels of tolerance for fright, equally fun is the carnival the Haunted Hayride has to offer.  An evening of rides, games and a main stage with performers doing magic acts, storytelling and much more.

Honestly, if you want to get in the mood for Halloween this place will do that for the entire family.  But bring CASH! And plenty of it. Everything costs anywhere from 3 to 10 tickets (1$ per ticket). 

Food trucks offering hamburgers and hot dogs are on the site, but next time I will plan to pack a picnic basket and save the cash.

We went with a group of friends which made the entire night even more exciting for the kids. 

Kids love to get scared in groups so they can share the experience. Listening to them talk about the hayride over and over - reliving it scream by scream - was my favorite part of the evening.

We will definitely be going again next year... with the Mad Hatter hat, just in case.