We have over 2,150 reviews on Google, and instead of just citing the number, we pulled the full review archive and actually read through it: what guests mention most, what they rate highest, and what they say in their own words about visiting one of New York's largest haunted attractions.
The numbers
- 2,150 total reviews, 4.3★ average
- 1,341 include written comments, not just a star rating
- Guests mention the actors and scares, the hayride, and the value in roughly a quarter of reviews each
- One in ten guests overwhelmingly positively mention staff or customer service
- Family and group visits come up in one in ten reviews
"It's not a haunted house, it's an experience"
Read enough reviews back to back and the same idea keeps surfacing: people aren't describing one attraction, they're describing a full night out.
"I'm literally obsessed with this place. I've gone like 7 years in a row. It's not a haunted house, it's an experience — hayride, tons of haunted houses, corn maze, illusionist show, and a whole little village with food and donuts." — Simone, 5★
"This is a very Disney-like experience and worth every cent. Being from Long Island, we have been to dozens, and this by far is the best and most intense experience we have had. Sets, actors and staff were FANTASTIC." — Delia, 5★
"My favorite Halloween tradition for the past 20 years & hands down the best haunted attraction I have ever been to. The actors & sets are like being submerged into your own horror movie." — Catherine, 5★
The hayride everyone remembers
Ask around for the best haunted hayride in New York and this is the attraction people bring up — it's the one thing on this list no regional competitor can copy.
"Recommend to get there 30-40 minutes before your scheduled hayride. The attractions were so well spaced out and the actors were so dedicated to their roles." — GG, 5★
"Started with the hayride which when you see the Headless Horseman it is absolutely incredible. Then you do the walkthroughs and they are very well designed and spooky." — Stephen, 5★
"How scary is it?"
This comes up constantly, and reviewers don't agree on a single answer — which is actually the point. With 13 attractions spanning a hayride, multiple haunted houses, walking trails, a corn maze, and a sideshow, the intensity varies by attraction, not just by attraction type.
"It truly is scary and so much fun. The attention to detail is immaculate." — Victoria, 5★
"Very scary, came with a party of 18 and had a blast." — Timothy, 5★
"This is by far the best and most intense experience we have had... next year we will plan an entire weekend around it." — Delia, 5★
On the corn maze specifically
"The Scary Clown Theme, Killer Hospital, Killer Wolf Theme Hayride, and scary Interactive Pumpkin Head Corn Maze were all screamers for everyone there!" — Andrew, 5★
"They effortlessly combine the hayride, corn maze and haunted house elements together to create an unforgettable experience." — Rina, 5★
Is the drive worth it? Guests from NYC to New Jersey say yes
Search "haunted attractions near NYC" or "haunted house near me" and you'll find plenty of options near the five boroughs. Reviewers who made the trip out to Ulster Park, NY say it's worth skipping those:
"Drove 2 hours from Jersey to this place, discovered it from working up in Kingston — fantastic place, enjoyed every moment." — Mike, 5★
"This place is one of the best haunted attractions my family and I have ever gone to! It's become our annual tradition to drive 2 hours from where we live to enjoy it." — Amanda, 5★
"Being from Long Island, we have been to dozens, and this is by far the best and most intense experience we have had." — Delia, 5★
The Hudson Valley setting is part of what people are driving for: 65 acres is a very different experience than an indoor city haunted house.
Craftsmanship, not just scares
The "worth the money" mentions almost always come paired with a specific reason: the level of detail, not just the fear factor.
"The attention to detail in each exhibit is outstanding. The staff are all kind and helpful. Scares are just right." — K L, 5★
"The experience was amazing — the haunted attractions and activities during the tour were super fun and well done. Everything felt very organized and detailed. It is a bit pricey, but overall totally worth it." — Dalma, 5★
A Halloween destination
A striking number of reviews mention returning year after year, as this isn't a one-and-done attraction for a lot of guests.
"Been coming here for 20+ years! It is a fantastic family/group place to go & have some fun! Every year the theme changes." — Brittany, 5★
"I attend Headless Horseman every Halloween and they never disappoint. I love the amount of preparation and attention to detail they put in every year. Even during COVID, when it was a drive-thru haunted house, it was phenomenal!" — Erin, 5★
If you're a first-timer deciding whether to go, here's what recent first-time visitors said:
"Went there for the first time last night! It took 2 fun hours to go through it all and it seemed to go by so quick because it was so much fun and there was always something going on!" — M, 5★
"Great especially if it's your first time. They effortlessly combine the hayride, corn maze and haunted house elements together to create an unforgettable experience." — Rina, 5★
One practical tip that shows up often: grab the Scream Pass if you're visiting on a Friday or Saturday in October.
"The best haunted attraction I've ever been to! Sets and animatronics were incredible and the live actors did a great job. We got the scream pass and it was worth it — waited about ten minutes total." — J Crevier, 5★
Good for families with teenagers
About 1 in 10 written reviews mention kids or a family group specifically, and the consensus is that it works, as long as your children are teenagers and up.
"Had a great time with my family here! Such a wonderful attraction filled with fun and horror for all ages to enjoy! Consider getting the scare pass to bypass the long wait lines." — Georgie, 5★
"Had some family fun, definitely a few jump scares, and maybe a few screams too. Excellent way to kick start the Halloween season." — Ed, 5★
The reviews all point to the same conclusion: don't wait
After reading all 1,300+ of them, one pattern is impossible to miss: the people who love Headless Horseman aren't first-timers who got lucky. They're guests on year 7, year 20, planning a whole weekend around it. What they know that first-timers don't: the best nights sell out, and the Scream Pass on a Friday or Saturday in October is the difference between ten minutes of waiting and an hour.
The 2026 season runs September 26 through November 1 on select nights, and the popular October weekends go fast. If the reviews above sound like your kind of night, lock in your date:
Quotes are real guest reviews from our Google Business Profile, lightly trimmed for length.
