During the Halloween season, nothing screams fall like visiting a farm and finding the perfect pumpkins, getting lost in the corn maze, and enjoying all the treats. For 28 years, McCalls Farm has been entertaining families. Once the sun sets, McCalls transforms into McCalls Haunted Farm.
McCall’s uses a timed entry system. While you wait your turn to walk through the two attractions, you can get delicious food and drink and play games. When your time comes, you can visit the Field of Screams and the Haunted Barn. Once you enter these attractions, you will experience frights and sights you have likely never seen before.
The actors are essential to a good, haunted attraction; they can make or break it. McCall’s Haunted Farm is loaded with an intense cast of creatures and minions of all types. Field of Screams had multiple actors in each scene, and among the corn stalks themselves. Each actor knew the space well to maximize the scare.
Within the Haunted Barn, each scene and hallway had multiple actors as well. Every character we encountered in both haunted attractions had unique personalities; each actor had you believe they were some terrifying creature or demented people. Each actor we encountered in both attractions also had unique dialogue, and we had some interesting conversations with several of the characters. Some actors would skitter past us while we were talking with another character.
Actors also did an outstanding job of scaring all the members of our group; sometimes we even had double and ping pong scares where multiple actors would scare multiple guests at the same time. The actors also did an outstanding job of scaring in a way that kept the groups separated.
A few of the standout actors were Puddles the clown, the waitress in the bar, and the woman in black, who gave one of the best statue scares we have seen. Also, there are some very intense pigs hiding in the barn.
When walking through a haunted attraction, the attention to detail can add to the realism of the environment. While exploring both attractions, we found that each actor’s costume was complete from head to toe. Each costume fit the theme of the room the actors were scaring in. The props also fit within the scenes.
The makeup was very realistic and detailed, and with how close the actors came to us, we could notice the layering and different textures that were added to the makeup. The masks were all unique and fit the theme. Even the actor’s skin had makeup and details added that blended into their clothing.
One thing we would suggest for the actors who wear masks would be to add makeup around their eyes to help blend the mask and add believability to the character. Each costume matched the scene, whether it was to have the actor interacting with guests or blending into the scene. Both attractions had costumes we had not seen before, like the very colorful clown costumes and the toxic waste workers.
Finding McCalls haunted farm is easy; they have the address and map on their website, and when you get closer to the haunt, there is large signage leading guests to the haunt. There is plenty of free parking in the dirt parking lot, and there is security to make sure guests are safe.
Throughout the farm and within the haunted attractions, there are staff and security to make sure guests are safe. Each member of staff we encountered was very friendly and helpful, and there was someone at the information booth if guests needed any help. The website is very easy to navigate, both for the family event and the haunted farm, with a very detailed frequently asked questions section.
From the moment you enter both Field of Screams and the Haunted Barn, you are immersed in the story. For both attractions, there are multiple themes, but each themed section flows into the next. Even amongst the corn in the Field of Screams, there are props and animatronics to add to the believability.
The midway area is well-lit with scary actors, giving guests a taste of what they will find in the haunts. The entrance facades of both haunts have great details to welcome you into the experience. Even though there are multiple themes in both haunts, the scenes blend into each other.
In Field of Screams, the corn paths leading to the trailers that hold the scenes are themed to let you know what the trailer will hold. In the Haunted Barn, the hallways also change to set up the next few rooms. From the moment you enter to the second you leave the attraction, we were immersed in the story. Except for the corn paths from floor to ceiling, there were details to look at.
The midway between the attractions was full of energy with plenty of activities and some very talented actors.
When guests visit McCalls Haunted Farm, it’s their first 50th time that they will notice and remember the special effects. Throughout both attractions in the search room, hallway, and even in the corn, there are multiple animatronics, fog, lighting effects, and scents. The soundscape for each room adds to the believability, from the air raid sirens to the trickling in the sewers. Not to mention the terrifying sounds the actors make.
While exploring Field of Screams, each shipping container you enter has movie-quality scenes with some very tight spaces to navigate. There are also several themed sets and even vehicles hidden amongst the corn. What really makes McCalls stand out to both the public and haunt fans is the animatronics. In each room in both haunted attractions, there are multiple animatronics; some come from above you, while others attack your feet. In the Haunted Barn, we were even treated to an animatronic ping pong scare, where one animatronic scare you into the next one’s path. The timing on each of the animatronics was set up so they would activate right in front of us. We also appreciated that all the step pads and sensors for the animatronics were well hidden. We did notice a few animatronics that were not functioning, but that is understandable. There were several animatronics that touched us, but not to worry, they won’t hurt you.
The many strobe lights we saw were well timed, and they used fog to great effect throughout both attractions. Some rooms even had scents from a nursing home smell to bathroom scents, adding to the realism of the haunt. There is also special flooring used in parts of the haunt.
21. How scary was it? (35% of score): 9.5
22. How well did they provide scares to everyone in the group? (15% of score): 9.75
23. How predictable were the scares? (25% of score): 9
24. How well did they provide a wide variety (types) of scares? (10% of score): 9.25
25. How strong was the ending / finale? (15% of score): 10
McCall’s Haunted Farm has been scaring New Mexicans for years, having some of the most intense scares we have experienced. With the wide variety of types of scares from both actors and animatronics, there is something to scare everyone here! No matter how large or small your group is, the haunts will find a way to scare you and make sure that other groups will stay separated.
Although some of the scares you could see coming, there were a few times we were caught off guard by a scare. The actors also use a variety of scare tactics, from statues to jump scares. The ending for Field of Screams was a very intense fun house of fear that upped the intensity. The ending of the Haunted Barn was a gauntlet of animatronic and actor-driven scares that made us want to run for the exit.
Overall, McCall’s Haunted Farm offers a great bang for your dollar, with the length of both attractions compared to the admission you get about 1.50 per minute of scares. For all you get with the admission and with the timed entry the admission is less than some other haunts charge.
We highly recommend visiting McCall’s Haunted Farm to anyone who wants to get lost in some of the most detailed and scary haunts around.
2 McCall Lane, Moriarty, New Mexico 87035
