Just an hour outside the bustling city of Nashville and minutes from the Kentucky border, lies R and P Haunted Woods and Barn. This haunt offers plenty to keep you busy all night long, with a cozy bonfire, vendors, live band performances, and food options to enjoy before or after the main event.
The highlight is a spooky hayride that sets the stage for a night of thrills. Whether you’re there for the atmosphere or the scares, R and P provides a complete night of entertainment in a chilling rural setting.
While the cast at R and P Haunted Woods and Barn felt sufficient, we wished for more varied and dynamic interactions. We encountered a lot of screams and giggles, particularly from the clowns, but we would have appreciated more dialogue or unique interactions to heighten the experience.
The standout moments came from the well-known movie characters, like Jason, who was murderous and silent, staying true to his iconic form. Freddy Krueger also made a strong impression, chasing a victim past the hayride, delivering the kind of presence you’d expect from a classic horror villain. These characters added a recognizable thrill to the haunt.
How complete, unique, detailed were the costumes, accessories? – (35% of score)
Were the masks, makeup creative, detailed, realistic? – (30% of score)
How appropriate were the costumes for the respective scenes, themes? – (20% of score)
How believable-, detailed-looking were the queue actors? (See Note if N/A) – (15% of score)
The movie character actors at R and P Haunted Woods and Barn definitely stood out. Jason was spot-on in his iconic jacket, wielding a machete and wearing the classic hockey mask. Freddy Krueger looked great as well, with his signature red-and-green striped sweater and clawed glove. We also appreciated some of the other costumes, like the pig-masked butcher, complete with a bloodied apron, and some hillbillies dressed in classic overalls. The scarecrow masks were particularly impressive, adding to the eerie atmosphere.
However, there were a few underwhelming moments. For instance, one actor with a great scarecrow mask appeared to be wearing regular street clothes, which broke the immersion. Another actor who climbed onto the hayride seemed to be missing makeup or a mask entirely, with just bloody jeans as part of the costume. We also encountered a person with clown-type makeup, in a black coat and hat in the cemetary. We are not really sure that was a fit – clown in the graveyard? As for the other clowns, while their outfits fit the theme, they seemed more store-bought than personalized, and their makeup was very traditional, lacking the unique flair that could have made them more memorable.
How easy was it to locate, park at, navigate the premises? – (25% of score)
Safety (Only dock points for TRULY DANGEROUS hazards!) – (30% of score)
How professional, helpful, friendly were the staff members? – (25% of score)
How easy was it to find pertinent information before arrival? – (20% of score)
Navigating to R and P Haunted Woods and Barn is a breeze—just pop it into the GPS and you’re good to go. Free parking is available in the field across the street, and with plenty of parking attendants to guide you, it was easy to park and get situated. The ticket booth is conveniently located, making it simple to grab your tickets and head in. Plus, all the pertinent details—like hours, pricing, and directions—are clearly posted on their Facebook page, which was really helpful before arriving.
One safety concern we did notice was the hayride trailer. There was no back support at the end of the trailer, which could be a bit risky, as hay bales could potentially slip off while in motion. This is something to keep in mind for both riders and the haunt organizers for future improvements.
How well did the pre-haunt areas ("vibe") prepare you for the attraction/s? – (25% of score)
How obvious, creative, believable was the storyline? (See Note if N/A) – (20% of score)
Were you completely, consistently immersed inside the attraction/s? – (40% of score)
How well did the "vibe" flow after, between the attraction/s? – (15% of score)
The immersion at R and P Haunted Woods and Barn was strong from the start, simply due to the natural creepiness of being on a farm in the dark during a hayride. That alone set a spooky tone, and when the actors got involved, it really amped up the experience. The atmosphere upon arrival was on point, with a bonfire and a band playing to entertain those waiting in line.
One of the standout moments was the clever use of old farm equipment along the route. At one point, we watched as a victim was locked inside a piece of machinery and then dragged out before being “murdered.” It added a lot to the rural horror theme.
However, there were a few moments that pulled us out of the spooky vibe. The clown driving the tractor kept jumping off and cracking jokes, which, while interactive, detracted from the eerie atmosphere. It felt like more of a playful interaction rather than a tense or chilling one. There was also a point when another tractor caught up to ours, and we could see the actors rushing to reset for the next group, which broke the immersion briefly. We also encountered a speaker sitting in plain sight playing music in the cemetery scene.
After dismounting the hayride, we were immediately back in the mix with vendors and food!
How effective were the sound effects? – (20% of score)
How realistic were the scene designs, details? – (30% of score)
How effective, realistic were the props, animatronics? – (30% of score)
How well did they use creative, special, sensory effects? – (20% of score)
The haunted hayride at R and P Haunted Woods and Barn had a fairly quiet atmosphere for the most part, with minimal sound effects and music until we reached the two barn scenes and the cemetery, where music began to play, adding to the atmosphere. The sets were well-crafted, and a standout was the Camp Crystal Lake scene. The lighting created the illusion of a lake, and then Jason emerged, delivering a classic scare moment.
The slaughterhouse scene was another favorite, featuring bodies—both human and animal—hanging from the ceilings, which made it feel appropriately gruesome. The haunt kept animatronics to a minimum, which we appreciated, as it allowed the live actors to show off. Many characters were equipped with props like chainsaws, knives, and other tools that fit their costumes and helped amplify the intensity of their roles.
How scary was it? – (35% of score)
How well did they provide scares to everyone in the group? – (15% of score)
How predictable were the scares? – (25% of score)
How well did they provide a wide variety (types) of scares? – (10% of score)
How strong was the ending / finale? – (15% of score)
When it comes to the big question—how scary was R and P Haunted Woods and Barn? It wasn’t the most terrifying night we’ve had, but it also wasn’t the least. The haunt seemed to aim for scaring the entire hayride group of about 24 people, but often fell short. Many scares were easy to predict, as we could see the silhouettes of actors in the field before they made their move.
The variety of scares was somewhat lacking. While there were a few effective moments, like chainsaw scares and a couple of actors sneaking up from behind on the hayride, much of the fear factor relied heavily on chainsaws and loud screams, which aren’t always the most effective techniques for everyone. Overall, while there were some good moments, more creativity and variation in the scares could have heightened the experience.
That said, the finale at R and P Haunted Woods and Barn definitely got us! Just when we thought the ride was quietly wrapping up and heading back to the station, BAM—Leatherface came out of nowhere, revving his chainsaw and chasing his victim right past us. It was a perfect last-minute surprise that jolted everyone, proving that even after a few predictable moments, they still had one big scare up their sleeve!
How satisfied with the entertainment provided by the MAIN attraction/s? – (50% of score)
How satisfied with OTHER entertainment INCLUDED with the ticket price? – (25% of score)
How appropriate is/are the ticket price/s? – (25% of score)
The bang for the buck at R and P Haunted Woods and Barn was solid, with a 30-minute hayride for $15, giving an impressive MPD (minutes per dollar) of 2 which is well above average. However, the downside was the two-hour wait in line. While we understand that Halloween season means big crowds, it would be great to see a fast pass option or a numbered group wait system in the future. Such a system would let guests enjoy all the fantastic extras on-site, like grabbing food, shopping from vendors, warming up by the fire, or even enjoying the live band—maybe even dancing a bit! That would definitely elevate the overall experience.
1976 York Road, Clarksville, Tennessee 37042