The Dead End Hayride has long been a popular attraction among many Minneapolitan thrill-seekers during the spooky season. “Thrill-seeking,” however, is not generally a group I would identify with, so when my co-editors initially pitched the idea of an expedition to the Dead End Hayride, I was skeptical. But after some contemplation, I reluctantly agreed to make the 45-minute trek up to Wyoming, Minnesota, unsure of what to expect.
After quickly making our way through the entrance and running past a handful of food trucks and shops, we secured our spot in line. Our tickets were for 9 pm, but the time slots are pretty flexible, so you don’t have to worry about being early or late, within reason. We opted for the fast pass tickets, which were a decent addition to the cost but a welcomed benefit for a busy Friday night. With the fast pass, we were in line for no more than 10-15 minutes, but visitors were already put on their toes with actors walking around the line and interacting with guests.
After being loaded onto the hayride and listening to a short safety spiel, we were off into the dark. At this point, I was incredibly nervous. I had never been to a haunted house or anything similar before, and I had no idea what I was in store for.
Being called the Dead End Hayride, the first part of the attraction is… a hayride. We rode down a trail and through a few different barns, each with its own flavor of scare, making a couple of stops for different storylines, such as a woman dealing with her unfaithful husband and a shotgun-firing cowboy laying down the law. Many times, actors even jumped onto the moving hayride, grabbing attendees, talking to them, taking a (safely sheathed, but definitely real) chainsaw to them, and more. While it was gruesome and intense at times, it wasn’t anything too over-the-top that a more casual hayride-goer like me couldn’t handle.
While sitting down on the hayride, you still have a sense of protection and camaraderie with the group around you. It’s also easy to keep the mood lighthearted among all the scares, with the whole hayride laughing together at everyone’s reactions and one-liners. Once we got to the end of the hayride, however, we didn’t have that same protection; We were thrown straight into the haunted house and it became up close and personal. After climbing down the steps, we rushed to get to the front of the line, where we waited no more than a couple of minutes. I definitely appreciated being in a group that had been on the hayride before in moments like this, otherwise, I wouldn’t have known to rush to get ahead of the crowd to get in line.
We were quickly immersed in a Halloween-themed prison, funneled in by prison guards and taken through various rooms, all featuring their own twist to keep things unexpected. The prison was just the beginning, though, and we made our way through the twists and turns of many different themed buildings. There are many actors waiting around corners and behind curtains leaving you constantly on edge, wondering who (or what) might grab you from behind or jump out at you. There are also plenty of flashing lights, fog machines, loud noises, pyrotechnics, and moving parts that all enhance the experience and bring plenty of scares.
Because I had no idea what to expect going into the Dead End Hayride, I wasn’t sure how much I would enjoy it. But, after the 2-hour-long journey, I walked out pleasantly surprised; I really enjoyed the thrill of it all. Walking out the final door, I was disappointed to be leaving. With the fast pass the day after Halloween, we each spent about $50 all-in, excluding food. While the cost can feel like a big hit to your checking account, especially for minimum wage-making high school students like ourselves, the amount of effort put into the Dead End Hayride is apparent and very impressive. We felt like we got our money’s worth and were impressed with how much thought, skill, and effort was put into creating the experience.
