(Plant City, FL) The fine folks at Sir Henry's Haunted Trail invited us out to attend media night this past weekend, commemorating the beginning of the 2024 Halloween season.
Now in its 11th year, Sir Henry's drew up a very significant audience for media night. Clad mostly in black attire, fellow media members had wide ranging exposures to this haunted field, with some having covered the event since its inception over a decade ago, and then there were the others like myself who were visiting this scary place for the very first time ever.
Located not far from exit 22 between Tampa and Orlando, Sir Henry's is accessed by a dirt trail just off the main road. The parking lot isn't paved: you're either still on dirt, or possibly some grass. The queues leading up to the entrance are ropes that were staked into the ground. It's a very simple entrance, but its setting adds immensely to the build-up of the ensuing terror lurking ahead.
On this particular evening, Sir Henry himself came out to address the masses, standing high atop the wooden tower highlighting the entrance to the attraction. He was joined by other scare-artists who were making their final cameos as the next time they'd be seen would be somewhere along a dark path or jumping out from a shadowy corner. There's one way into this place, and one way out, with both access points nearly side by side, just under the wooden tower.
Immediately upon passing through the entrance, you enter an open courtyard, whose perimeter is lined with food trucks, drink stands, merch shops, and in the far corners of the courtyard: visitors will find 3 separate entrances to access one of the themed haunted trails ('The Ripper', 'Pyrum's Wrath', and 'Agua de Muerte'). Toward the back of the attraction, guests can catch a ride on a tractor-pulled hayride, but be forewarned that even sitting in the middle of 20 of your closest friends, you're fair prey for any one of the dozens of scare-actors, who will inevitably find you as they creep around your exposed carriage.
Sir Henry's is not a high-budget production... but neither was the Blair Witch Project movie, and that also messed me up pretty good. Within the confines of this attraction park, guests can be followed all over Sir Henry's as the characters know no bounds and can follow you anywhere within the property: even if the means following you as you exit -- what you incorrectly thought was -- the dead-end of your fear.
This place has garnered a cult-like following in terms of supporters, and I believe that many of the attendees over the upcoming weeks will also feel the family-like vibe given off by this place. It's somewhat strange that in the midst of being terrified, that you can actually have an enjoyable time and feel closer to everyone around you somehow, and ultimately at the end of the night end up sharing some pretty good laughs and smiles (with some of your friends possibly wiping away a tear or two from all of the 'excitement').
Sir Henry's offered up a very good time, and is suitable for dating couples, groups of friends, and families (just use discretion and caution if you're taking the little ones).
So yeah, this place was pretty awesome. Although this was my first time to visit, I sincerely hope that it won't be my last.
Bailey Guinigundo
Now in its 11th year, Sir Henry's drew up a very significant audience for media night. Clad mostly in black attire, fellow media members had wide ranging exposures to this haunted field, with some having covered the event since its inception over a decade ago, and then there were the others like myself who were visiting this scary place for the very first time ever.
Located not far from exit 22 between Tampa and Orlando, Sir Henry's is accessed by a dirt trail just off the main road. The parking lot isn't paved: you're either still on dirt, or possibly some grass. The queues leading up to the entrance are ropes that were staked into the ground. It's a very simple entrance, but its setting adds immensely to the build-up of the ensuing terror lurking ahead.
On this particular evening, Sir Henry himself came out to address the masses, standing high atop the wooden tower highlighting the entrance to the attraction. He was joined by other scare-artists who were making their final cameos as the next time they'd be seen would be somewhere along a dark path or jumping out from a shadowy corner. There's one way into this place, and one way out, with both access points nearly side by side, just under the wooden tower.
Immediately upon passing through the entrance, you enter an open courtyard, whose perimeter is lined with food trucks, drink stands, merch shops, and in the far corners of the courtyard: visitors will find 3 separate entrances to access one of the themed haunted trails ('The Ripper', 'Pyrum's Wrath', and 'Agua de Muerte'). Toward the back of the attraction, guests can catch a ride on a tractor-pulled hayride, but be forewarned that even sitting in the middle of 20 of your closest friends, you're fair prey for any one of the dozens of scare-actors, who will inevitably find you as they creep around your exposed carriage.
Sir Henry's is not a high-budget production... but neither was the Blair Witch Project movie, and that also messed me up pretty good. Within the confines of this attraction park, guests can be followed all over Sir Henry's as the characters know no bounds and can follow you anywhere within the property: even if the means following you as you exit -- what you incorrectly thought was -- the dead-end of your fear.
This place has garnered a cult-like following in terms of supporters, and I believe that many of the attendees over the upcoming weeks will also feel the family-like vibe given off by this place. It's somewhat strange that in the midst of being terrified, that you can actually have an enjoyable time and feel closer to everyone around you somehow, and ultimately at the end of the night end up sharing some pretty good laughs and smiles (with some of your friends possibly wiping away a tear or two from all of the 'excitement').
Sir Henry's offered up a very good time, and is suitable for dating couples, groups of friends, and families (just use discretion and caution if you're taking the little ones).
So yeah, this place was pretty awesome. Although this was my first time to visit, I sincerely hope that it won't be my last.
Bailey Guinigundo
RSS Feed