A family farm founded by Swiss immigrants in 1892 now hides one of the scariest nights in Utah. By day, kids ride a cow train and milk cows.
By night, live scare actors take over a separate field built for screaming.
I love that contrast. One ticket gets you pumpkins, zip lines, and a giant corn maze.
Another ticket opens a cinematic haunt with fog, strobe lights, and loud surprises.
The haunt turns 20 years old in 2026. That’s two decades of grown adults sprinting past props they paid to see.
I can’t imagine a better place to watch a toddler cheer at a duck race while teenagers brace for terror nearby. Seven generations of farmers built this place.
So who decided the cornfield needed monsters?
The Farm Fun Starts Long Before Anyone Screams
Staheli Family Farm packs more activities into one admission than some theme parks manage. A General Admission ticket opens Farmland, the corn maze, and the pumpkin patch.
The list keeps going, and it’s a long one. Kids can bounce on the Jumping Pillow, fly down zip lines, and spin the Rat Wheel.
Big Dirt Slides add a delightfully messy touch. Corn Pits, a Ball Zone, Horsey Swings, and playhouses fill in the gaps.
Hero Park and the Excavation Station give little builders something to dig into. Duck Races and the Bubble Barn keep the youngest crowd giggling.
Grown-ups aren’t left out either. Giant Jenga, Cornhole, and Giant Connect Four turn competitive parents into loud trash-talkers fast.
A Roping Area lets you practice your best cowboy moves. Live shows also take over the Pavilion, so check the schedule when you arrive.
My advice is simple. Plan for more time than you think, because one more slide always sounds reasonable.
Wear shoes that can handle dust. Your white sneakers will thank you for leaving them at home.
Brave Souls Only Past This Point After Dark
Southern Utah’s top haunted attraction sits right on a working farm. Field of Screams is built to startle, and it doesn’t hold back.
Expect cinematic sets and elaborate special effects. Live scare actors handle the part where your heart jumps into your throat.
Low lighting, uneven ground, strobe lights, loud sound, and fog all play a role. Anyone sensitive to flashing lights or noise should plan accordingly.
The farm recommends the haunt for ages 12 and older. That’s a fair line, since this is an extreme, high-intensity experience.
A separate ticket is required, because General Admission doesn’t cover it. Every guest also needs a completed waiver before entering.
VIP Admission offers expedited entry. That’s handy on a busy weekend night when nerves build faster than the line moves.
The 2026 season marks the haunt’s 20th anniversary. Twenty years of practice means these folks know exactly where to hide.
Go with friends who won’t abandon you. Or go with slower friends, which is a strategy of its own.
Scaredy-Cats Can Peek Behind The Curtain In Daylight
Not everyone wants a chainsaw soundtrack. The Lights On Tour solves that problem beautifully.
During this separately ticketed tour, guests explore Field of Screams without scare actors. Special effects are switched off too.
What’s left is the craftsmanship. You get a close look at props, animatronics, and set designs that usually hide in fog and shadows.
Tours run on select Fridays and Saturdays from 4 PM to 6 PM. Check the calendar before you go, since dates vary.
I think this is a smart option for younger kids who feel left out. They get to see what the big kids brag about without the nightmares.
It also works for adults who enjoy design more than panic. Haunt fans can study the details they normally run past.
Better yet, use it as a test run. Walk through in daylight, then decide if you’re ready for the full nighttime version.
Just know that sets built to be creepy still look a little creepy at 4 PM. That’s the whole point.
Somebody Has To Find The Exit Of That Giant Maze
Back in 2001, Burke Staheli had an idea. The result was the farm’s first corn maze, called Go For the Gold.
That idea grew into a Southern Utah fall tradition. The maze at Staheli Family Farm is famously massive, so plan your stamina.
Access comes with General Admission. That means you can wander the twisting rows between train rides and snack breaks.
Fall hours run Monday through Thursday from 5 PM to 9 PM. Friday and Saturday open earlier, at noon, and also close at 10 PM.
Here’s a practical tip. Pick a meeting spot before your group splits up, because someone always wanders off chasing a shortcut.
Charged phones help too. A flashlight helps even more if you head in as evening settles over the fields.
Kids love being the navigator. Hand them the job and watch them confidently lead everyone the wrong way.
That’s half the fun, honestly. Getting a little lost in a cornfield with people you like beats most weekday evenings.
Your Pumpkin Is Out There Waiting In The Rows
Pumpkin hunting gets serious when there are whole rows to search. At this farm, you pick your own straight from the patch.
Entry to the pumpkin patch comes with a General Admission ticket. The pumpkins themselves are priced separately, based on size.
So yes, that giant one will cost more. Your arms will also feel it on the walk back to the car.
The patch doubles as a photo zone. Fall backdrops make it easy to grab a family picture without much planning.
Bring the kids and let them choose. Few things beat watching a five-year-old hug a pumpkin bigger than their torso.
One smart move is to shop the patch near the end of your visit. Carrying a pumpkin through a corn maze sounds charming for about three minutes.
Wagons or strong teenagers both work for hauling. Choose whichever complains less.
Back home, your porch will look ready for Halloween. And every time you see that pumpkin, you’ll remember the trip to Utah that earned it.
Witches Rule The Farm On Certain Nights
Mischief has a name here. The Staheli Witches roam the farm on select dates with tricks and playful spells.
Each witch brings a quirky personality. They’re more silly than spooky, which makes them a hit with younger visitors.
The Grain Train Ride even heads to Jack-O-Lantis, a witch village. That’s a fun destination for kids who want magic without monsters.
Special events are worth circling on your calendar. Breakfast with a Witch happens on October 16, 17, and 24.
Morning pancakes with a witch? That sounds like a story your kids will retell for weeks.
Then there’s the Witches Light Parade on October 26. Glowing witches parading across a farm is a sight you don’t see every day.
I like how this side of the festival balances the haunt. Little ones get their own spooky-season thrill, minus the screaming.
Confirm event details before your visit. Dates can be specific, and missing the parade by one day would be a real curse.
Cows, Trains, And A Chance To Try Milking
Seven generations of Stahelis have worked this land. The animals remind you it’s still a real working farm.
The Farm Animal Experience lets kids meet the residents up close. A Cow Milking Area adds a hands-on lesson most city kids never get.
Then come the trains. The Cow Train Ride and the Grain Train Ride both carry passengers around the property.
Little riders tend to treat these like roller coasters. Parents get a welcome chance to sit down.
History runs deep here, too. Frank Staheli, Sr. helped build some of the first rock irrigation ditches in Utah.
He also served as one of the first mayors of Washington. So the farm’s roots stretch far past pumpkin season.
That background gives the animal areas extra meaning. Kids aren’t visiting a petting zoo prop, they’re seeing a farm family’s daily life.
Bring hand sanitizer and patience. Some animals move on their own schedule, and they don’t care about yours.
Fuel Up Before The Monsters Find You
Kettle corn, caramel apples, and warm cider practically define fall. All three show up at this festival.
The food lineup goes well beyond snacks. Expect hot pizza, pulled pork, fresh lemonade, donuts, and specialty lattes.
Farm hamburgers are served Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Plan your burger cravings accordingly.
Several vendors share the work. Grit + Grind Coffee handles espresso drinks, cold brews, smoothies, acai bowls, muffins, and parfaits.
Burger Stop Grill, Coop, Feed Lot, and the Get Fried Truck cover heartier appetites. A Lemonade Stand and Pepsi Truck take care of thirst.
Timing matters here. Eating before Field of Screams is smart, though maybe skip a second caramel apple right before running.
Fire pit rentals are available for an added charge. Gathering around flames with cider sounds like the coziest possible break.
Honestly, the food alone could justify an evening out. The fact that a haunt waits nearby is just a bonus.
Plan Your Trip Around These Dates And Extras
Mark your calendar for September 18 through October 31, 2026. That’s the fall season, and the farm is closed on Sundays.
Field of Screams runs on select nights only. Thursday hours are 7 PM to 10 PM, while Fridays and Saturdays run 7 PM to 11 PM.
Head to 3400 South Washington Fields Road in Washington, Utah. Free on-site parking comes with a valid admission ticket.
Save time for The Silo Store. This on-farm market sells gifts, home decor, local artisan goods, farm fresh eggs, and Staheli Family Farm beef.
Token Attractions cost extra but add plenty of variety. Choose from Axe Throw, Gemstone Mining, Paintball Gallery, Pony Rides, and Face Painting.
Axe throwing before a haunted house feels like a bold warm-up. Maybe it’s just good preparation.
The farm also hosts events in winter, spring, and summer. Fall remains the main event, though.
My final tip? Buy tickets early and pick a weeknight if you can.
Then decide who in your group screams first.