Halloween on a scale of one to scary

By Allison Bethurem and Rory Van Loon

For a family looking for a calm evening that is still Halloween related, the Cobbs Ranch Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze are the perfect places to go.

The Cobbs Ranch is a great place to celebrate this Halloween season and to get a mild shiver of fear running through your body. The maze is right off HWY 41, and is open Monday through Friday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m.to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m.to 10 p.m.. Tickets for the maze are $9 for adults, $7 for kids and 4 and under are free. For more information, call (559) 439-0606.

For the crowd looking for a night filled with chills and thrills, Hobb’s Grove is more befitting of your needs. Set on 36 acres, Hobb’s Grove offers three chances for people to be scared out of their skin: the Play House, the Hayride, and Zylo’s Woods.

Here, we rate each attaction based on its scare-factor.

One Reaper = Wimpy

Two Reapers = Wailing

Three Reapers = Wet Pants

Pumpkin Patch
A three-acre pumpkin patch is set up at Cobbs Ranch to allow children to wander around, looking for the perfect pumpkins.

There is also a wagon ride around the ranch and a mini corn maze made just for children. While the children are enjoying the Halloween festivities, parents can sit on the haystacks and enjoy the afternoon or evening and snack on some of the foods sold at the concession stand and take pictures.

ONE REAPER OUT OF THREE

Corn Maze
Straight off HWY 41, a six-acre field of corn was planted and has been used for the past eight years as the site of the attraction.
The maze is two and half miles and consists of 10 foot corn stalks that create paths leading in the right (and wrong) direction. It is easy to get turned around and lost in the maze, which it is intended to be. If planning on coming, make sure to set some time aside.
“This is more of a family-oriented place,” said Darren Schmall, co-partner of the pumpkin patch and corn maze. “But, a lot of the older crowds come out to try the corn maze. Most seem to like it best at night.”

Kenny Kisling came with two friends from Sierra High School. They didn’t realize how long it was going to take them to get through a maze filled with corn.

“It took us forever,” Kisling said. “We got in at 7:30 and got out at about 9. It was worth it though. It was kinda spooky here and there.”

To make the event a bit more frightening, the best time to come is when the sun is down and the ghostly moon is bright.

If you get too lost and scared in the maze, there are check points, and employees posted on a bridge to guide you along the right path. Just be sure to listen to what they tell you.

“When I give people directions they always thank me,” Kevin Smith, a 21-year-old employee, said. “Then they turn around and walk in the opposite direction I told them to.”

A dark, dilapidated little shack doubles as the ticket booth at the entrance to the site. Complete with real spider webs, and real spiders to go with them, the little building with its spooky appeal gives you an idea of what is in store.

“There is not one night that goes by that someone does not pee their pants,” said Col. Lieutenant Funderburke, a tour guide dressed to resemble Deputy Dooey complete with Austin Powers’ teeth.

TWO REAPERS OUT OF THREE


The Playhouse
The Playhouse consists of a cleverly well-put-together theme of children’s stories. Walking through the house, glimpses of a somewhat more eerie Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, as well as candy and cookie factories come to life.
Toward the end of the experience, visitors are sent through a 3-D pathway with a rotating tunnel. Evil monkeys swarm in front of your face and it becomes difficult to take a step without stumbling.

TWO REAPERS OUT OF THREE


Zylo’s Woods
Zylo’s Woods looks like the backdrop for the forest of the headless horseman. There are narrow pathways with ghouls jumping out at every corner; willowy tree branches brush against your face and spiders will jump down and land on people’s heads. The effect causes quite a scream.

THREE REAPERS OUT OF THREE


The Hayride
The Hayride starts off with instructions on what visitors should and should not do. As explained by Funderburke, arms and legs inside the wagon if they do not want them to be cut off. The hayride continues hobbling along on a bumpy pathway to be met by a gypsy spewing curses, psycho hippies with their love bug and zombies trying to reach for people inside the wagon. Fogginess increases the eerie factor.
Fresno State senior Lucia Herrera, 21, was so enamored by the Hayride that her friends and she went on it twice. “The first time around everyone was screaming; it was a lot of fun,” she said, adding that she and her friends, who arrived at 7 p.m., did not leave until close to 10:30 p.m..
And look out for the psycho chain-saw men in every one of the attractions. Life as we know it would not be complete without the wind from the blade hitting the face, and Hobb’s Grove takes this scare tactic to another level with sometimes two or three of the chainsaws.
After people have been scared out of their wits, they are able to take a rest near one of the fire pits and enjoy the other attractions Hobb’s Grove has to offer. There are concession stands offering everything from hot chocolate, kettle corn, hot dogs, and chili to Hobb’s Grove T-shirts. There is also live entertainment every night Hobb’s is open.

THREE REAPERS OUT OF THREE


Though there are moments of the typical cheesiness that comes with haunted houses, most walk away with respect for the hard work and effort that the workers put forth.
The planning that goes into these Halloween attractions take months to bring to reality. Auditions for those interested in being a part of the attraction take place in August. The people have to go through a Ghoul’s School, properly titled “Interview with a Vampire,” where they learn how to cackle like a witch, walk like an ogre, and perform a proper death scene.
“Everyone does their own make-up,” said Funderburke. “You can tell who works here and who doesn’t; they are very frightening people.”
The cost for this night of screams is $10 per event for adults or $24.50 for a combo ticket, and $8 for youths 12 and under. Combo tickets for those 12 and under are $15.50. The ticket booth opens at 5:30 PM with the scares beginning at dark.
For more information, check out hobbsgrove.com or contact Hobb’s Grove at (559) 875-8150.