VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - COVID-19 restrictions are putting a damper on Halloween this year – but not at Hunt Club Farm.
The frightening transformation is underway as they get ready for "Extreme Halloween."
Rhonda Rowe is the Manager of the Village of the Dead at Hunt Club Farm in Virginia Beach.
She said she started working for them 26 years ago when she wanted extra money to buy her son a guitar. She has continued to work for the company.
She is in charge of 24 actors and hundreds of pieces of equipment that are part of the extravagant decorations of ghosts, goblins and lots of blood.
They gave News 3 a tour of grounds and showed us how they plan to operate this year with COVID-19 restrictions in place.
They said “Extreme Halloween” has been recognized in the past as a top rated haunt in the U.S. by Haunted Attraction Association.
They will have the Field of Screams, Toxic Nightmare, Town of Terror, Devil’s Detour, and Village of the Dead. The events starts Friday September 25 and runs until October 31. There are 22 different nights of “Extreme Halloween”.
They have thousands of pumpkins both big and small and a petting farm.
Organizers say this year there will be no hayrides, temperatures will be taken at the entrance, masks are required for anyone ten years old and up and there will be limited capacity.
“We also have a farm ambassador that goes around to educate the guests to make sure they’re wearing their masks but also spray vital oxide in high touch areas on the farm,” said Conrad Brinkman, the Marketing Manager for Hunt Club Farm.
Plexiglass shields have also been put up in certain areas.
“It is definitely a new haunted experience this year,” said Brinkman.
“In the past, we’ve always been up close and personal with our guests. With COVID-19 will be taking extra precautions and will be standing back,” said Rowe.
She said they will be standing back ten feet and following CDC guidelines.
“I really like the challenge of giving the actors circles of action, adequate lines and help teach them the theory of the scare without being too close,” said Rowe.
The Fall Harvest Fair starts on Saturday – with a new attraction – a Tree Walk Adventure that just opened. With the admission for the petting farm you climb the tree houses connected by wooden bridges – and a slide.
“We’re always thinking outside of the box for our community because you guys have always shown us the great support,” said Brinkman.
Rowe said the people at the farm are like family.
“Just like you take care of your family, this is my family and I want to take care of them and I want to take everybody else, everybody who comes to see us,” said Rowe.
Rowe’s son continues to play his guitar as she continues to work at the farm.
Below is information from Hunt Club Farm:
Click here for ticket prices and calendar information, call (757) 427-2119 or connect with Hunt Club Farm on Facebook or Instagram.
