Water Valley, Ark. — Ongoing drought conditions in Arkansas have forced the Water Valley Volunteer Fire Department to cancel a key part of its annual haunted house fundraiser: the hayride through nearby fields.
For more than 20 years, the fire department has used the haunted house and accompanying hayrides to raise funds for its operations. However, the persistent dry weather has made outdoor conditions too hazardous to continue the hayride tradition this year.
Blake Bennett, an 18-year volunteer with the haunted house and a recent addition to the fire department, explained the safety concerns.
“They go through the hayfields out there, which is all dry right now,” Bennett said. Wagons traveling through parched fields, he noted, pose an unacceptable fire risk.
While the hayride is on hold, the haunted house itself remains fully operational. Attendees can expect a completely redesigned layout, as the department revamps the structure every year, including reconstructing internal walls and adding a new front porch to the building. Additional attractions include inflatable bounce castles and concessions.
Some visitors expressed disappointment over the canceled hayride, but others found plenty to enjoy. Faith Settles of Black Rock, a self-proclaimed fan of haunted houses, said the hayride's absence didn’t dampen her excitement.
“I just like spooky stuff,” she said.
The Water Valley Volunteer Fire Department’s haunted house offers thrills and chills while supporting the firefighters who serve the local community.