Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
The Post - Athens, OH
The independent newspaper covering campus and community since 1911.
The Post

Murphy’s Farm ‘Field of Screams’ set to reopen for 2021

Murphy’s Farm, located in Coolville, is getting ready for the Halloween season by hosting its annual “Field of Screams” haunted attractions.

Mike and John Murphy, owners of the farm, are excited to open back up Sept. 24, where the “Field of Screams” will last every weekend through the month of October. Admission tickets are sold online and in-person for $15.

John said Ohio is rated high for haunted attractions, and pushed his family to transition their farm into something fun for everyone as a result. The Field consists of a haunted hayride, a “ghoulbus,” a walk through the woods and more. 

John spoke about The Field’s launch for 2021 and said he expects it to flourish. 

“We had 10,000 people come here last year… we’re very thankful and blessed that people come out and have a great time,” Murphy said. 

With COVID-19 cases in Athens rising, Murphy’s is taking precautions necessary to ensure a safe time. John also said there have not been any cases tracked back to the farm despite a significant increase in their customer numbers since spring 2020. 

One of The Field’s actors, Kenzie Mosser, mentioned how much she loves working at a season-specific business. Halloween is her favorite holiday, she said, and working at The Field is some of the most fun she’s ever had.

Cindy Brunty, a ticket booth operator at The Field, said she’s anticipating the reopening for fall. In her position, she is the first face customers see when they arrive for their night of fright. Due to COVID-19, Brunty mentioned how the business has moved a lot of its ticket sales online to help reduce the amount of people in lines. 

Though it is a family-friendly venue with fair food and souvenirs for guests, John said children should be at least in the third grade, given The Field can be scary.

The Field has come a long way since it first opened. Coming from a couple people showing up on the first day all the way to thousands per season, it’s seen a lot of progress. 

“From there it's been to the moon and back, so we’re very thankful and grateful that the business has grown so much that it's like, ‘Oh my god, how are we going to handle all these people?’ But we do,” John said. “We're always thankful. We thank them, we appreciate them for coming out and having a good time, so that's what we strive for.”

@kendallkwright

kw229520@ohio.edu 

Powered by SNworks Solutions by The State News
All Content © 2016-2024 The Post, Athens OH