The Woods of Gorham Were Once Home to Maine’s Original Haunted Hayrides

Once upon a time, in the deep dark woods of Gorham, Maine, you could hear the screams of frightened individuals pulsating through the crisp, fall air.

Those individuals were seated along a Haunted Hayride, one of Maine's original haunts that was born in the late 90's.

Those that visited the Haunted Hayrides in Gorham are fully aware of the aura around the haunted attraction.

Every single evening seemed to be bitterly cold. Where Haunted Hayrides was situated in Gorham, there always seemed to be organic fog adding to the mystique.

And every few minutes, another wagon would load up, filled with enthusiastic visitors waiting to find out if the chainsaw killer or a masked machete-wielding man would be coming for them.

The rides were always slow and plodding, on purpose. It allowed for the special effects (far more laborious 25 years ago) to register with the audience.

Each ride lasted about 30 minutes, with the final wagon setting off late into the evening. For many years, Haunted Hayrides felt like the 'only' thing to do for people in southern Maine during spooky season.

According to the Portland Press Herald, Haunted Hayrides spent 15 years operating in the woods of Gorham, Maine, before eventually moving the seasonal business to Scarborough Downs for several more years.

The business was so popular that it led to other similar businesses being created throughout the state to satisfy the Halloween crowd.

These days, there's still a handful of hayrides that operate around Maine. But nothing quite as chilling as the original Haunted Hayrides back in Gorham.