The countdown to spooky season has officially begun. And this year, the region has a brand new haunt to look forward to. Starting in September, Lovettsville’s Milltown Haunt will open for its inaugural haunt season.
The Loudoun County haunt will be open Fridays through Sundays from September 27 to October 27, with a Blackout night on November 2.
The idea first came about in 2022. Ghorley “G.G.” and Sarah Gregg, the owners and operators of Twin Maple Farm, had a property that was so overrun that they couldn’t even drive down driveway and Shocktober had just announced it was in need of a new space.
“I reached out to the director with The Arc of Loudoun and offered the space to them to start Shocktober brand new, bring it back,” said Sarah. “And they just weren’t sure that was the direction they were going in.”
When the haunt passed on the space, the family decided to put together their own haunt.
“I’m a third-generation farmer, and it gets harder and harder every year to keep the farm going,” G.G. says. “Most farms have started breweries. That was one of the big things in Loudoun County, and we didn’t want to do that again. We’re like, ‘OK, let’s do something different that’s not in Loudoun County.’”
By 2023 the business was in place and work began.
The indoor/outdoor experience is one attraction comprised two barns and outdoor scenes connecting the two. While there aren’t any themes associated with the attraction, the second barn will specifically focus on fears.
“Whatever makes you not sleep at night is what we’re hoping to target in each part of that corridor,” Sarah says.
You’ll need to visit to see exactly what’s hidden in those barns, but they both agree that the actors will make Milltown Haunt special. On a fully operational night, there will be 40 actors will be scattered throughout the attraction. Milltown was able pull former actors and makeup artists from Shocktober and Scream LoCo.
“We both agree that the actors make the haunt,” GG says. “Animatronics are nice, but at the end of the day, the actors will make the haunt.”
For those not interested in the scares, you can still enjoy the Halloween season at the haunt’s Midway attraction. The area will include local food trucks, drinks from One Family Brewing fire pits, axe throwing, and games.
“My whole goal is maybe once I get you there, I can talk you into going to the haunt,” Sarah says.
Tickets for Milltown Haunt are on sale now. General admission tickets are $30 and R.I.P. admission tickets, where you are able to skip the line, are $40. Tickets are $50 for those looking to brave the scare during the Blackout night. Entry into the Midway is $5 per person and free for guests under 12. This season, part of the proceeds will be donated to The Arc of Loudoun.
13936 Milltown Rd., Lovettsville, milltownhaunt.com
Feature image courtesy Milltown Haunt
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