The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Rockin’-R-Ranch not too spooky
Family-friendly event held throughout October
The weather may not show it, but as surely as the golden leaves have begun falling, the Halloween season is upon us.
At this time of year, many seek out spooks and frights to help get them in the proper mood. For those with younger children, the Rockin’-R-Ranch in Columbia Station welcomes all to their Old West Pumpkin Fest.
The festival is held Friday through Sunday each weekend throughout the month of October, and allows families to enjoy the season without being too spooked to sleep.
Darlene Otis is the general manager of the ranch, 19066 East River Road, and owns it with her three oldest sons. She said the farm’s seasonal festivities got their start 27 years ago as a way to save the property.
“Basically, I was going to lose my farm,” she said. “My son said, ‘Why don’t we start doing hayrides like the farm down the street?’ It was a case of survival.”
She said the farm’s attractions began with a nighttime scary hayride that has since evolved into the ranch’s evening frights called the Spooky Ranch. In the intervening years, the Old West Pumpkin Fest has grown to include a children’s haunted house, a petting zoo, a hayride to the pumpkin patch and costume characters.
According to Otis, though, the biggest pull of what she calls “the premier Halloween attraction in Cleveland” is the live stage show.
“We do a lot of things for families out here,” she said. “The best part of the day is our live country kids show which is sponsored by Drug Mart.”
The show features songs, dances and costumed characters.
Jennifer Dippel, 46, of Cuyahoga Falls, said she ran into an ad for the attraction online and decided to bring her children.
Her son, Ethan Dippel, 8, said that he enjoyed the Monster Vision in 3D haunted house between mouthfuls of funnel cake. There was a rather frightening clown dummy standing guard over the entrance, but Ethan was unafraid.
Perhaps this sense of courage and adventure is what is leading him to wear his karate uniform as a Halloween costume this year.
His sister, 11-year-old Elaine Dippel, disagreed. She finds clowns incredibly scary and said her favorite part of the festivities was the rabbits in the petting zoo.
With such delicate sensibilities, it’s easy to believe she would dress up as a butterfly for her trick-or-treat excursion this year.
The Old West Pumpkin Fest is open from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays throughout October. Tickets are $11 each and are good for all attractions within the ranch.
The Spooky Ranch opens at 7 p.m. on Oct. 6-8 and Thursdays through Mondays each week following throughout the month. Regular tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for children.