Zombie Farms is a haunted trail in Oglethorpe County, but it’s also a community effort, according to its creators.
With around 100 people on staff, ranging from actors to parking directors, the event becomes a cooperation of local talents. It’s a blend of people from Oglethorpe County who work full-time and part-time, along with students from the University of Georgia and Athens Technical College.
“If (attendees) can remember that they are supporting 100 other local families who are working here to give you a good time and to make a little extra money for their family, it makes it a lot easier for us to all just relax and have fun together,” said co-owner Cynthia MacDonald of Winterville.
In its 11th year, Zombie Farms has opened its gates on Fridays and Saturdays through October where thrill-seekers can experience a three-fourths of a mile haunted trail. There are also exclusive Sunday night options.
“I tell everybody that works here that for the four hours that they are here, we are all in this agreement to play make-believe together,” Cynthia said. “It’s our job to leave our worries at the door and to forget our troubles, so when the customers pull in the gate, we all get to be like kids again.”
The paranormal experience began as a dream developed by husband-and-wife duo Patrick and Cynthia MacDonald, the self-proclaimed Zombie King and Queen.
They met as high school seniors in Concord, Georgia, about 110 miles southwest of Athens, and quickly bonded over their shared love of horror.
“We went to college, got corporate jobs, got married, had kids and all that stuff,” Cynthia said. “But the whole time we were doing that, Patrick was researching the industry (haunted trails) and learning from the people who knew how to do it.”
In 2012, equipped with knowledge, the MacDonalds issued a request to farmers in the area looking for someone to host their haunted trail.
The couple's first year, on a farm along Lexington Highway, was a promising start, but they came to the conclusion that for Zombie Farms to thrive, they would need their own land.
After selling their house and purchasing a farm in Oglethorpe County, Zombie Farms was established in 2014.
In addition to preparing for October, the couple stays busy throughout the year by running a separate small business that primarily does web design and management. Patrick also does administration work for Unix, as well as software development.
Every year, Patrick creates a brand-new narrative for Zombie Farms. For the past nine years, Zombie Farms’ official storyteller has been Dave Bloyer, an actor from Comer.
“My job is to set the scene, give the customers an idea of what to expect down the trail,” Bloyer said, “(I) put them in the right frame of mind to be able to enjoy the evening and light a fuse, so the rest of the cast can get a few scares in.”
The themes make up a chronological story. Each year develops upon the last, producing a horror narrative that keeps audiences coming back for more, from a zombie preserve in 2012 to demonic forces in this year’s "The Demon of Duskridge Mine."
“If you want to come and have a really good time, come earlier in the season before everybody else thinks about it,” Cynthia said. “The last two weekends are generally packed to the rim.”