GAINESVILLE, FL (352today.com) – At the Peanut Patch & Corn Maze, fall fun meets full-on fright. What started in 2017 as a simple family attraction has grown into one of Gainesville’s most anticipated seasonal events, blending farm-style activities with haunted entertainment for all ages.
The farm, owned and operated by Danny and Crystal, offers a full day of activities including a corn pit, hamster ball maze, haunted and non-haunted corn mazes, volleyball, ring toss, cornhole, plush axe throwing and a culvert swing and slide. As the sun sets, the laughter gives way to screams.
That’s when the Haunted Hay Ride and the House of Fear open for the night–two attractions that have earned the Peanut Patch a reputation for offering some of the most personal, interactive scares in North Central Florida.
Jeremiah Emmons, one of three veteran scare actors at the Peanut Patch, brings the character Beetlejuice to life on the hayride, welcoming guests with quick wit and eerie charm as he leads them through the legend of the property’s haunted past.
“About 85 years ago, a man built a house on this hill as a surprise for his wife,” Emmons said, slipping into his “haunted host “persona. “But when she saw it, she hated it–and burned it down. He went mad, and now, well, they both haunt these grounds.”
The Haunted Hay Ride is an interactive experience, making guests part of the unfolding story as Emmons narrates their journey past eerie scenes and ghostly figures. The House of Fear takes the terror a step further, immersing its guests in the horror.
Emmons said his approach to Beetlejuice has been months in the making. “I’ve been doing this for 20 years, but I’ve studied the movies over and over,” he said. “I had a costume made by a designer in Idaho, and I do my own airbrushed makeup before every show. It’s a full process–the white base, the black (really purple) eyes, the green layers. I love it.”
He added that the job allows him to improvise. “If they ask me to be a butcher instead, I’ll do it–I keep a mental Rolodex of roles.”
All of the actors at the Peanut Patch are paid staff, something that Emmons said sets the event apart from many small haunts.
“People see this as a part-time gig, but here we treat it as art,” he said. “Whether we’re in makeup, acting or running effects, it’s about giving families a memorable evening.”
That sense of passion starts with the owners.
“Danny and Crystal pour everything they have into this place,” Emmons said. “They’re always brainstorming new ideas, tweaking sets, pushing boundaries. Even if something doesn’t land perfectly, we adapt for the next season.”
The Peanut Patch & Corn Maze runs Fridays and Saturdays from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. during the season, and online tickets are available in advance here. The Peanut Patch will have a special Halloween Night event with a costume contest with prizes and photo ops.
“Whether you come for the daytime fun or stay until the last scream, we’ve got something for everyone,” Emmons said. “This place is about more than scares–it’s about connection, creativity and letting people leave their real lives behind for a few hours.”
