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Part of what makes us Adventure Moms is how much we value teaching our children to be adventurous. We tell them to be open minded and brave when faced with a new opportunity. Not all of us Adventure Moms practiced what we preach this weekend so I had to bring in some reinforcements. A good friend of Adventure Moms DC (and mine!) heard adventure knocking (literally knocking, last minute, on a Sunday evening) and she opened the door to experience Markoffβs Haunted Forest.
We were open minded and brave, well one of us was more brave than the other, and experienced fear and terror courtesy of Markoffβs Haunted Forest. If you have never been to a haunted forest, it’s basically a haunted house, but much longer and more anticipation because the environment is always changing. We found the people who were well hidden and jumping out or grabbing us were by far the scariest! There were other people who looked scary or creepy or weird, but we could see them as we approached. We are both stay at home moms and between us we have 6 kids, the oldest is 6 and the youngest is 1 and a half. We are not easily scared by mean faces or loud sounds! Even though we know it is not real, just like we tell our kids about scary ghosts and monsters under the bed, the trail is so well done they will have you screaming louder than a 2 year old who needs a nap!

The one time on the trail I wasn’t too scared to take pictures!
There are basically 3 options at Markoff’s Haunted Forest: two haunted trails and a haunted town. The night we were there they had one hybrid trail open and we got to see a little of both trails. We heard the haunted town was scarier and opted not to try that one! I wouldn’t want to spoil your terror by telling you what to expect, but I can say to wear shoes you can run in, go to the bathroom before you start and bring a brave friend to drag you through if you’re a scaredy-cat like me! For extra scaredy-cats (or young children) check out the Enchanted Forest located right next door!
You don’t answer the call to a last minute terrifying adventure without becoming an Adventure Mom! We are so excited to have Caryn join Adventure Moms DC! Meet Caryn, the bravest mom I know!
Know Before You Go:
- These haunts are recommended for brave souls 12 years and older.
- Tickets for the trail are $30 in advance and $35 day of. Town tickets are $25.
- Entrance starts at dusk (7ish) and you must be in the parking lot 10:30 to get in.
- Once you go in there is what they call the Front Circle where you wait. You can purchase tickets ($3/each) to play games, zip line (6 tickets), death jump (6 tickets) and more frightful activities.
- There are porta-potties and food for sale in the Front Circle.
- There are also bonfires and fire performers.
- You get a wrist band with a number at check-in and wait in the Front Circle for your number to be called.
- The hybrid trail took us about 45 minutes to get through.
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