By Missy Walmer ’19, Staff Writer

America’s number one haunted attraction is open for just 10 weekends a year.

Jim and Gene Schopf started creating the heart-stopping attraction in 1990 known as Field of Screams located in Mountville, Pennsylvania, near Lancaster.

“We went from harvesting crops to harvesting fear,” Jim Schopf, co-owner of Field of Screams, said.

The Schopf brothers were always being innovative, having first started out selling homegrown foods out of a wagon to neighboring buyers. The idea of the first haunted house started out just for fun.

“Our sister and her brownie troupe would come, and we just did it for fun rather than a business,” Jim Schopf said.

The barn then was accompanied by a haunted hayride through the fields. After having such good feedback, the third year was when they decided to officially transform the barn into the Den of Darkness, which can be seen today at their attraction. They now have the Den of Darkness, Haunted Hayride, Frightmare Asylum and Nocturnal Wasteland.

Along with the four main attractions, there’s a big open area with food, such as sandwiches, walking tacos, caramel apples, chocolate covered frozen cheesecake, hot apple cider and more, a souvenir stand, games, a free photo booth and a big stage for special events.

“Field of Screams and its employees are dedicated to improving, changing, and making it bigger, badder, better and scarier,” Jim Schopf said.

Jim described his employees, who are anywhere from 16-26 years old, as being passionate and constantly contributing to further improvements and new ideas.

Brandon Crawford, Den of Darkness co-manager and employee of eight years, started out as an actor and worked his way up to overseeing the Den of Darkness. Brandon described the atmosphere between the coworkers as a family-like camaraderie and just an overall feel-good atmosphere where everyone looks out for everyone else.

Crawford’s favorite part is easy.

“It’s getting to scare people to blow off steam,” Crawford said.

Field of Screams had its opening weekend Sept. 9 and will be open until the weekend of Nov. 11. The attraction ends on Saturday, Nov. 12 with the Field of Screams 5K Zombie Fun Run to benefit the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition.

Anyone interested in visiting the Field of Screams can find coupons at the Subway near campus. Coupons include $2 off on Friday and $4 off on Sunday. Hours vary by day and month, but by clicking HERE – interested visitors may purchase tickets online and check out parking and opening times