Why Hopkins Haunted Hayride Is the Must-See Haunted House in Greenville County, South Carolina

Each fall, the Upstate transforms into a canvas of color—but after dark, one attraction paints it black. Hopkins Haunted Hayride, located at 3717 Fork Shoals Rd, Simpsonville, SC 29680, is redefining fear as the most talked-about haunted house in Greenville County, South Carolina. What makes it special isn’t only the screams—it’s the craftsmanship behind them.

The haunted hayride combines open-air terror with a traditional walkthrough experience. Visitors begin aboard rustic wagons pulled through acres of cornfields while ghastly figures emerge from the dark. Then, guests disembark into the haunted compound, where each building tells a new horror tale: an old slaughterhouse, a cursed church, a ghost-filled barn. Special-effects lighting, timed audio, and fog machines make it feel as though you’ve stepped into a film set.

Hopkins works with local artists, prop builders, and theater students from Greenville Tech to design everything in-house. The result is an evolving attraction that changes yearly. Families visit for the hayride; thrill-seekers return for the maze and photo-op area that features professionally shot “fear portraits.”

There’s also a strong community spirit. A portion of every ticket supports Greenville County food-bank initiatives and the local volunteer fire department. The event ties into Simpsonville’s broader seasonal calendar—visitors can enjoy the Hopkins Haunted Hayride at night and explore daytime activities like the

Greenville State Farmers Market, Paris Mountain State Park hikes, and pumpkin patches nearby.

For 2025, gates open Fridays and Saturdays from 7 p.m. to midnight, with select Thursday “No-Scare” nights. VIP passes allow shorter wait times, and the new “Double Dare” ticket gives two rides for one price.

If you want the full fall experience in the Upstate, from harvest flavor to heart-stopping fun, you can’t skip Hopkins Haunted Hayride—the leading haunted house in Greenville County, South Carolina.