© GatherGrounds
© GatherGrounds Resorts
Halloween at Ridge Ranch
Halloween Camping at Ridge Ranch: Haunted House and Monster Mash
Ridge Ranch Campground in Newton Falls hosts its Halloween weekend at the end of September, with a staff-built haunted house, trick-or-treating, costume contests for kids and adults, and the Monster Mash Ball. This year’s date is on the Ridge Ranch events page.
Late Septemberlast weekend of the month
2-night minimumon Halloween weekends
Haunted housebuilt by our staff
Monster Mash BallSaturday night
What a typical Halloween Saturday looks like
Here’s how last season’s Halloween Saturday ran. Some activities rotate from year to year.
Midday: pumpkins and candy
A food truck comes in for the day (Tasty Eats & Desserts last season). From noon to 2 PM, kids do a pumpkin craft, and there’s a candy search in the hay. Seasonal and weekend campers spend the morning finishing their site decorations before judging.
4 PM: trick-or-treat
Trick-or-treating runs from 4 to 5 PM, site to site through the campground. With so many decorated sites and families taking part, it’s a safe, festive alternative to neighborhood trick-or-treating. Bring a bag big enough for the haul.
5:30 PM: costume contest
Right after trick-or-treating, there’s a costume contest for both kids and adults, so the grown-ups should dress up too. Family themes, homemade costumes and last-minute creations all have a shot. Wear your costume to trick-or-treat and walk straight over for judging.
The haunted house
Our staff build the haunted house every year from a large stock of decor. It starts out milder early in the evening, so younger kids can go through. As the night goes on, the team adds actors and effects and turns the lights off, and by the end it’s truly terrifying. Bring little ones early.
7 PM: Monster Mash Ball
The Monster Mash Ball runs from 7 to 10 PM at the pavilion. Costumes are encouraged, kids and grown-ups dance together, and it’s the biggest crowd of the weekend. It wraps up in time for quiet hours at 11.
Decorating contests
Seasonal campers go all out decorating, and there are prizes for the best sites. Short-term campers have their own contest, and the winning site earns a free camping weekend on next year’s Halloween weekend. Past displays have included graveyards, a skeleton ship and a haunted house built in a tent.
Book early: it fills by late summer
Halloween weekends usually fill by the end of August, and many families book early in the summer. There’s a two-night minimum, because the weekend is built around a full Saturday of events. Rates are dynamic and vary by site; choose your dates on the Ridge Ranch rates page. As the event grows, we plan to add more Halloween weekends, so check the events page for this year’s dates.
Fall at Ridge Ranch
By Halloween weekend, the trees along the back side of the lake are starting to turn, and sunrise over the water is a highlight of fall here. The Wibit is put away after Labor Day, but the campground stays open until October 20. For more on fall camping in Ohio, see the best time to camp in Ohio, and for kid-friendly ideas, see family-friendly campgrounds in Ohio that kids love.
Getting to Ridge Ranch
Ridge Ranch is in Newton Falls, just off I-80 and the Ohio Turnpike. It’s about 40 minutes from Youngstown, under an hour from Akron, about an hour and 15 minutes from Cleveland and about an hour and 45 minutes from Pittsburgh. There’s no check-in line: we collect your license plate when you book, and the gate opens for you when you arrive.
Questions
When is Halloween weekend at Ridge Ranch?
It’s held on the last weekend of September. Check the Ridge Ranch events page for this year’s exact date.
Is there a minimum stay?
Yes. Halloween weekends have a two-night minimum.
Is the haunted house too scary for little kids?
It starts out milder early in the evening, then gets much scarier as the night goes on. Bring young kids early.
How do I win the decorating contest?
Decorate your site before judging. The short-term winner earns a free camping weekend on next year’s Halloween weekend.
Is the Wibit open on Halloween weekend?
No. The Wibit closes after Labor Day. The campground, beach area, playground and Kangaroo Jumper are still there to enjoy.
How early should I book?
Early in the summer if you can. Halloween weekends usually fill by the end of August.
Ready to book?
Rates vary by date and site; see our rates page.
Ridge Ranch Campground · 5219 OH-303, Newton Falls, OH 44444 · (330) 898-8080
