How a small corn maze became a 26-year haunt tradition—earning a Legacy Haunt Award and thrilling guests across Big Sky Country
From Smoky Beginnings to Haunt Sensation
When Sandy and Quinn Kirkland opened a corn maze in Victor, Montana, back in 2000, they never planned on running a full-scale haunted attraction—let alone one that would become a regional Halloween staple. That first season coincided with massive forest fires that cast a haze across the state. “We had to wear masks to go outside,” recalled Sandy.
Smoke filled the valley, and guests were scarce. Still, the Kirklands pressed on. Then came a fateful suggestion from a few early visitors: turn the maze into something scary. “They’re like, ‘You should haunt this,’ and we’re like, ‘What?’” says Sandy with a laugh. “We had no idea. We don’t really even watch many scary movies.”
But a spark was lit. “We put it together in like four days, really basic stuff … and it just took off from there,” continued Sandy.
That initial pop-up haunt—hurriedly thrown together in just a few days—was an unexpected success. Encouraged by local word of mouth and good old-fashioned curiosity, crowds began to trickle in. It convinced the Kirklands that a haunted maze could be more than a novelty. “We did so well in those few weeks that we’re like, ‘Okay, we’re going to need to do this like every year,’” Quinn says.
“People did get lost,” Sandy said of the early days. “We had corn cops that were trying to find them.”
Over time, the haunt blended open-air corn sections with carefully built structures, better sound systems, and more elaborate sets. “We went from four scare actors… to 50,” Quinn notes. Where there was once a single generator, there’s now a robust electrical infrastructure. Where there were basic masks and DIY props, there are now high-end animatronics and silicone masks from top manufacturers.
Field of Screams Montana never skipped a Halloween. “We have never missed a year, even with COVID, moving, fires—anything like that,” Sandy says proudly.
Catering to All Ages—and Fear Levels
Being in a smaller city has advantages and disadvantages. To draw the largest possible crowd, the Kirkland family needed to broaden the haunt’s appeal. Unlike big-city haunts that lean heavily into extreme gore, Field of Screams focuses on delivering a wide range of experiences—from the “Zombie Free Monday” walk-through to more intense nighttime frights. It’s an intentional choice that recognizes Montana’s tight-knit communities and broad audiences:
“We offer a lot of different types of attractions for pretty much everyone,” says Ethan, the Kirklands’ 15-year-old son who has become a driving force behind technology upgrades. “We have this thing called Zombie Free Mondays, so there’s no actors, just audio, fog, and lights at night. It’s for the scaredy-cats.”
By day, the property offers a classic pumpkin patch, hay wagon rides, and a mini-maze for children. By night, intense scares and elaborate sets await braver souls—plus a Monday option for those who want the spooky ambience without the startles.
Small Town Staffing Challenges
Staffing such a large haunt in a rural area is no easy feat, but the Kirklands rely on grassroots recruiting, personal connections, and returning scare actors year after year. They’ve also prioritized employee engagement with nightly in-house voting systems and tip opportunities. The haunt invites guests to vote for their favorite scare actor. “We have this huge board … with all the pictures of our haunters,” Sandy explained. “At the end of the night, they see who got the most marks. It keeps everyone motivated.”
The local community loves attending the haunt and voting for their favorite actor. The haunt prohibits actors from telling their friends and family where they’re positioned, ensuring the community has fun finding and thanking the actors.
However, small communities bring another unusual challenge – honoring the actor’s privacy. Montana’s cold nights mean face paint tends to smear, and with a tight-knit community, actors often prefer masks to stay incognito. As Ethen began to get more involved, he pushed the family to invest more into quality silicone masks from Transworld. “my first year [at Transworld], I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, look at all these silicone masks. They’re amazing …” Ethan recalls.
The Business of Fear: “Entertain First, Scare Second”
One of the family’s biggest revelations was realizing that guests want more than just scares—they crave an experience. Over the years, Field of Screams introduced roaming entertainers, high-energy music in the queue line, and upgraded concessions:
“Some people come out and say, ‘I wasn’t scared,’” Quinn shares. “I’m like, that’s not our job. Are you entertained? If you don’t get scared, that’s fine. Our real job is to entertain, and that’s what people want.”
This focus on entertainment—and word-of-mouth marketing—has helped them build a loyal fan base that drives in from across Montana, Idaho, and Washington. On busy Friday and Saturday nights, the parking lots fill to capacity, showing just how far the haunt has come since that smoky first season.
Crafting the Next Generation of Scares
For the Kirklands, the evolution never stops. They’re adding more power across the property to handle advanced animatronics and expanding an attraction called Gateway Manor, which Ethan launched last season. “I only had it five minutes long,” he said, “but this year, we’re definitely planning on making it two times bigger, looking for about ten minutes.” A coffin ride and a Western-themed section are also in the works, underscoring the blend of old-fashioned creativity and modern Halloween design.
Despite the constant growth, Field of Screams remains a family-driven haunt at heart. “He is everything Halloween,” Sandy said of Ethan. “He loves it. That’s all he can think about.” That passion keeps the Kirklands striving to bring new frights to the Bitterroot Valley while staying true to their rural Montana roots.
The challenge is balancing Montana’s harsh weather, a spread-out local population, and the desire to offer more. But if 26 years have proven anything, it’s that Field of Screams knows how to innovate while staying true to its down-home, family-run roots.
A Legacy of Local Horror
After more than a quarter-century of scaring visitors, Field of Screams Montana has been honored with the Haunted Attraction Association’s Legacy Haunt Award—an achievement that speaks to its enduring presence in a challenging market. For many locals, it’s the only haunt they’ll ever need, and for out-of-towners, it’s a glimpse into a side of Halloween that marries frontier spirit with modern fear.
“People were so happy,” Sandy remembered of those first haunted nights in 2000. “They loved it.” That enthusiasm endures today, proof that sometimes all it takes to build a legacy is a little corn, a chainsaw or two, and a whole lot of family dedication.
