The Stoney Point Fire Department is preparing for a different kind of October emergency: visitors screaming their way through the Trail of Terror.
The haunted attraction opened Oct. 2 and runs on five Friday and Saturday weekends through Halloween. Fire department members and community volunteers operate the event, which pairs an indoor trail with live music and costumed characters who entertain guests while they wait.
The 2026 dates are Oct. 9 and 10, 16 and 17, 23 and 24, and 30 and 31. The attraction is open from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. each night at 7221 Stoney Point Road in Fayetteville and is guaranteed to be the height of scary season.
The scares begin before visitors enter the trail. Local musicians are scheduled to perform nightly and characters may appear among the waiting crowd. Inside, the attraction promises dark corners, sudden surprises and an atmosphere designed to keep guests guessing about what comes next.
The music lineup opened with Michael Daughtry on Oct. 2 and the Scroggins Band on Oct. 3. Chase Mitchell is scheduled for Oct. 9, followed by Mainstream Menace on Oct. 10. Later performers include Machinegun Earl, Live Wire!, Fear State and Dustin Day. The Scroggins Band is set to return on Halloween night to close the season.
That entertainment makes the wait part of the outing. Guests can listen to a band with friends before entering the trail in a smaller group. The performers outside build anticipation; the actors inside take over from there.
The fire department describes the Trail of Terror as a nonprofit attraction made possible by volunteers. Community members who want to act on the trail must be at least 14 years old, and those who are not department members must attend an orientation. Their participation helps turn the fire department’s seasonal event into a production with characters, music and a route through the attraction.
Reviews posted on the event’s website suggest that visitors notice the work behind the scares. A reviewer identified as Samantha B. praised the detail put into the attraction each year and the efforts of its actors, staff and volunteers. Another, identified as Ryan E., recalled live music and costumed performers near the line.
For some guests, the event has become an annual tradition. Meg L. wrote that she had attended with her children for years, including when the trail went through the woods. Although its name recalls that earlier setting, the fire department now describes the attraction as an indoor trail.
The experience may appeal to groups of friends looking for a Halloween outing, as well as families whose children enjoy being startled. Visitors should use their own judgment about whether the scares are suitable for younger members of their group. The attraction is designed around suspense and sudden shocks, and even the wait may include surprise appearances by characters.
General admission costs $20 before fees. Online checkout adds a $3 fee, bringing the total to $23. A Speed Pass costs $35 before a $5 fee and provides access to a separate entrance. Groups of 20 or more can purchase tickets for $15 per person before a $3 fee.
Online tickets allow guests to bypass the ticket purchase line. They can be used on any night the attraction is open during the 2026 season. Tickets are also available for purchase on site.
Guests making plans should review the event’s ticket policy before buying. The online checkout says purchases are nonrefundable, including in the event of a weather cancellation. Any unused tickets expire after the final night, Oct. 31. Visitors who want to support the Stoney Point Fire Department separately can also make a donation through the ticket page at www.undeadfd.com/tickets
For 10 nights in October, the department and its volunteers will invite the community to experience the fire station grounds in an unusual way. A band will play, characters will work the crowd and visitors will make their way through the trail, knowing that the next turn could bring the night’s biggest scare.
For more information, call 910-424-0694.

(Photo: The Stoney Point Trail of Terror is a legendary Halloween haunt that serves as a fundraiser for the local fire department. Photo courtesy of Stoney Point Fire Department)