More than 300 Braved Dayton's Annual Haunted Hayride
Despite a brief sprinkling of rain on Thursday night, Oct. 29, the Historical Society of Dayton Valley’s annual Ghostly Pioneers of Old Town Dayton’s Haunted Hayride offered an old-fashioned way to celebrate the town and Nevada history. Approximately 300-350 people, young and old, climbed aboard one of the four large wagons pulled by volunteer drivers, each loaded with straw for seating, for a ride into the night. With room for around 20 riders per wagon, the four wagons stayed busy, and a long line of eager passengers formed throughout the evening.
During the ride, a few resurrected pioneers shared stories of their lives in the mid- to late-1800s, while others entertained riders with ghost stories and spooky facts about historic Dayton, which served as the Lyon County seat in 1861.
HSDV volunteers provided museum tours inside – where piles of cookies were being offered – and a safe outdoor site for children’s games. Museum tours added extra fun and introduced many young residents to Dayton’s history. Some of them even had time to ring the old school bell, manufactured in 1863 in Sheffield, England (the Museum is in an 1865 schoolhouse; the oldest schoolhouse still located at its same site in Nevada). Visitors were also able to take home a Dayton walking tour brochure.
According to HSDV President Linda Clements, HSDV sponsored the first evening hayride in 2006 with a ride up the hill to the cemetery; however, it was not until 2013 that the hayride went through Old Town to celebrate Nevada Day with the “Hayride to Statehood.”
Hayrides were held in 2015 and 2016, were rained out 2017 and 2018, then the COVID Pandemic put a stop to it until just a few years ago. The ride was resurrected in 2024, thanks to HSDV Secretary Becca Krach. Since the Dayton area has grown rapidly in the last few years, it was difficult to determine how many residents would participate but, overall, the event was well received and everyone appeared to have fun.
As Shakespeare would say: “All’s well that ends well!”
Thanks to the following historic figures and the volunteers who portrayed them:
- Lucena Parsons (Katrina Hedlesky)
- Professor Prudence, snake oil saleswoman (Kathy O’Neill)
- Judge Clark Guild (Dave Cooper)
- Adolf Sutro (Spencer Davidson)
- Union Ghost Stories (Katie and Glenn Hasbrouck)
- Judge Haydon (Tim Steeper)
- First Wedding & Anullment (Janet Steeper)
- Skit by Misfits Theater Group
Cheers to the many volunteers who helped make the event possible plus the local companies that provided support: Benson Feed in Carson City, for continuing to loan HSDV the straw bales; PURE Water systems for providing beverages; Boys & Girls Clubs of Mason Valley and Safe Voice for donating prizes for the children's games.
