By
Amber Lanahan
As kids begrudgingly make their way back into schools and the smell of pumpkin spice dances through the air, the season of Fall marks the beginning of a social calendar filled with friendly hangouts and family visits. With pools and splash parks taking a much-needed respite after another scorching El Paso summer, El Pasoans shift gears as cooler temperatures leave them seeking new activities to fill their free time. This year offers staples that many El Pasoans flock to every Fall, as well as a few newbies to the mix, to guarantee that your fall activity list is always ready.
Pumpkin Patch/Corn Mazes
As farmers begin to collect the spoils of this year’s harvest, many have opened their doors to share with the community the fruits, and vegetables, of their labor. These massive acres of land play host to a collection of activities from pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and a slew of food and games. Visitors of all ages indulge in pumpkin patch adventures where one can select their own great pumpkin for upcoming Halloween celebrations or capture the perfect Fall selfie. Following a successful stroll through the pumpkin patch, visitors can try their luck traversing a customized maze of corn with stalks shooting several feet into the air. For many, visits to these mazes have become an activity reserved for the late afternoon and early evening, where the blanket of night creates an added element of thrill as maze runners take on thttps://thecitymagazineelp.com/?p=81721&et_fb=1&PageSpeed=off#he darkened maze with flashlights and will.
- La Union Maze
- 1101 Highway 28, Anthony, NM 88021
- El Paso Farm Land
- 1100 Nuevo Hueco Tanks Blvd, El Paso, TX 79927
- Mesilla Valley Maze
- 3855 W Picacho Ave, Las Cruces, NM 88007
Haunted Houses
- You can’t have Fall without Halloween, and you can’t have Halloween without a haunted house. A haunted house is a staple for ghosts and ghouls who like to get a taste of fear in the spooky part of their Fall season. Whether it be an indoor space or a winding trail, these classic haunts optimize their unassuming location and elevate it into a haven of horror through a creative narrative, dynamic cast, and carefully crafted sets. Participating in such activities is not for the faint of heart, as seen from the vibrant safety warnings before entry. Still, for those willing to move forward and face fear head-on, the experience is challenging to put down.
- KLAQ Haunted Houses of Terror
- 13900 Montana Ave., El Paso, TX 79938
- 2155 Joe Battle Blvd., El Paso, TX 79938
- Forbidden Acres Haunted Outdoor Trail
- 13161 Tobacco Rd., El Paso, TX 79938
Ghost Tours
- With each passing season, El Paso continues to grow, and with it, more members of its community find themselves curious about the souls who once walked its streets. Some of these souls’ stories ceased to end upon their passing, and a group of curious El Pasoans have made it their mission to understand why these spirits remain with the living. When guests attend a tour with a member of El Paso’s ghost tour community, they are given a tour of some of El Paso’s notable haunted spaces and the spirits that reside within them. Guides lead visitors to each haunted location, sharing stories of encounters with the ghost(s) in question, sometimes with specter-sensing equipment in hand, all while providing guests with the historical timeline and life of the spirit before their passing. While it’s left to the will of the spirits whether a guest will have a rendezvous with residents of the other side, it goes without saying that most guests leave the tour with a renewed love of local history.
- The Paso Del Norte Paranormal Society (Ghosts915)
- 110 E San Antonio Ave, El Paso, TX 79901
- El Paso Ghost Tours
- 114a E Mills Ave, El Paso, TX 79901
Escape Rooms
- Are you looking to flex your detective skills? One such activity the whole family can enjoy is an escape room. Over the years, El Paso has joined many other U.S. cities in adopting escape rooms. Taking a space and transforming it into an intricate puzzle game of riddles, visitors are expected to gather clues to solve the mystery of the room within a designated time limit. This brain-wracking puzzle paired with a meticulously written story tied together with a set design that helps one become fully absorbed into the space.
- Red Door Escape Room
- 8889 Gateway Blvd W Ste. 2800, El Paso, TX 79925
- Twisted Time Escape Rooms
- 4009 N Mesa St Ste. B, El Paso, TX 79902
- Operation Outbreak: El Paso Escape Game
- 4530 Montana Ave Ste. E, El Paso, TX 79903
Trampoline Park/Axe Throwing
With cooler temperatures entering the Borderland, many of its citizens will begin seeking activities that will take them indoors to escape the chill. These activities allow one to warm up without lighting a single match. Trampoline parks have repeatedly proven that no matter the age, everyone desires the opportunity to fulfill their Olympic gymnastics dream. These parks offer all ages a place to burn off pent-up energy and refresh one’s coordination, all while defying gravity. Adults and kids alike can engage with the park without worrying about either party being left out.
While axe throwing is an activity that caters to an 18+ demographic, the activity itself allows the thrower an opportunity to decompress while providing a friendly, competitive atmosphere within a safe space. These locations offer guests a wooden target marked with points on each ring, with the point value raising the higher one gets towards the wooden center. Staff is also readily available for beginners to learn the ideal way to throw an axe without fear of harming oneself and obtaining the highest number of points possible. After a few bullseyes, guests will be well on their way to becoming loggers creating TikToks splitting massive wood logs with only an axe.
- Jumping World
- 5850 Onix Dr, El Paso, TX 79912
- Roaring Rage Room & Axe Throwing Lounge
- 11925 Golden Gate Rd BLDG D, El Paso, TX 79936
- RELAXE : Axe Throwing
- 808 Montana Ave, El Paso, TX 79902
