We visited Eckert's in Millstadt on a Friday evening with a group of high schoolers, and overall,…read morewe had a really fun night! We live in St. Charles, so it was a bit of a drive, but it was an easy trip, and the signage along the way made finding the location simple.
Check-in was super easy. You purchase your tickets on your phone, and everyone just scans in when they arrive. From there, we headed over to find our bonfire site, which was an additional charge.
I will say, the bonfire sites were a little lacking compared to what I had envisioned. They're basically a small fire pit in the middle with straw hay bales surrounding it for seating. The description said the site accommodated 25 people, but I honestly think that would be extremely tight with 25 adults. The group at the site next to us definitely had that many people, and they were spilling over into our space. Luckily, our teenagers were coming and going, so it wasn't a huge issue for us, but the sites definitely felt crowded. We could also hear each other's music, so there wasn't much separation between groups.
We were allowed to bring in all of our own food and drinks, which was really nice. We roasted marshmallows and hot dogs around the fire, but I do wish there had been a picnic table nearby. Without one, we made several trips back and forth with everything. Thankfully, we had brought a folding table of our own.
Another thing to keep in mind is that there isn't any lighting around the bonfire sites. Some people came prepared with lanterns, but we didn't think about that ahead of time, so we relied on our phone flashlights. Definitely something I'd recommend bringing if you plan to reserve a bonfire.
Now, onto the fun stuff!
We all did the haunted hayride together, and that was definitely the highlight of the evening! I loved when the tractor came out and started chasing us. It was such a fun surprise and got everyone excited.
The corn maze was another favorite. It was challenging enough to make it interesting, but thankfully, we managed to find our way out! Having scare actors throughout the maze made it even better. There was also a creepy tractor with eyeballs that reminded me of something straight out of Cars. Just when you thought the scares were over, they managed to throw in two more surprises at the end, including a guy with a chainsaw. They definitely kept us on our toes!
There was plenty more to do, too. They had lots of food and drinks available for purchase, along with activities for younger children all the way up to the high schoolers we brought with us. There really was something for everyone.
One of my favorite unexpected details was the view. You could actually see the Gateway Arch and the city lights in the distance, but you were far enough away from everything that it still felt peaceful and relaxing. It was a really pretty backdrop for a fall evening.
Would we go back? Absolutely! We had a great time, and the haunted attractions were worth the trip. My biggest recommendation for improvement would be the bonfire sites. I think they either need to be spaced farther apart or the capacity should be limited to 20 people instead of 25. Having that many people packed into such a small area makes things feel crowded, especially when neighboring groups are practically sharing your space.
A few picnic tables and some lighting around the bonfire areas would also make a big difference.
Overall, it was a fun fall experience with plenty of activities, great scares, and a beautiful view of the St. Louis skyline. Just bring your own lantern, plan for a crowded bonfire area, and get ready for that haunted hayride.
