Top activities for Fall Break

Courtesy Photo of The Manor

Courtesy Photo of The Manor

It’s finally time for a hard-earned break across the Missouri Southern State University campus, as fall break takes place from Friday, Oct. 12 to Tuesday, Oct. 16. 

This time is a chance for students – and faculty alike – to relax and not think about college responsibilities for a few days. 

It’s a good time to bundle up and watch movies, visit family and capture the spooky spirit of Halloween.


For those wanting a scare, there are a few haunted houses in the Joplin area. 

The Twisted Forrest on Reddings Road is a 45-minute trail that takes participants through the woods, with jumps around every corner. 

It’s open with tours on every half hour beginning at 7:30 p.m. and ending with the last tour at 11:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 a person. 

The Twisted Forrest is open on Fridays, Oct. 12, 19 and 26, and Saturdays, Oct. 12, 20, and 27. “Fast passes” are available at www.TheTwistedForrest.com.

Another spooky option is The Manor in Joplin. Located at 4706 Gateway Drive, in Joplin, The Manor is open every Friday and Saturday in October. Check out www.facebook.com/pg/themanorofjoplin for more details. 

A third option is R.I.P. at the Meyers Inn located at 529 W. Airport Drive, in nearby Carthage. The inn is open Fridays and Saturdays in October, along with Sunday, Oct. 28, and Halloween evening. It’s open from 7 p.m. sharp “until last guest checks out.” Visit www.myersinnhaunt.com for additional details.

Corn Mazes are a source of autumn fun. There are three within an hour driving distance of Missouri Southern. 

Annabelle’s Fun Farm, located at 444584 E. 110 Road, in Welch, Oklahoma. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Friday, Saturday and Sunday, now through Sunday, Oct. 28. Cost is $12.95 for a one-day pass (ages 3 to 59), free (2 and under) and $11.95 (military and seniors 60 and above). For more information, or to purchase tickets online, persons interested may visit www.annabellesfunfarm.com.

 The Exeter Corn Maze is located on State Highway MM in Exeter.  Activities range from general admission to the barn yard, to tours on a regular corn maze and a haunted maze. 

Most activities are included in the armband admission price, which range from $10 to $20, depending upon the package purchased. Individual activities are also available for an additional cost. 

For more information, persons interested may visit www.exetercornmaze.com.

Right Choices Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch is located at 1161 Manning Road, Southwest City. It is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 8 p.m. on Sundays, during the month of October. 

Tickets range in price for an all-activity pass for $14, a season pass for $22, to prices for individual activities. Children 3 and under are admitted free. Run by the Manning family, the maze and activities have a Christian theme. 

For more information, persons interested may visit rightchoicescornmaze.com.

If wanting to stay inside shielded from the cold sounds ideal, the possibility of getting under the blankets, watching a movie and/or watching horror movies on Netflix is always an option. 

With Halloween right around the corner a few current horror movies on Netflix available are The Shining, The Sixth Sense, Hellraiser, Caroline, The Conjuring, and Gerald’s Game.

If scary movies aren’t on the agenda, there are always options for a few “laid back classics” such as The Breakfast Club, Moonrise Kingdom, Mamma Mia and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.