The shrill cry of a chainsaw coming to life, followed by blood-curdling screams echo along the river in Resaca. As the group of teens run out of the cornfield after stumbling across the bodies of their friends, a horse rears, it’s rider missing his head.

The Haunted Corn Maze at Little River Farms is in full swing every Friday and Saturday night through October. It’s the long-time dream of Marisa Poarch, who owns the farm with husband Terry, which she inherited from her parents. It’s been in her family for 30 years, but until she took it, it wasn’t used. Still, she had an idea as to what she wanted to see there.

“I knew I wanted it haunted,” said Poarch, who drove a school bus for the Gordon County School system. “We put a lot of work into it.”

When it’s not haunted, Little River Farms is a petting zoo, regular corn maze, and a great country setting for parties and events. But in October, ghouls, gremlins, and serial killers converge onto the land wielding chain saws, machetes, and poisonous concoctions. She donates part of the $10 ticket price to Gordon Central High and Ashworth Middle schools FFA chapters. The students come in and don the make up as the spooks.

“They also come up with new ideas to add each year,” said Poarch, who said her favorite so far is the wolfman.

This year, the Abominable Snowman, electric chair, butcher scene, and the Pit of Hell are the new attractions. The corn maze has brought visitors from two hours away to have the beejeebees scared out of them. Their busiest night last year brought in more than 200 guests.

“We’re just a bunch of passionate high school kids,” said Drew Thornton, who plays the headless horseman. “We enjoy scaring people and giving them a good time.”

Sometimes, he and Poarch agreed, the reactions are just as entertaining as the maze.

“We had one woman run out screaming “Jesus, save me,” Poarch recalled.

“We’ve seen football players cry,” Thornton said.

One visitor curled up in the fetal position and refused to get up.

Even the terrified visitors enjoyed it. “The woman who ran by sreaming for Jesus said it was the best money she’d ever spent,” said Poarch, who stays in the barn and gift store serving refreshments while the 30 or so volunteers terrify people. She discourages small children from going through, adding that middle school age and up would be better.

“We’ve had adults wet themselves,” she said.

This year, they’ve added a screen to show classic horror movies before the maze starts. For more information, call 706-280-7393, if you dare.