By Dustin Insell

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Clarksville is now home to a new haunted attraction – “The Zombie Paintball Hayride Experience.”

Opening September 25 – November 2, every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights at 6:00 p.m., Clarksville Zombie Hunters is a haunted hayride styled attraction where riders are equipped with a turret-mounted paintball gun, given special glowing ammunition, and then taken into zombie infested woods for a hunt.

The zombie paintball hayride is an all-ages and family-friendly attraction where riders hunt zombies. It is an intense ride with a scripted plot line, where you become part of the action, fast-paced music, and bright LED lights.

Although Clarksville Zombie Hunters is not yet open to the public, they are already giving back. On September 13, they held an event called “For the Kids Day,” where over 300 underprivileged or disadvantaged youth were invited to attend the attraction for free. The event was sponsored and run by owners Eric Yow, local attorney at the Goble Law Firm, and Matt Cole, owner of Persimmon Creek Farms.

When asked why they wanted to hold such a charitable event, Eric Yow said, “The event speaks for itself. It’s ‘for the kids.’ We want Clarksville Zombie Hunters to be a blessing to Clarksville and Montgomery County. We could have waited until the season was over to host such an event. But we wanted to show these families why we’re here. This is a business, but it’s also a ministry. There’s finally something fun, safe, and healthy to do here, that you can’t find anywhere else!”

Over 400 people showed up to enjoy the festivities. A dozen community partners hosted booths and each brought something fun ‘for the kids’ to do – from bouncy houses to snow cones. Local band Backroad Brigade also played a two-hour show.

Then, when the sun went down over the zombie-infested woods, the Hunt began. Parents and children alike got to ride on one of the two Zombie Assault Trailers and hunt down the zombies.

The actor groups who play the zombies (dressed in padded gear and zombie paintball helmets) are all charitable organizations to whom Clarksville Zombie Hunters will be making a donation for their work. Part of each hayride ticket will go to those charities.

For more information, visit the Clarksville Zombie Hunters website.

Photos submitted by Clarksville Zombie Hunters