Asylum Haunted Scream Park – Review (Louisville, KY)

Overall Score – 3.9/5!

(all ratings scored out of 5)

Please see overall comments at the bottom of each section

Darkness Falls

Curb Appeal – 3.9/5
Scare Factor – 3.9/5
Actor Enthusiasm – 4.6/5
Creativity – 4.4/5

Overall – 4.2/5

Donna (The Frightmaster) – Darkness Falls was a very long outdoor haunt (33/4 of a mile) that was one of the most exciting and creepy haunts I have been to in many years.  The trail was just dark enough to give you that feeling of being stalked by who knows what and you never knew what was around the next corner.  The haunt was what you would expect from an outdoor haunt – and more!  Enthusiastic actors, very detailed scenes, eerie lighting, good storyline, even a dark slide to ????  I had a blast!  You feel lost in the woods in the middle of a horror movie with no one to hear you scream!  Loved it!

Teresa – This was so much fun! It is a very LONG trail. All of the scenes looked great, from the cemetery with awesome crypts to the shacks with cannibalistic families. Very good use of lighting spacing, so the trail was plenty dark, but you could always see a light in the distance to walk toward so you didn’t get lost. I liked that it didn’t have animatronics. I enjoy good animatronics, but this made it feel like an old-school haunt that uses more live actors and decorations for its scares. I would definitely do this again!

Todd – Darkness falls is your typical outdoor trail with a few standout areas. As with others, there’s a hillbilly shanty area, a clown area (nice and dark though!), a cemetery, etc.

The areas the pop out though make up for any lackluster sections. The most favorable to me was the power generation station run by a fantastic actor directing each of us to one of two chutes full of human waste or scalding conditions; either of which we would be paid third-world wages for our contributions.

I tend not to ruin surprises but I feel obligated to let readers know that either of these chutes are actual slides you’ll have to navigate. Unfortunately for me, upon landing I sprained BOTH of my ankles. The landing area is well padded. Unfortunately, my feet planted on the surface material while my body carried it’s momentum past them, resulting in pain accompanied by hair raising cracks and snaps. I was able to hobble my way through the rest of the night with tennis ball-sizes ankles. 3 days later, they’re still sore…but improving. POINT IS – be careful on the slides. The ends are VERY low to the ground.

Despite my pain, I still enjoyed myself on the remainder of the trail. The actors as a whole were very energetic. Lighting is generally scarce between major establishments so walking with caution is a requirement. Another notable observation of mine was the lack of animatronics. The scares rely on the actors and overall setting, which works effectively!

There are plenty more gems to be found in Darkness Falls. You’ll have to discover them on your own.

Gayle – This is a pretty interesting haunt!!  I loved the creepy walk through the woods.  Each station was themed and the actors were passionate.  There were some things I experienced in this haunt, I have not experienced in any other.  From the zip-lining ghost, to the slide into the “incinerator”…it was super fun…yet pretty darn scary!

Gus – Darkness Falls is a trail in the woods, which is already creepy enough, but then the creative scenes really take it up a notch. The actors come at you from all angles, even overhead! My favorite scene included a large furnace where the actors where feeding guests to the stove for more power!
Definitely worth a visit.

Bill – I really enjoyed it, my favorite parts were the “incinerator” and the church of the vampire… very creepy and the actors did an amazing job.

Andy – Darkness Falls to me was a very traditional haunt which is why I really enjoyed it. It wasn’t filled with animatronics or anything to over the top. The actors were great and the buildings, designs, and the lay out  of the haunt were done very well. It was pretty lengthy as well. Super good haunt really enjoyed it!!!

Tammy – Outdoor haunted trail that seems to go on forever – long nice hike they the haunted woods.  I like the “old school” feel that this haunt offered.  One if my favorite parts was walking thru the sideways bus.  Lots of props and details and the girl at the entrance talking about snapping turtles was awesome!

Zombie City

Curb Appeal – 4.4/5
Scare Factor – 3.6/5
Actor Enthusiasm – 5/5
Creativity – 5/5

Overall – 4.5/5

Donna (The Frightmaster) – This haunt was designed and built by our good friend from Baxter Avenue Morgue – Joey Arena, who is a true genius in both theater and all things scary.  We had high expectations going in and were NOT disappointed!
This is a haunt like no other and you have to experience it to understand what I mean.
From the very beginning where you are ushered into the reception area of Paragon Blackwood City Research Facility – a nuclear medicine research facility, and meet the friendly receptionist, you know things are not what they appear to be.  The receptionist hands you the first badge (you later find out you have to have this badge to be able to get out of the facility) and ushers you to a viewing room behind a glass window where a doctor is performing experiments on a patient.  The lights go out and something goes wrong with the experiment and the patient escapes….then the nightmare begins….
Joey has created something so new, so fresh, so much fun that it is in a category all by itself.  It’s part haunted house, part outdoor attraction, part zombie hunt, all interactive, incredibly fun and was just the highlight of our night!  We need more haunts like this one.  You feel as if you are actually in the movie and it’s really happening to you.  The actors are so believable, the attention to detail in every scene convinces you that it’s real to the point that I found myself actually thinking I was being chased by real zombies!  Bravo Joey Arena!!!  This haunt is definitely a MUST SEE!!!!

Teresa – I absolutely loved this. Quite a different experience from the typical haunt, where you walk through scenes, feeling like a spectator. These actors involve you in the story. You have to speak to them and they give you instructions and tasks to carry out. And some of them aren’t what they seem. It is really an immersive experience. And while I’m not easily spooked, there was something very unnerving about being near the back of the group in this one, with zombies constantly coming up behind you. I really felt like they might grab me or bite me. This one is a must.

Todd – I would describe Zombie City as an “interactive experience” more than a haunt. There are scares, don’t get me wrong, but its intention is to pull you into an all-encompassing experience with a story.

The premise is something you’re familiar with: a viral outbreak occurs, we result to nuking an entire town and now a privatized organization is cleaning up…or are they?

You first are welcomed to the facility by a receptionist who explains the company’s cause and presents a short video (containing a hint of propaganda) produced solely to convince you of their warranted presence and efforts.

You’re then handed off to a tour guide who takes you by an actual test being conducted on an affected citizen. This is when things go wrong.

You’ll quickly learn the truth about what’s going on and make your way through the town meeting other residents, government officials, contracted scientists, city workers and of course the unfortunate locals who have fallen victim to the zombie-producing plague.

The narrative is HEAVY in zombie city. Each area and actor will have a little bit more of the story to tell. We tested their improvisation and they stayed true to character and story while addressing our questions.

At times you’ll be given key items that you’ll need to keep with you to get past another area further down the way (some contain surprises!).

Make sure you hold on to your security badge…you’re going to need it.

Zombie City is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced at a haunt. It infuses live theatrics into the surprises and experience you get from a haunt to create something refreshing and innovative. This could very well be a new and upcoming trend in haunts, much like we’ve seen with escape rooms in recent years.

If you were to go to Asylum Haunted Scream park for anything, it should be this. Joey Arena, formerly of Baxter Avenue Morgue, deserves mass praise for this endeavor. I can’t wait to see how this experience grows and fosters similar projects in the future.

Gayle – Ok…this one is incredible!  From the moment you are briefed, to the moment you escape is a non-stop interactive ride!  You are literally touring this facility overcome with the infected, but not just walking through…you become part of the story.  You must locate a security badge with which to leave this facility…and along the way, you are engaging with the actors, ducking shots, and even carrying equipment to the lab!  It was unique, different and super fun!  The actors here are well-trained and the story they tell you along the way is believable and exciting.  The attention to detail is evident.  I felt absorbed, terrified, entertained and amused all at the same time!  I look forward to coming back to this one next year!!

Gus – This haunt is totally different from anything I had experienced before. This is a fully interactive, story driven, adventure. While there certainly are scares, the story elements of this really shine. It’s like living out an episode of the Walking Dead (TM). Make sure this one is on your list if you are in Louisville! Search for other survivors, avoid the dead, and be careful who you trust in Zombie City!

Bill – Loved Zombie City… it was so unique, while it wasn’t necessarily scary it was an emotional trip, and I felt part of the story. Great job, we need more haunts where the story carries you through. Great job.

Andy – Zombie City is something that you can tell has had a ton of thought and creativity put into it. I’ve been to quit a few haunts, especially in the last few years, and have never seen one like this.  It was definitely the best acting I’ve seen in any haunt! Really enjoyed interacting with the actors and becoming part of the story!   This haunt was also super lengthy as well. Looking forward to see how the story progresses next year.

Tammy – Looking for something unique and different? This is the haunt for you!  A story, some scare factor and amazing actors!  This has a different twist on your typical haunt – it’s a story-telling theatrical experience unlike anything I’ve ever been thru.  Actors were great!  Setting and story were a lot of fun.  Being interactive and having the task of finding your own security card or you can’t leave is a lot of fun.

Xterminate: Mutant Attack

Curb Appeal – 3.4/5
Scare Factor – 3/5
Actor Enthusiasm – 3.9/5
Creativity – 4/5

Overall – 3.6/5

Todd – Xterminate: Mutant Attack is another interactive attraction at Asylum Haunted Scream Park. It’s also the best “”laser tag”” experience I’ve EVER seen.

The guns used are light guns. Each mutant actor you are targeting wears a sensor which appears to react to the light your gun produces when fired. It also emits a signal that when too close, indicates a wound on your gun.

As the operator, you are responsible for firing and reloading the gun, while dodging the mutants to stay healthy. Although there was sound and vibrations to indicate being attacked, there was no noticeable repercussion for being wounded. Perhaps this would be something neat to include as it would make better sport of the experience.

The playing area is well lit and there are a number of obstacles to navigate while hunting down the diseased actors. They will chase you to a degree – that is, until you shoot them down.

It’s fun! I also cannot get past how good the guns are. They’re solid and very responsive.

To enhance the experience I’d like to see some sort of compared scoring among the groups and as I mentioned before, some sort of penalty for getting too hurt. I think this would drive attendees to get into the experience a little more.

It would also be a little better if the area as a whole were darker. There may be a technical reason it is lit the way it is, but the darkness would add a little more suspense in my opinion.

Overall though – it’s fun and definitely worth checking out.

Gayle – Here’s the thing…normally when touring a haunt, I am terrified.  As I was upon beginning this one…however…I was handed a WEAPON!!  This took a ‘normal’ zombie haunt to an entirely different level.  Your mission…should you choose to accept it…is to save the world by eliminating as many zombies as possible!  This is a laser-crazed maze of pure adrenaline and fun!  I could have easily spent hours in there, and had an absolute laser “blast”!!!  Well done!!!!

Gus – If Zombie City is a tv episode, Xterminate is a video game. You are issued your standard issue pulse rifle and turned loose in town abandoned to the undead. Finally you are not so defenseless as you shoot your way through the town. I recommend going through this one last so that you can get revenge from all the scares you’ve had in the other Asylum attractions!

Bill – What a  great time, running around and shooting zombies that are crawling out of the woodwork like cockroaches. Great fun, and good exercise.

Andy – What a blast! What better way to end the night than to take out a bunch of mutants! We had a absolute blast with this. The set up was awesome and lets face it, anytime you get a gun and get to blast mutants its going to be a great time. The actors did awesome! Once again something different that makes Asylum haunted scream park really stand out.

Tammy – Lots of interaction in this haunt!  You are handed your very own weapon upon entering and instructed on who and how to shoot the mutants.  Walking thru a fun maze, laser shooting the bad guys – fun times!!

Carnivale of Lost Souls

Overall – 3.3/5

Donna (The Frightmaster) – This area of the haunt was more of a sideshow entertainment good to pass the time while waiting in line for the other attractions.  There was a fire breather, and a girl who twirled fire and also a guy swinging around some homemade knives and meat cleavers on a chain who just made me nervous.  There was also supposed to be a contortionist but we didn’t see her perform.  It was fun to watch but with some polishing could be better.

Teresa – The only reason I’m not rating this higher is there isn’t much to it. Having said that, the performers were quite entertaining, and I haven’t seen anything like them at another haunt. It really did lend a side-show feel to the central area. And the wandering actress was absolutely wonderful.

Todd – Carnivale of Souls, while impressive, did not feel big enough to be labeled as a feature attraction of the park.

I give lots of credit to the performers – they all did things I wouldn’t attempt to do, ever. We witnessed fire juggling (on chains), fire breathing and knife juggling (on chains). Each act lasted a few minutes.

To me, the very short show felt more like something you would watch while waiting in line for one of the other attractions. In order to market this as it’s own feature, I think the show should have even more variety, more structure and more content.

What we saw was very impressive, but very small compared to the scale of the other featured areas.

Gayle – I found attraction mesmerizing.  A great way to be entertained as you wait for the other attractions.  I found the entertainers here daring and fascinating!  I would have loved to have seen more entertainers…and perhaps a bonfire as well.  Still…I think a fun and entertaining attraction!!

Gus – The carnival of Lost Souls is not so much a haunt, as it is a show to watch while you stand in line for the other attractions. Feel the heat from fire dancers, fire breathers! You’ll take a step back as they juggle knives. Certainly entertaining, so make sure you get a good spot to watch, I recommend right up front!

Bill – Loved the firebreather, and fire handlers… amazing and they held my attention. Thank you for sharing you daring.

Andy – Enjoyed watching the side show in between haunts. The fire breather was awesome! Keep us entertained, once again something different that you don’t see any where else.

Tammy – Fun entertainment before entering all of the haunts.  Fire breathing, knife tossing, meat cleaver juggling and fire juggling were the acts on stage that night.  Again, very unique and different along with some talented people performing

2 Responses to “Asylum Haunted Scream Park – Review (Louisville, KY)”

1. Diana Monroe says:

   September 30, 2015 at 9:03 am

   can’t find info on going

   Reply
   • webmonster says:

     October 6, 2015 at 5:43 pm

     Here is their webpage. Hope this helps!

     https://www.asylumhaunts.com/

     Reply