Ratings Legend

Sandyland Acres: Petersburg, KY (NKY)

Haunted Hayride

Gus
This haunt borrows heavily from horror movies: Halloween, Jeepers Creepers etc., The hayride winds through the woods and stops at each scene allowing the actors to climb up on the wagon to glare at you menacingly. A few girls in our group got so scared they were curled up in the fetal position and many kids were hiding under blankets. This haunt was worth the trip!

Todd
If you want something different, Sandyland Acres is for you. The haunted hayride makes everything feel more like an interactive ride than a traditional haunt. A tractor pulls you through large fields staged with various scenes. My favorite was Camp Crystal Lake where not only we were visited by the Friday the 13th: Part II era Jason Vorhees but his mother as well (head intact).

At each station an actor will board the wagon to threaten the riders, pacing up and down the center aisle between the bails of hay acting as seats. Other actors will jump on the cart from the sides. We also found ourselves chased by numerous vehicles, adding the element of suspense.

Overall, the ride wasn;t the most scary haunt out there but surely entertaining never-the-less. There’s a lot of potential for the hayride to develop more and more each year and it will be fun to watch it grow.

Frightmaster
Sandyland Acres haunted hayride is still one of the best outdoor haunts in the tri-state hands down! Every year Gene and Brenda Webb live, eat and breath this haunted attraction for about 8 months, designing and building their own animatronics, changing scenery and coming up with more ways to terrify and entertain their customers. This year was one of the best yet! The beloved hillbillies are back along with some new scenes that are right out of the movies. There are enough dark areas during the 25 min long ride to keep you constantly looking around to see who will jump out next. This haunt has everything you expect in an outdoor hayride and more! We actually had people on our ride so terrified that they were on the floor curled up in a fetal position screaming! It’s one hell of a ride! Come and see if you dare but bring a friend!

Farmers Revenge

Gus
After the hayride, was a small but well executed haunted barn. Most notable were the fake dead end, excellent Hellraiser scene and a pitch black area where you have to feel your way around on the walls. I’m a big fan of pitch black areas like this, I just wish the haunted barn was longer.

Todd
This indoor haunt feels more like an added bonus to the primary attraction, the haunted hayride. It’s fairly short and actors were fairly sparse within. It did not have a consistent theme which I personally would have like to see since this resides on an authentic farm. I found myself in various, unrelated areas – first a well-decorated creepy kitchen and then later in a scene from Hellraiser (which admittedly was well done!). Towards the end we met a lone clown right before entering a vortex tunnel at the end of the haunt.

One amusing aspect of this haunt was an outdoor TV showing a static night vision camera focused on the darkest part of this haunt. This allowed waiting crowds to witness the scares inflicted on those within.

Overall I found this inside haunt to be a little disappointing but I surely see some promise that better things are sure to come.

Frightmaster
This indoor haunt is a fun and at the same time scary addition to the Sandyland location and adds a different dimension to your visit. It’s located in a large barn and has been extended this year to include a rolling tunnel and some creepy scenes as well. With the longer haunt time and the addition of more actors this year, this haunt has improved significantly and is really coming into the running with other professional indoor haunts around the area. There is a torture room with a hidden door, snake room where you are being attacked by hanging hissing snakes, slamming windows, freaky fuzzy walls, even a head on a platter for dinner!
I would like to see this haunt continue to expand next year and maybe introduce a central theme throughout the haunt. Gene and Brenda have an excellent sense of what it takes to scare people (as shown by their outdoor haunt). I’m confident that they can make this indoor haunt grow into the caliber of haunt that is as good or even better than the hayride. Overall, an excellent haunt and tons of fun to go through!!!

Overall

Gus
Definitely worth the trip. It was a blast. Don’t forget to get some caramel apple popcorn!

Todd
Good for a haunt you can enjoy with the family. The indoor haunt may be too intense for younger children.

Frightmaster
This is the 8th year for the Sandyland Acres haunt and it has grown from a little known haunted hayride through a cornfield in Northern Kentucky to a major Halloween attraction in the tri-state area. Every year the hayride gets longer and more actors and scenes are added. One of the things we love about this haunt is that every year it changes. There are bigger, more expensive haunts out there that have million dollar budgets but for the most part they are the same year after year. Sandyland is like a living, breathing creature. It is constantly morphing into something larger, more terrifying than last year. You never know what’s around the next bend in the spooky road ahead or around the next corner in the old dark barn! Terror in the truest sense is about the unknown. Other haunts try using loud noises or “shock value” in some scenes to make you jump. Gene and Brenda use the dark to their fullest advantage and add in scenes from your worst nightmares and professional grade actors to not just startle you but to make you scream until you are breathless! If you want to go to the one haunt this year that gives you the most scream for the buck – make it Sandyland Acres!!!!

Overall score: 3.00 Skulls (Excellent)

Check out our photos from this visit!

Visit their web site at www.sandylandacres.com

Ratings Legend

Land of Illusion Haunted Scream Park: Middletown, OH

Killer Klowns

Todd
This haunt was improved for the better this year. The 3D blacklight novelty was abandoned for a darker haunt. From past reviews, you know I’m pretty critical of clown haunts because rarely are they executed in a macabre manner.

The blacklight paint is still present but there are no blacklights making it standout which was a nice welcome. It felt like some length was added as well. The actors still seemed a bit sparse throughout but in the darker environment I did get more of the “is this a dummy or a person” feel this year.

After talking with the owner it sounds like we have something interesting to look forward to next year in this haunt but I was happy to find it was headed in the right direction already.

If you’re terrified of clowns, you’ll still want to stay away.

Tammy
This was a fun haunt; my favorite part was the black and white room where there was an actor that was dressed to blend in with the wall – good scare factor. There was a room with a large “spinning circle” May be neat to actually have an actor on that prop. Adding some more actors would add to the scare factor as well.

Andy
Killer Klowns is a really fun haunt. I liked the guy in the beginning with donkey and I really liked all the art work and paintings on the walls. I also thought the length, the fenced in area , and the tunnels that were spinning were good as well.

Gus
Killer Klowns has been revamped since my last visit to land of illusion. It seems longer and the 3D glasses are gone. They have added a lot more props and scenes that help fill the space better, it seemed too open before. Be sure to check out this carnival gone bad.

Frightmaster
Killer Klowns was greatly improved over last year in both the length and the scare factor. The haunt is much darker and it seems that they have gotten away from the cute, clowns in 3D and more towards the evil, creepy clowns with sharp teeth that come at you in the dark. It could use a few more actors but the ones that are there do a great job. Excellent haunt.

Dr. Psycho’s Haunted Estate

Todd
This haunt is definitely one of the top 2 in the park. It weaves between indoors and outdoors and is plenty long enough. Inside it’s a feng shui nightmare which creates an unnerving vibe where you never know what to expect around the corner.

There are some notable cast members within that are iconic to the park in my opinion. The button-eyed dolly girl is hard to forget nor is the guy I refer to as “moonshine guy”. You can’t miss him with his dirty flannel shirts and bandaged head. He’s always carrying a jug of some sort with him and you’re likely to run into him multiple times throughout the path. He gets around!

There were some extremely talented screamers in this haunt as well. A few female “victims” were really belting it out for us so loudly that I can’t imagine how they have any voice left at the end of the night.

Between the vile props, dark and creepy decor and the memorable actors, Dr. Psycho’s Haunted Estate is a staple of Land of Illusion

Tammy
Lots of great animatronics! My favorite part is the actor waiting for you outside the exit – he is great!! Liked the room where the girl was getting her “face removed”

Andy
Dr.psycho’s haunted estate is probably my favorite haunt at Land of Illusions! I enjoyed the short film at the beginning that uses air as a effect . The one thing that stuck out the most was the guy sawing off the girls face! Loved it. That was something I have never seen and thought it rocked! The animatronics out side were great as well.

Gus
In my opinion, this haunt has the best actors at the Land of Illusion. They go above and beyond. They jump out from all angles and there is one girl that has the very best bone chilling scream you’ve ever heard. This is just very well be my favorite.

Frightmaster
I really liked this haunt because it was more on the line of an old fashioned creepy, well detailed spooky haunted house. The theme stayed the same pretty much throughout the haunt and the creepy characters really added to the scare factor, whispering in your ear and getting all in your space as you walked through.

Temple of Terror

Todd
The biggest deliverer of fear within the Temple of Terror is the dark. There are a lot of dark, narrow corridors in this haunt that are crowded with both actors and props. The walls are mostly lined with coffins that may or may not contain an actor. The lighting is dim enough that you wont know until you’re right next to one.

There are a number of memorable props and environments that make this haunt unique. It’s setting disallows the actors from doing much more than spooking you but if the ambiance alone is enough to unnerve you.

Tammy
This is one of my favorite haunts! One of my favorite spots was the moss man actor!

Andy
Awesome effects! The floor moving in the very beginning is super intense! Really liked the animatronics, water section with the bridge, and the camo moss man! Great haunt tons of good scare factor!

Gus
Every time I go through this haunt, I want to wear a fedora and carry a whip like Indiana Jones. This haunt has everything a tomb raider expects, rickety elevators and rope bridges, giant tomb monsters, lush jungles and plenty of booby traps. Don’t let the humble facade fool you, this is a great haunt.

Frightmaster
This haunt was pretty much the same as last year with the addition of a few new animatronics. The theme is the same all the way through – you feel as if you have been buried in an old pyramid among the rotting bones and very lively mummies stalking the place. The animatronics are amazing but most of the haunt is too well lit to be scary. They could also use a few more live actors to raise the scare factor. It’s still a fun haunt and gets better every year.

Haunted Trail

Todd
If I had the ability to give the length an extra point, I would. This trail is LONG. Despite the half hour or more it may take for you to walk through it, it never feels monotonous. The scenery and theme changes frequently so there’s always something new to keep you interested.

This is one of my 2 favorite haunts in the park. I tend to pick this one for the #1 rank for the length and the chainsaws. One section towards the end can be mega-chainsaw-chaos. I’ve seen times there are 4-5 chainsaws swinging around a group relentlessly. It’s amusing to watch.

Not many haunts have the capacity or land to offer a haunted trail like this, at least in addition to other haunts on the same property. This is a must-see.

Tammy
The length of this trail is great! Lots of great props and lots of them!! I feel like everything is very detailed. I Like walking thru the bus – one actor that totally stands out is when you are headed into the school room there appears to be an article of clothing hanging on a hook, however, there is an actual person in the clothing item and has it timed perfectly for a great scare. I liked that the trail was a bit more lit up this year – last year I remember it being very dark in certain spots – this year much better.

Andy
The length of the haunted trail is awesome! It covers a ton of scare factors! The buses standing up are super cool along with walking through the bus. That was my favorite section.

Gus
Bring your hiking boots! This is one long haunt. Just when you think its over there is a whole other theme kicking off. The trail alone is worth the price of admission, but the fact that you can go through this or any of the other haunts as many times as you want is what sets Land of Illusion apart. There are some subtle changes to the trail this year. I didn’t hit my head in the cave this year, and that was very welcome.

Voodoo Bayou Shanty

Todd
This is honestly the only haunt in which I’ve had a crossbow aimed at my head by a man informing me I cannot date his sister because she is reserved for him. Yep, Middletown’s favorite back-wood folk are found inside the Voodoo Bayou Shanty.

The theme mostly carries the disheveled homestead look throughout. My personal favorite area area are the cramped, narrow, zig-zagging walkways in which chainsaw men take full advantage to pursue victims. The space is so confined there’s nowhere to go. It’s fantastic!

Andy
Had a good time in the voodoo bayou. Really thought it was a good seen could have maybe used a few more actors.

Gus
This hillbilly themed haunt assaults all the senses. Have you ever experienced a scary smell?! Actors walk through the line and when they find a group they like they fire their guns off in the air and take them to the front of the line. It will scare the bejezus out of you every time.

Zombie Sniper Patrol

Todd
Land of Illusion continues to make those obsessed with haunted houses feel at home. It’s the most welcoming environment any such venue could possibly have and I think is why it continues to have something special over any other haunt around.

As I stated last year, Land of Illusion is made for haunt fanatics BY haunt fanatics. It’s not over-produced but more experimental and inventive.

Zombie Sniper Patrol is a prime example of this. Land of Illusion has found a way to make a haunt interactive at a whole new level. As you are taken through a wooded path on a converted military truck, you shoot at both live actors and props with about 100 paintball rounds provided to you with your paid admission. You can purchase more paintballs if you find yourself trigger happy.

If you’re paying the price of admission to LOI, this is definitely worth the extra cost to experience. The “soldiers” riding in the truck with you really help keep a theme while you’re shooting away.

This attraction may just be the beginning of a whole new level of haunting that Land of Illusion will be the frontrunner of. Kudos!

Tammy
This was a super fun adventure! Loved loading up on the truck, putting on my safety goggles and firing my paint balls at the zombies! Great added haunt this year. It’s interactive and fun. My only criticism is I would have liked to have seen more actors out to fire my gun at!

Andy
Super good time, super original! That was the most fun I have had at any haunt!

Gus
Fight back against the zombies! Army trucks loaded up with 24 paintball guns drive through the woods to take the undead out before they get you. Real live actors get the pelted paint balls! I was afraid that I would not be able to see my shots in the dark but with day glow paintballs that was not an issue. I found myself wishing there were more actors to shoot and that it was longer, but thats probably because I was having so much fun.

Frightmaster
Who doesn’t love to ride through the dark woods in an army truck shooting paintballs at Zombies??? This experience was amazing and I highly recommend it when you visit Land of Illusion. It was a blast!

Overall

Todd
LOI has a macabre heart to it. I find myself loving it more each time I visit.

Time to go year-round!

Tammy
Truly one of my favorite haunts to review. The overall atmosphere is so fun – the big huge Bon fire, the big screen, the actors performing on the stage and the newly added bar! I loved the big tall Frankenstein and pumpkin head guys – they were great. The entire place is very well organized and everything seems to run very smooth. Not only are you getting great haunts but it’s just fun to hangout at the fire and grab an adult beverage! And the new bathrooms . . . Top notch!

Andy
Super awesome night! The bar is awesome! The facility it’s self is amazing. Loved the characters walking around. A any time some one asks me where a good haunt is I always say “hands down land of illusion”. There is a little bit of everything there!

Gus
Land of Illusion is not really a haunted house. Its a haunted party, complete with bonfire, bar and beautiful bathrooms! There is a stage with music, magic and all sorts of other live acts going all night long. Definitely check this place out, you’ll have a blast and wont want the party to end!

Frightmaster
If you are looking for an entire evening of fun, scares and excitement, look no farther than Land of Illusions. This haunted theme park continues to improve every year and is undeniably one of the best Halloween theme parks in the country! With the addition of the Zombie Sniper Patrol this year, it is definitely a must do! Haunted House Tour highly recommends!!!!

Overall score: 4.40 Skulls (Frightmaster Award Candidate)

Visit their web site at www.landofillusion.com

Ratings Legend

USS Nightmare: Newport, KY

Elisabeth
I was pleasantly surprised by this haunt. I had toured it back in 1998. Needless to say, they have improved it by leaps and bounds. I thought the length was great. It was relatively long and each section was themed with enough to keep one intrigued and looking over their shoulder. I also thought the actors were energized and made the haunt come alive. I was particularly impressed by the clowns. Their interaction was a combination of scary and funny. Overall, I thought I the haunt was excellent.

Teresa
The USS Nightmare was a fun haunt. The actors were professional and did a great job playing their roles. From witty characters with quick comebacks and charming accents, to trickster clowns, to lurching zombies, they put on quite the show. And the haunt location is atmospheric and makes for a good theme. I loved being able to look underneath us and see the river. They should float some bodies or a river monster down there. They also made good use of tricky panels to disorient us. We ended up walking in circles several times while they laughed at us, only to realize now there was a new path that wasn’t open before. I had a great time laughing at myself. Definitely not the scariest place ever, but the length, fun actors, and riverboat ambiance make this a solid haunt in my opinion.

Gus
Any respectable haunted house aficionado in Cincinnati should have USS Nightmare on their list. The fact that it takes place on a riverboat makes it interesting, but wait until you see what they do inside. While in years past the theme has been very consistently mad ship’s captain on the ship of the damned, this year things have been switched up a bit to include a foresty section, a vampire lair (complete with bat cave) and probably the best clown section I’ve seen in a while. Even though these sections take away a bit from the main theme, they are executed surprisingly well in such a small space. The length is also unexpected as you loop through the boat several times. Don’t forget your group photo on the way out! Lots of fun!

Todd
The USS Nightmare is the most unique venue for a haunt you’ll find anywhere around the tri-state area. It’s not a haunted HOUSE, not a haunted TRAIL, it’s a big haunted BOAT and a sinister looking one at that.

Observing it from the shore of the Ohio River is a spectacle in itself. The boat shows visible damage, an aged exterior and boarded up windows that immediately leave you guessing what may be awaiting you within. This thing just looks haunted from the outside. Let’s put it this way, take away the exterior lighting, ticket booth and other attraction elements and you’d be a lot less likely to walk aboard.

My favorite aspect of this haunt is the boat itself. It’s delightful (from a haunt-lover’s perspective) to see how the haunt has been built around the boat’s original interior. Many haunts pay top dollar to make something feel authentic. The USS Nightmare has no need to do so, it’s the real deal. Going in I suspected it to be very cramped but found that it felt just right. It’s not open and spacious – this would feel much too safe. However, it doesn’t feel as close quartered as I suspected, being on a boat and all. In fact, if it weren’t for the original interior so well utilized, there are times you could forget that you’re on a boat all together.

In addition to the authentic details utilized, I was very impressed with the quality of the added environments. I immediately noticed that the crypt area was constructed with real stone. Every other haunt I’ve been through uses plaster, vacuum molded plastic, etc.. This is a great example of the high quality you can expect from the USS Nightmare. Details count and they are spared at no expense.

I also very much liked that three levels of the boat were used, particularly in the areas surrounding the enormous animatronic monster. The collapsing bridge at the top level outside the captain’s quarters is a fun added novelty to experience while gazing down the full height of this massive beast.

The actors were great. They all played their roles very well and supported the haunts theme immensely. They did a fantastic job at keeping you involved with the story and exercising their improvisation when needed. This happened at times when our group got too close to another group and they wanted to create some separation. Rather than focusing on constantly jumping out at you (don’t worry, there’s plenty of that), some actors reserve themselves to keeping you engaged in the experience.

One area I’d like to specifically point out is the clown area. FINALLY! A haunt that does clowns right. These clowns are pretty much traditional clowns – the creepiest kind of all. They make no attempts to look particularly monstrous, nor do they look like gothic teenagers wearing extra baggy garb. There was no 3D blacklight environment that was way too bright. There were dark corridors, clowns acting not-quite-right and a maze that I found myself genuinely lost in. As small as this area was, it’s definitely the best take on clowns I’ve seen yet. No overkill here.

Overall, the USS Nightmare is haunt staple worth checking out. Because the attraction resides on a boat, it is entirely unique. The entire theme and setting takes full advantage of this massive craft and it never once feels like a gimmick. The boat and the haunt within are both top notch. I found myself very intrigued by just the boat itself and my only complaint was that I couldn’t spend more time on board exploring.

Frightmaster
The USS NIghtmare is a very unique haunt in that it is actually on an old boat that is really supposed to be haunted. It’s definitely an experience in terror like nothing you have ever seen before. It was raining the night we visited but that definitely didn’t keep the fans and enthusiasts away. The lines started backing up at 7 so get there early unless you go through the “RIP” line.

The boat is old and creepy looking from the outside but once you go inside it gets worse. The overall theme of a haunted boat stays the same year after year but the rooms and scenes change from year to year. This year there were some new rooms added as they opened up a new section of the boat. I loved the clown sequence where they kept telling you not to believe Pogo the clown as you wound around going through the same curtains/doors winding up in the place where you started until you begged the clowns to show you the way out! Very claustrophobic and disorienting but fun! Nice interaction with the visitors here as well.

The old favorites were there again this year – the rat lady and the Captain Mitchell were in attendance along with some new crypt keepers who had a very questionable English accent? They kept the rapport going as they detained you in a hot, creepy, tomb filled room. It seemed like they had a few less actors than last year but it could be because the haunt is getting so big that they have the same number of actors and there is just more space to fill. The actors they have do a great job, though. They could use a bit of entertainment for the people standing in the ticket and queue lines to enter. Maybe some walking Zombies or another Captain Mitchell walking around the lines to heighten the anticipation.

Overall, this haunt still stands as one of the best, most unique haunts in the tri-state and probably in the top 10 in the country. It’s also very long so more scares for the buck.

It’s not Halloween without a visit to the USS Nightmare!! If you haven’t been, go! The Captain is waiting……..and you may even see a few real ghosts while you’re there.

Overall score: 3.60 Skulls (Excellent)

Check out our photos from this visit!

Visit their web site at www.ussnightmare.com

Ratings Legend

The Dent Schoolhouse: Cincinnati, OH (Dent)

Elisabeth
The actors, sets and makeup were wonderful. I really enjoyed going through there and there were some genuine scares. Would definitely go there again.

Teresa
The Dent Schoolhouse is a very atmospheric haunt. Being in an actual old schoolhouse, it is definitely nightmarish. And it is decked out in all kinds of creepy detail in every room. And there are some awesome animatronics. There’s a new one this year that was jaw-dropping. The scare actors are great, but I wish there were more of them. And I was disappointed I couldn’t see the Queen City Slaughter Yard which is new for this year, due to rain. Oh well, it is a good excuse to go back. I was hoping for some serious chainsawing! What I love the most about The Dent though, is hanging around outside and watching the wandering queue line actors sneak up on people, victims running and screaming from the chainsaw, and the Ecto-1 driving up in all its glory, sirens blaring as the Ghostbusters theme music plays over the speakers. Especially creepy this year were two of the queue line entertainers, two girls dressed in old school-girl clothes, offering live worms to incoming “students”. One girl even put them on her face, much to the disgust of those watching. I’ve never seen that at a haunt before. Great fun!

Gus
The Dent Schoolhouse is one of the most fun haunts in the Cincinnati area, hands down. Even before you head in, the plethora of actors outside are entertaining. Our group often finds itself hanging out after going through the haunt, watching the actors preying on new visitors and girls running screaming from grisly chainsaw-wielding psychopaths. Great fun. Another thing that makes Dent so great is they are consistent to their theme. Charlie the janitor has killed a bunch of school kids. The haunt takes you through different highly detailed school themed rooms. The addition of the library was a welcome sight this year, along with the homage to Ghostbusters. It fit in nicely when the Ecto 1 showed up with some local Ghostbusters. The only real criticism is that Dent has become rife with animatronics. I personally find robots much less intimidating than real live actors that can get your face, but maybe thats just me. Overall, this is a great haunt to get you pumped up for the Halloween season.

Todd
Every haunt fanatic in the Tri-State area knows that The Dent Schoolhouse is now considered to be the ultimate haunt within 3+ states of Ohio.

In my mind, I compare The Dent Schoolhouse with Disney World…stay with me here. Anyone who has been to Disney knows that it is the brightest, most polished, high budget amusement park in the world. Does it have the biggest and baddest rides? No, it doesn’t. Other parks like Cedar Point have the top-notch thrill rides. Yet most people who have gone to Disney World find themselves wanting to go back again (and perhaps again and again). For me, it’s because there’s something about Disney Word that provides pure escapism. The themes are so fine tuned that there’s always something to do, to look at and to discover.

The Dent Schoolhouse is my Disney World of haunts. It may not have the most scares or thrills, but it’s an absolute marvel that I will never tire of.

I’ve never seen any other haunts that have the caliber of props, incredible detail and defined theme that The Dent Schoolhouse maintains year after year. Without seeing it with your own eyes, it’s hard to visualize just how much detail there is but the amount of thought and creativity put into each room feels immeasurable.

2 new additions that I noticed this year were animatronic zombies pushing their way through doors in the basement. That’s one of the coolest props I’ve ever seen. The other was the homage to Ghostbusters – the levitating librarian quietly reading in the bookshelf aisle.

One may argue there is an overuse of animatronics. They are liberally placed throughout the entire haunt. Personally, I am not put out by this since it’s just more to look at and experience.

The Dent Schoolhouse has its central character, Charlie, just as Disney has Mickey Mouse (ok I’ll stop with the comparison now). My point is that Charlie IS The Dent Schoolhouse. The Charlie character symbolizes a brand that The Dent Schoolhouse has famously established and engrained itself into haunt culture.

When you’re on the grounds outside the building there is an excited energy that I do not feel at most other haunts. There are always actors walking around to entertain (or scare) you. Just standing around can be amusing. It feels almost like a party, watching someone with a chainsaw chase a poor young girl up the hill or a random actor making someone jump on their way to the ticket line. Big Baby was especially entertaining this year.

The bottom line is that I know I’m going to have a blast when I visit The Dent Schoolhouse both inside and out. If you’re taking any time to visit haunts in the area, this one is an obligatory stop.

Frightmaster
The Dent Haunted Schoolhouse continues to be one of the best haunts in the tri-state area and definitely a favorite! It was a dreary rainy night when we visited but the line to enter snaked back and forth at least seven or eight times proving that this is a haunt worth waiting in line for, even in the rain.

You enter the schoolhouse via the schoolyard where the “detective” aka the infamous Damian Reaper, warns you about the strange things going on in the old schoolhouse and about the kids disappearing. You then are free to enter the building itself. This is the start of a very long journey down into the depths of terror. You see many rooms that seem to be frozen in time from the early 1950’s when the house was really an actual schoolhouse in Dent. There are many, many animatronics in the haunt, more than I have ever seen in any other haunt. So many in fact that I was starting to wonder if all of the human actors had left the building.

The first third of the haunt takes place on the first floor but then you descend into the basement and that’s where they turn the scare factor up a notch. The old boilers and pipes in the basement brought a sort of Freddy Nightmare on Elm Street atmosphere to the place and it only gets worse as you meet face to face with Charlie the janitor. I really like this character because he is just so creepy and truly makes you believe he could be responsible for the disappearance of the schoolkids without ever saying a word. He just quietly follows you around so you keep looking over your shoulder. He gave me chills and made me want to run out of there!

The haunt is very long and you truly get your money’s worth of screams and surprises. If you’re into cool animatronics, then this is the place for you. Great atmosphere, design, infinitesimal attention to detail in every room, very professional actors, great haunt!!!!

Overall score: 3.60 Skulls (Excellent)

Check out our photos from this visit!

Visit their web site at www.frightsite.com

Ratings Legend

Industrial Terrorplex: Jeffersonville, IN

Industrial Nightmare

Bill
The entire complex was teaming with sounds, smells and noise to keep you jumping. The personalized production of many of the props made this a unique opportunity to give us a real feel of the creators twisted imagination.

Todd
This was the first haunt I’ve been two that had a 2 story tall animatronic. This thing is big and original. The area he lives in is so large that you encounter him twice – once from above and again at the ground level.

This is another haunt where the actors can touch you. They aren’t overly aggressive but some people may not be prepared for that.

Visually this was one of my favorite attractions at the Industrial Terrorplex. It is well themed, portraying an industrial workspace heavily contaminated with toxic materials. Every wall in this entire building is custom made and molded which gives it a very high budget look and feel, like a theme park.

Many of the props within each of the Terrorplex haunts are original and made solely for them. When it comes to the look and feel it could almost pass as a haunter’s amusement park.

Gayle
This haunt had some pretty impressive decor and effects! When the owner claimed we would see things we’ve probably never seen before, he was right. There were bridges, water attractions, light effects and a pseudo ‘swamp’ that were off the charts awesome, not to mention at times disorienting. What I was most impressed by was the originality and creativity in each of these haunts. There was an attention to detail one doesn’t find often…including some pretty impressive animatronics. Warning…you will be grabbed! Of the four, this one was my favorite and definitely up there on the scare meter!!

Andy
Super impressed with the overall workmanship of the haunt. It was obvious that a ton of work went into this. I was a huge fan of the animatronics. Also really liked the water scene!

Gina
Overall, this haunt is amazing. The place is enormous; no problem with length here. Also, the animatronics are INCREDIBLE. There are movie-grade animatronics here that come to life as soon as you step into the room. Amazing.

Gus
I really enjoyed the waist high wading room. That was the first time I had seen it and it was very well executed. The giant rat was awesome as well.

Frightmaster
This haunt has everything! Actors, animatronics, bridges, birth canals, chainsaws, more chainsaws, spraying water, moving walls, and lots and lots of scares. It’s creepy and fun at the same time. The large two story animatronic that sprayed water was amazing! Great haunt, one of the best this year!

Dementions

Bill
The dimensions were all scary, sometimes I would get confused because it didn’t always feel like there was unity, but that being said the actors and scenes were truly terrifying at times, even if there wasn’t always a solid theme.

Todd
In all honesty, Demented blends in with Industrial Nightmare in my mind. After a night full of haunts I find myself unable to distinguish between the two.

At one point an actor fell out of character to halt us momentarily so he could stage his next pop-out further down the hall. If this is an issue, then more actors should be present.

I do however vividly recall a team of chainsaw wielders at the end. This haunt ends with a close-quarters maze that you must navigate. This task is complicated by 2 or 3 guys running around with chainsaws, cutting you off from making turns in the maze. At the very end there is a machine gun cracking in your ear. The sound was deafening and very uncomfortable. Loud noises are great in haunts but causing potential hearing loss is not necessary.

Gayle
Demented is right. This haunt was visually disturbing at times and quite freaky. There was a good deal of creative scenes here, but there were also some apparent broken animatronics. This one also had some relentless actors wielding chainsaws, who didn’t seem satisfied within the confines of merely waving them in the air…these actors gave chase and attacked!! It was incredible!! There were screams throughout and overall…a really good scare!! Loved it.

Andy
My favorite part of this haunt was the maze at the end with the chainsaws, it got really intense. Once again super impressed with all the work they put into the haunt . Amazing that they actually build their own sets!

Gus
Theme felt a little loose but I loved the chainsaw maze. Nothing better than wanting to run but not knowing where to go.

Frightmaster
Demented was like a psycho hospital on steroids! Crazy people coming at you from all corners, screaming, whispering, just all over creeping you out. The haunt keeps you guessing from one room to the next who will jump out at you and if you will make it out. It gave me shivers!

CarnEvil 3D

Bill
Clowns are my kryptonite, I truly hate them and they get under my skin, so this was somewhere I was feeling apprehensive about, but the “clowns” didn’t scare me that much, but I really enjoyed the actors and had a few good scares along the way.

Todd
I’ve never been too impressed with any haunt’s take on clowns. As with others I’ve been to, there is WAY to much emphasis on the 3D aspect of the blacklight paint. It’s a fun novelty but it is entirely overused. The clown actors can barely pass as clowns. Most of them look more like goth teenagers with absurdly baggy clothing. I don’t recall seeing one big foam nose or floppy shoe.

Killer Klowns From Outter Space is my epitome of scary clowns. They’re monstrous and do not look human. Those who are fearful of clowns are truly fearful of traditional clowns. This haunt included neither. It was more of a maze to me. There were times the actor had to tell us which panel was a door so we could move on. Other times the 3D blacklight paint made it challenging to determine what was a step and what was the flat floor. Fun effect but not worth tripping over.

This is certainly the weakest portion of the Terrorplex.

Gayle
I’ve been to many clown-themed haunts before and although this one had some exhibits no others have (a tube slide, for example), it was relatively redundant. The 3-D effects, which at times made it difficult to maneuver throughout, added a nice differing factor in comparison. I did appreciate the shock value in the way some of the actors blended into the walls, only to pop seemingly out of thin air. I felt this one was the least scary, but still entertaining.

Andy
3D!! Super fun haunt. I loved the incorporation of 3D and clowns! I only wish their would have been some more clowns.

Gus
Glow paint, glow paint, glow paint. This was a fun carnival ride, but I found myself smiling and laughing more than jumping or being scared. I will never forget the Frightmaster on a slide.

Frightmaster
Who doesn’t like a good clown scare? This was a definite must see in the TerrorPlex. Very creative use of the circus theme, great actors who interacted with the people in the haunt. It was the most fun I have ever had in a circus themed haunt!

Infected

Bill
This was a wonderful “zombie” inspired haunt, aside from a few of the “props” that were broken, and zombies with tubes and air hissing out of them, it was a great scare. The makeup and actors were creepy, especially the nurses, I don’t want them creeping through the halls if I’m in a hospital bed. The actors were also very engaging and this was my favorite of the four haunts.

Todd
Infected is a traditional zombie haunt backed by a storyline of attempted containment by the military. Naturally, everything goes wrong. I appreciated the facades in this one the most. I particularly recall a short maze area with zombie nurses. In front there are house facades that really support the theme. Again, it all goes back to how much of a theme park quality this attraction has.

Gayle
I liked this one. I rather enjoyed the TV News Report in the beginning detailing the ‘outbreak’ the guests are about to experience. It made for a great start as guests embark on their journey through carnage and chaos. Plenty of good shocks here and gruesome scenes. Again, creativity abounds and the guest won’t be disappointed.

Andy
There was one particular part of this haunt that freaked me out and I was sold! The female zombie in the hospital scene nailed it! She did a awesome job. Loved the zombies! Awesome setting.

Frightmaster
This was a bit shorter of a haunt but very effective in the scare department. The theme is zombie which is very popular this year but it is done up a creepy, masochistically themed way. I just wanted to escape from this haunt but couldn’t find my way out of the maze! Very well done!

Overall

Frightmaster
The Industrial TerrorPlex was a real treat for us. It’s been a few years since we have reviewed this location and a lot has changed definitely for the better. The haunt has been divided into four parts but each part has its own theme and own style. It is a great value at $28 for all four haunts it takes a full 90 min to get through all four haunts. We highly recommend a visit to this haunt. One of the best of the best haunts in the Louisville area.

Overall score: 3.63 Skulls (Excellent)

Check out our photos from this trip!

Visit their web site at www.industrialterrorplex.com

Ratings Legend

The Devils Attic: Louisville, KY

Bill
The actors, sets and makeup were wonderful. I really enjoyed going through there and there were some genuine scares. Would definitely go there again.

Todd
When we first approached The Devil’s Attic, I thought, “Man..this one is going to be hardcore!” Even as we entered and met the big red man himself, it has this really classic dungeonesque decor.

Every so often the setting and theme changed. We started in Satan’s throne room and then we seemed to be in a bloody hospital ward. It wasn’t until about a third of the way through that I realized we were going through different sections themed after popular horror movies.

This realization came when we entered the “Saw” area. I knew right away what it was when I saw the boar-headed jigsaw luring us into a corridor with multiple numbered door ways. Each opened to a path which either advanced you through the haunt or lead you back to the starting corridor. I’m a HUGE Saw fan and I was disappointed to find a lack of “puzzles”. There isn’t much of a fright factor in a trap-less Saw world.

As we progressed, we experienced other movie shout outs from The Ring, Texas Chainsaw Massacre and more. My personal favorite was the Hellraiser area. At first glace I thought Pinhead was an animatronic but he turned out to be a well costumed actor, quickly accompanied by fellow Cenobites Butternall and Chatterer.

Overall The Devil’s Attic is decent, but to me it felt a little lacking. Since almost every area of it mimics the most iconic of horror movies, it has to be JUST right in every sense. Details count. If you’re trying to make me feel like I’m witnessing Regan’s possession in The Exorcist, throw some green puke on the wall or give her some rotting flesh makeup. If I’m to think I’m on the Sawyer property in Texas Chainsaw, give me a little more than just a small home facade (which didn’t look anything like either version of the films’ home). There’s ample room to hang bedsheets and other laundry for Leatherface to sneak among.

To re-create material that is engrained in every horror fanatic’s mind, it needs to be spot on and although The Devil’s Attic was far from low budget, it failed to make me feel as if I was swept into the movies. The crowd waiting in line shows that this haunt has a strong following and the ambiance inside demonstrated they are capable of something much better.

I’d personally love for the whole thing to be Satan’s domain. There are no rules and the creative threshold is limitless. Perhaps another year.

Gayle
This haunt was pretty darn amazing. The actors were believable and the costumes are impressive and well-done. As a horror-movie fanatic, I loved the themed rooms, which were all very detailed and did its celluloid counterpart justice. I’ve seen other haunts attempt movie themes, but seem to fall short on acting ability and decor. I found the laser illusion at the entrance pretty eerie and Satan himself to be perfectly hellish. If I have one critique it would be a few of the actors were a bit too ‘scripted’ at times, and the actual name of the haunt seems a bit disjointed from its theme. Overall, however, this was a very entertaining and creepy joint! There were some shocking scenes, and many good scares throughout. Great job!!

Andy
I really liked the idea of using the movie theme. They pulled that off very well. I also really liked setting, the building, and what they did with the outside. I would definitely recommend this haunt!

Gina
I was very impressed with this haunt. I really enjoyed the movie themed rooms and the actors were very good! The length was also good, there is nothing worse than a haunt that’s too short, but that was not a problem here. You could tell that these guys really got into their decorations. Great experience!

Gus
The Devils Attic is great for those that are horror movie fans. The theme of a Devil’s playground provides an interesting construct for linking all of the different horror franchises under one roof. The Devils attic starts strong with what appears to be a devil statue, actually being an actor and then remains strong with each of your favorite horror stories each getting their own dedicated room. All the rooms and props are high quality, but I felt that I had too much room to move around inside them. I missed the claustrophobic feeling I normally get in haunts. Actors each had scripts for the various rooms that were appropriate, but they did not stray far from it. There was little improv. Overall, I found this more interesting than scary. Every thing was high quality, but seemed like a toy fresh out of the package. I would recommend it for any horror movie fan so that you can meet some of your favorite characters.

Frightmaster
This 4th year haunt was a true breath of fresh air with haunt designs. Clever, well organized, great costumes and actors, scenes that ran the gamut from funny to terrifying and fantastic special effects. Each room was designed to mimic a movie about hell or the devil with all the gruesome details. I loved the Devil at the beginning of the haunt. He sets the tone for the whole haunt and really sold the character in his performance. Great job, fun haunt, highly recommend a visit!

Overall score: 3.66 Skulls (Excellent)

Check out our photos from this trip!

Visit their web site at www.thedevilsattic.com

Ratings Legend

Haunted Hotel: Louisville, KY

Bill
What a great haunt, I loved the fact that the actors touched you and the theme flowed through the entire attraction. I want to go down there again this weekend to enjoy it over again.

Todd
In recent years, the haunts I’ve expected mediocrity from have turned out to be the best around. Louisville’s Haunted Hotel is now my prime example.

This seemingly small haunt dwells in the walls of a former home on an inconspicuous neighborhood corner. The exterior is so plain that if it weren’t for the neon signs illuminating its name you’d drive right past it, oblivious to the gems within.

We arrived to a small line and a queue that that could never accommodate the long lines of the more familiar haunts. Groups were slow to file through the front door and we began to grow a little impatient waiting. That is, until we entered and saw for ourselves why they isolate the visitors with such distance.

The Haunted Hotel is hands-on, meaning the actors can touch you – and believe me, they will. They won’t just touch you; they will shove you, invade your personal space, push you into a corner making it challenging to move on and that’s just when they’re playing nice. If it were not an entertainment venue in which you waive all liability, this hands-on experience could be classified as assault. I experienced hands wrapped around my throat from someone i couldn’t see while others had knives held to their throat. Yes, this is an experience you’ll pay for and I loved every minute.

The Haunted Hotel has a basic theme that the concierge orates for you when you first enter. Simply put, he cannot leave so neither will you. The premise is delivered almost artistically, while he puts you in a line against the wall and takes his time telling his story. He was fantastic in his delivery and very invasive. We were already being touched and we hadn’t moved more than 15 feet.

The decor itself is what you would expect – various rooms with clutter and a balanced mix of props and actors. It’s very dark, dingy and disheveled which works well. There isn’t an over-abundance of actors either. This leaves you in a state of anticipation as you enter each room since you don’t know what’s coming. When an actor IS there, you know pretty quickly.

The actors carry a level of aggression that I have never seen in a haunt before. They are not timid one bit about getting if your face, shoving you, screaming at you or banging metal pipes against whatever objects will resonate the loudest sound. This is all of course when you can SEE the actors. Some are reserved for the moments when you are engulfed in total darkness.

The length was entirely surprising. The Haunted Hotel has 3 floors including the basement and every square inch is strategically utilized to create raw visuals and provide the necessary opportunities to startle you, the visitor. From the outside, it looks as if the haunt wouldn’t last half as long as it does. As if the house itself wasn’t enough, an exterior at the end has been constructed to provide narrow plywood-walled walkways in which you will be chased and disoriented.

Thia haunt is not for everyone. The touching, the confinement, the sense of invasion – all of this brings a very chaotic environment to a space that doesn’t have a whole lot of open area. It creates an atmosphere of claustrophobia and anxiety that visitors of conventional haunts may not handle well. Most haunted house attendees feel secure in knowing it’s all observational and no actor can touch them. Not only does The Haunted Hotel go out of its way to ensure its actors touch you, it’s done so forcefully that you’ll want to take a shower immediately following.

THIS is the kind of haunt that more people should know about and be attending. We saw substantially longer lines at more commercial haunts that didn’t come close leaving the brutal impressions that The Haunted Hotel left behind.

The Haunted Hotel felt like Louisville’s best kept secret haunt. It’s time to let the skeleton out of the closet.

Gayle
I don’t know where to begin. Upon arrival, the house itself was a rather unassuming old building, save for the chainsaw-wielding lunatics approaching guests as they wait in line to enter. The anticipation builds as waiting guests listen to the blood-curdling screams coming from within and one group after the next “checks in”…but seemingly never “checks out”. As soon as guests enter, they are taken to the elevator which carries them to the 13th floor. The elevator experience ALONE was enough to cause the two men entering prior to our group to flee from the front door, leap the fence surrounding the front lawn and run down the street…leaving the third of their group to his own devices. This is a full-on, in-your-face, intense experience from the word “BELLHOP!” You will be touched, you will be grabbed, you will get wet, you will be shocked and you will be chased all the way out the door….in the absolute BEST way possible. In all my years of visiting haunts, I have NEVER been to one so creepy, so scary, so awesome. The owner and actors have out-done themselves and should be proud of what they’ve created here. The length of the haunt was sufficiently long and unexpected and with every twist and turn I was both impressed and freaked way the heck out! I don’t want to spoil anything for those considering a stay at this hotel…but coming from Cincinnati, this haunt alone was well worth the nearly 2 hour drive, however, I assure you, is NOT for the faint of heart.

Daryl
This was the best haunted house I have ever been to in my 52 years of living.

Andy
This was hands down the best haunt I’ve ever been to! From the start you never knew what was around the next turn. I would have to say that the very beginning was my favorite between the bell hop and the elevator. See you next year!!

Gina
When we were headed to the Haunted Hotel in Louisville, KY, the first thing I was told was that it was a “little house in Kentucky”. This made me wrinkle my nose. A little house? How is a little house going to scare me?

Well, it’s true what they say: big things come in small packages.

The place looks small. It’s so small and unassuming that if it weren’t for the sign in front that reads “Haunted Hotel”, you might just drive right by thinking it was a regular house without knowing you had just passed up this gem. As I stood in the short line waiting to get in, we were entertained by a couple of guys with chainsaws, the smell of gasoline hanging heavy in the air. I watched as three young men were ushered into the “hotel”, the door sliding shut behind them.

Less than five minutes later, two of the young men ran out, yelling they were done, as they jumped the line barricade and crossed the street.

This piqued my interest immediately. Either it was fabricated or this place was really that good.

We entered the hotel and were immediately grabbed and thrown against a wall. We were told that the actors can and would touch you, but I wasn’t prepared for this. Sporadically throughout my venture in the hotel, I was grabbed, touched, smelled, shoved, even caressed as I made my way through this place, shocking to almost every sense. The actors were incredible, not too overbearing and not asleep either, as is the case with other haunts. Every room was fun to look at and be in and never short on scare. The length of the haunt also impressed me. The hotel is much deeper than it appears and as we walked outside I thought we were done. But nope, we were only being chased again, only to go right back into the hotel for more fun.

I absolutely loved this haunt and plan on going back again very soon.

Gus
If not for the line out front, you might drive right past this unassuming haunt thinking this is just a residential home. That would be a huge disservice. The Haunted Hotel is not for the feint of heart. We watched one group go in the front door and after about a minute several of the group came running out the front door. From this moment, I knew this was going to be different haunt. This is a full contact, in your face, type of establishment and you know it right away. Our group was pushed up against the wall as we first entered while the actor searched us for his key to escape the hotel. The full contact really ups the fear factor. I do want to stress that even though the actors could touch you, they did so professionally to creep you out, and add to the effect. This haunt really had it all: full contact, length, highly interactive actors, and environment. When our group finished, several were physically tired and covered in sweat, and others were applauding. For me, this was the highlight of the Louisville tour.

Frightmaster
This haunt was beyond a doubt one of the best haunts we have been to so far this year! They do touch you here so be warned if you are squeamish about being touched this is probably not the haunt for you. They really push the envelope for haunts but what they deliver is a knock your socks off and scare the pants off you haunted house! We were also impressed by the creativity of the rooms, the professionalism of the actors and the overall creepiness of the place. The haunted hotel is much larger on the inside than it appears on the outside as well so you get a very long haunt experience so extra value for the $$. This haunt is intense, scary, terrifying and fun. The elevator room experience gave me nightmares! Make a trip to the Haunted Hotel this year and pray you make it out alive!

Overall score: 4.88 Skulls (Frightmaster Award Candidate!)

Check out our photos from this trip!

Visit their web site at hauntedhotelky.com

Ratings Legend

Kings Island Halloween Haunt: Mason, OH

Delta Delta Die
This was a new haunt at Kings Island this year and was loads of fun to go through. Although not extremely scary, it was more entertaining and comical and definitely worth checking out. The haunt was reminiscent of a college sorority or fraternity gone bad (or worse than usual). The usual characters were present from the couch potato watching TV oblivious to visitors to the drunken girls passed out in the chair, the football players and everything else in between. It was right on with all of the scenes and very creative. The actors were excellent as well.

Oh my God Becky look at her Blood!
She looks like one of those Vaaampires! Ewe. Gross!
Delta Delta Decent – OMG!

Board to Death
This was another new haunt this year and turned out to be our favorite one of all! Not much in the line of scares but very entertaining trying to guess what board game each room was depicting. The scenes were larger than life and the actors were fun and interacted with the reviewers to make it more realistic. We loved the Candyland room and the Battleship room complete with the sound effects of the ship blowing up.

A Haunt entirely themed around board games! The host was a little person with a monocle and a top hat straight out of Monopoly. The deck of Cards was well placed and quietly creepy! A fresh Haunt at King’s island this year that scares the high marks!

Urgent Scare
This particular haunt has really outlived it’s scare. The scenes were very dark and with the fog added, most were hard to even see what was going on. None of the actors interacted with the reviewers at all. Mostly just grunted or groaned or called for help as we walked along. Either get more lighting or don’t use so much fog because most of the scenes were lost in the poor light.

In this haunt you will be grossed out by both sight and smells. Rancid! The length of the haunt was good. The Hospital theme kind of limits the creativity and the lighting was not dark enough.

Club Blood
Club Blood was a bit disappointing this year compared to years past. There were quite a few less actors in the haunt and many areas had no one in them at all. Very sparse scares and not as many vampires as in the past. This one could use some more actors and more scenes. Not my favorite haunt this year.

Too much party. Not enough scare.

Slaughter House
If you like blood, body parts and gore then this is the haunt for you. Plenty of parts – both animal and human, plenty of meat-clever wielding butchers and down home folks wanting to “have you for dinner”. The floor was even sticky with the blood. Gory fun fest for the whole family!

The Slaughter house design provided a lot of good places for startling customers but the actors that night didn’t take full advantage. Also I would suggest scares from above and below.

Graveyard Shift
This was a show and not a haunt so the scare factor would not apply. The show was fun and entertaining with lots of singing and dancing from some very talented young actors. It was a nice change of pace and a much needed rest from the haunts. Would recommend seeing this show if your feet need a break.

Overall
Kings Island always provides a first class, diversified haunt experience and this year was no exception. For the money, it is the best value anywhere around. Go see for yourself!!! They continually provide a fun Halloween experience year after year!

Overall score: 2.33 Skulls (Above Average)

Check out our photos from this trip!

Visit their web site at haunt.visitkingsisland.com

Ratings Legend

Cedar Point Halloweekends: Sandusky, OH

INDOOR Haunts	Haunt Length	Creativity / Unique Ideas	Actors / Professionalism	Scare Factor	Overall Impression
Eden Musee	3	3	3	2	3
Eternity Infirmary	3	3	3	2	3
GA Boeckling’s Eerie Estate	3	4	4	2	3
Zombie High School	3	4	4	2	3

OUTDOOR Haunts	Haunt Length	Creativity / Unique Ideas	Actors / Professionalism	Scare Factor	Overall Impression
Blood on the Bayou	3	2	3	1	2
Corn Stalkers	1	1	3	1	2
Cut Throat Cove	2	1	2	1	2
CarnEvil	1	2	4	2	2
Mechanical Screamworks	1	4	3	0	2
Fear Faire	1	0	1	0	0

Indoor Haunt Comments

Eden Musee
This haunt is hidden away in the back corner of the park, but it is definitely worth finding. This haunt is full of creepy mannequins that you are never quite sure whether they are real or not. This haunt was creepy! This heightens the suspense because you never know which one is going to get you. I don’t know if this haunt was technically longer, or if it was a side effect from scrutinizing all the mannequins to see if they were real or not but this felt like the longest of the indoor attractions at Cedar Point. I found myself walking through wondering (and asking aloud) “Is that real?” I never knew what to expect from one turn to the next and felt the actors portraying mannequins were very well done. The actors really shined here as it takes a lot of discipline to remain frozen long enough to avoid being spotted. From the mannequins to the overall décor and dimly-lit atmosphere, just as I would stare at what I thought was a mannequin…they would startle the bejesus out of me, letting me know they were, in fact, very real. The lighting is well done and just lit enough to keep you guessing throughout. Towards the end you’ll experience some waxwork gone wrong which brings some of the best effects in the park. Great Haunt!

Eternity Infirmary
I knew this was going to be a treat as I stepped up to the haunt. The Hearse outside with the red emergency light flashing welcomes visitors from all around. Makeup here really shines. The door “greeter” has a syringe hanging out of her forehead and appears to have stitches across her neck so realistic, I’m still convinced that this person was seriously injured a short time ago. Torture-porn fans are surely to like this one the most. Some areas display limbless cadavers hanging from walls; some of which are not as stationary as you believe they would be. The “crazy” actors are fairly cliché in their roles; some stare at you, some are tied down, some scream, some get in your face. The actor that stuck out the most to me was an isolated patient who stood behind a backlit window, locked in a room watching us as we passed by. I’ve been to haunts like this before, plenty of slow-walking patients with crazy hair, some holding creepy dolls milling about. Lots of body parts lying around and eerie lighting. I got some pretty good scares throughout. One of the more “unexpected” scares was the bridge that gave the guest the impression it was moving. I actually had to stop “dead” in my tracks to figure out what was going on and gather my bearings. I was almost distracted from this effect while admiring the severed heads that moved back and forth above me. Overall it’s fun.

GA Boeckling’s Eerie Estate
Probably the best of the Cedar Point offerings, the atmosphere of stodgy Estate falling into ruin really helps set the tone. There was always something to look at. One could argue that today this is actually far from conventional since most haunts oversupply blood and gore. This was a haunt for the ambiance. Due to how it is set up, you will have a time getting through it without bumping into a piece of furniture; but it is reminiscent of your grandma’s old house rumored to be haunted, with the guest fumbling around searching for a modicum of light. The actors were very interactive, commenting on the guests and offering quips back and forth. There was an excellent use of the environment to draw your attention over this way so that they can jump out and startle you from the opposite direction. My favorite rooms were the dining room and the piano room. The most interesting little feature about these rooms is the snake-like lighting in the “dining room”. I remember standing there for longer than perhaps I should have, trying to figure out how they managed to cast the shadows of several snakes on the table. This one was definitely worth your while.

Zombie High School
Highly recommended. Cleaver High has been overrun with Zombies! This haunt was another big win for atmosphere. I found the zombie actor at the beginning engaging and entertaining. He played his part VERY well. I also found the décor of the old school complete with desks, chairs, lockers and yes…jock straps…to be very well done. The different staged areas of Zombie High are each themed. There’s the Library, A/V Club, Computer Lab, and Prom, just to name a few. I couldn’t wait to see what was next. One of my favorite details was the recording of the Imperial March playing on hard drives in the Computer Lab. The zombie makeup is very well done and the actors do a good job of staying in character. Most memorable was the big finish. I won’t ruin it here, but I’m sure it will leave an impression on you as well. Overall, this haunt was just as entertaining as it was scary in the very best virus-infected way.

Outdoor Haunt Comments

Blood on the Bayou
The outside haunts are great because there are no lines, but they are more open and harder for the actors to jump out to scare you. This one was particularly wide open, which caused it to be a little less of a haunt than a nature walk through the bayou. Decent theming. It had its number of shanties and voodoo witch doctors but overall the space felt a little underwhelming, and the actors didn’t seem to know what else to do other than get in your face.

Corn Stalkers
This outdoor haunt was the only one that had a line. It was nice and claustrophobic like a corn maze should be, and the actors outfits blended in well with the cornstalks. I did find the rows of cornstalks and hay to have a great aroma…definitely realistic. I also found the lighting and smoke effects to be quite effective as they casted an eerie glow on the stalks. I saw one guest peering around a corner to make sure an actor was not hiding there and never realized that the actor WAS the corner she was peering past, as the next group found out with a shock. Great work by the actors there. Unfortunately, there was very little other variety on this haunt. I would love to see an army of scarecrows or zombie ravens or something else going on here… Maybe throw in a creepy scarecrow on a wooden cross, or a version of Malachi wielding a sickle, a freaky pumpkin-head…

Cut Throat Cove
This was one of the favorite outdoor haunts. Unlike its cousin with the same name at Kings Island, this one actually had boats in it! Cut throat cove does a good job of containing the guests to a small path which helps them from peering ahead too far and spoiling a later surprise. It made it, at times, a bit hard to see, but also made for great opportunities for the actors to walk right up to the guest virtually undetected. The ambiance was creepy, the décor was believable, and the actors did a great job. Good use of a giant animatronic snake head! The cannon blasts were great and welcomed. Overall, it’s what you’d expect from those pesky pirates until the very end when a stationary pair of frontiersmen from another century fire upon you with rifles. I guess they were all out of cannons.

CarnEvil
CarnEvil was another favorite of the outdoor haunts. If you have Caulrophobia you should probably avoid this one altogether. Between the warped soundtrack, sinister decorations among the walkway and well, the hideous clowns, you’ll probably not sleep for days. Traffic was flowing both ways, and it was great to see the setup of people coming the other way about the get scared by the psycho clown that you could see hiding behind a tent. I loved the make-up and costumes on the actors…very creepy, and I rather enjoyed the way they approached the guests causing one to nearly collapse in fear. The carnival callers at either end were witty and done up. I actually went through this one twice because its downfall is the fact the guest doesn’t even realize he’s in the haunt. Surprisingly, I did not know I was inside until about half-way through and decided to turn back and walk through it again to appreciate it in all its twisted CarnEvil glory. This one also had a few places where light was shining in your face, but it was not to the same extreme degree that Cut Throat Cove used – much more appropriate here. My favorite was an evil little clown on a tricycle. People were not expecting something from that angle so it really got them good. I would love to see a little trike-pack roaming this haunt. Horns would be great on those as well.

Mechanical Screamworks
This one was probably the shortest, and least scary of the outdoor attractions, so it’s great for the kids. Don’t let that stop you from walking through, however, as it was pretty cool to see. Steampunk fans rejoice! You’ll love it. This one has some highly detailed and creative props that you’ll probably want to get pictures of. The animatronics were interesting enough to stop and look at, and the laser lighting was beautiful! I was hoping to see the rock golem from the parade hidden in here someplace, but I could not find him. If you’re coming from the front of the park, be sure to make sure you head this way as it does a good job of getting you pumped up to see the rest of the attractions.

Fear Faire
This one was really not worth the time. While there were walls and turns in this attraction, they were all see-through, so there were no real surprises. It was also very empty with the elements that were actually themed spaced few and far between. I saw every one way before I reached them, and there were a small handful of actors to begin with, none of which really did anything but walk around. It did feel as though it was a last minute decision and I literally left feeling I had wasted the 10 minutes it took to walk through the haunt. Honestly, I would either get rid of this one, or really beef it up because the space has some potential, but just fell flat. They do have a very cool dragon at the entrance but it’s safe to say it cost more than the entire production of the haunt itself.

Overall score: 2.5 Skulls (Above Average)

Check out our photos from this trip!

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