Sarah (majorXpsycho)

The House of Bathory made me fear for my life.  I am not referring to the unexpected jump or shriek I make when something catches me off guard.  When I say that it caused me to "fear for my life", I mean that I actually feared for my life!  The haunted attraction industry has become far too commercialized and the focus has led astray from the main goal of actually making you afraid.  Unlike most haunted attractions, the House of Bathory isn't consumed with entertaining  attendee's by adding donut stands and rooms full of miscellaneous ghouls that grunt and growl.  In all honestly, not many of us over the age of 13 really get scared at Haunted Houses anymore.  I would highly recommend NOT attending the House of Bathory if you are under 13!  The House of Bathory also does not spend hours and tons of money working on marketing their attraction.  In fact, I think that they could care less if 2 or 200,000 people attend.  The only thing the House of Bathory cares about, is that you are truly frightened.  Imagine your worst fear, or a time in your life when you were so scared, that death seemed like a far better alternative compared to your current situation.  That, is the feeling you will experience during your time inside the House of Bathory. 

Finding the House of Bathory is difficult, primarily due to the one way street it is located on in downtown Manitowoc.    You will not find HUGE signs or spotlights that light the way, you will need the address.  There are no people standing outside waiting in a long line (similar to past years).  The wait for the House of Bathory has been moved inside, which is a huge relief on a cold or rainy evening such as the night we attended.  During your wait, you can expect to sit down, relax and watch an old fashioned scary movie on a large theater like screen.  It is warm and cozy while you wait, so enjoy the show and catch up with friends.  They wait until each group has completed the entire haunt before sending another through in order to make certain that the actors are prepared for their next victims.  The haunt also plays out like a real horror movie, so it is imperative that there is no overcrowding that might give away the ending.

I do not want to share too many details about the House of Bathory, as I fear it would take away from the plot.  I can tell you, that if you have been to the House of Bathory in the past, or any Dead by Dawn attraction ... this year is even better!  The House of Bathory is a FULL CONTACT haunted attraction.  That means the rule of "they can't touch me" does NOT apply and reminding yourself that they can't hurt you is OUT THE DOOR!  Humans may be harmed during this attraction.  I do not think that referring to the individuals inside as "actors" is fair, because I don't think they are "acting". They are truly twisted individuals, that live year round to divulge and release on you during the Month of October. 

In summary, if you are tired of being disappointed by haunted attractions that entertain more than they frighten you, then go to the House of Bathory.   The House of Bathory is unlike any other typical Haunted House and rephrasing the words of those who attended with me ... "HOLY CRAP (not exactly the word they used) I don't think I could do that again"! Thank you Dead by Dawn for bringing fear back to haunted attractions!

Misery loves company and this haunted attraction is no exception.  Misery Haunted House combines two of my favorite things: a GREAT haunted house and a GREAT cause!  Don’t just go to Misery to be frightened, but go because you are also supporting a great cause at a very reasonable price.  Most haunted attractions in the Fox Valley area are far too swamped and over commercialized.  Misery Haunted House is new enough that they focus on what works and they remain very original.  Don’t wait in ridiculously long lines to see something you may have seen numerous times before.  The ghouls at Misery make certain no one goes “unnoticed” and be prepared to go “solo” at times. 

Getting to Misery can be difficult if you are not familiar with the area, but parking is a breeze once you arrive.  There is a covered waiting area, so you do not need to be concerned with rainy weather ruining your evening.  At $12 a ticket (plus a $2 off coupon if you visit their website) this is one of the most affordable haunted attractions with plenty of fear to offer.  Our wait in line was very brief and there were goodies for those who like a snack while you wait.  The beginning of the haunt forces you to build on your anticipation.  As you wait to go one by one, you can feel the hair on the back of your neck begin to rise.  The screams from your friends who have now left you can be heard in the distance.  Have no fear as you will rejoin again, if you survive without having to run.  Even the smartest haunt attendee can expect to make incorrect decisions and lead your group back into horrors embrace numerous times.  If you do manage to make it to the end, you better run. The total time for this haunt was 19 minutes. 

I have always said in the past, that Green Bay Fear was the “black horse” of all haunted attractions with the potential to be one of the best.  This year, Green Bay Fear is no longer the “black horse”.  Green Bay Fear is the best haunted attraction in Green Bay and one of the best in the entire state of Wisconsin. If you are an avid haunted house attendee or if you are searching for the best haunted attraction in the Green Bay area, you must see what is in store for you at Green Bay Fear.  This is not your typical haunted attraction where you must stand in a boring line for hours only to be disappointed at how brief the actual entertainment portion is.  Green Bay Fear is similar to a haunted “carnival” with the added bonus of an amazing main attraction. 

The location of Green Bay Fear is rather easy.  It is right off of Highway 41, but beware of road construction if you are not from the area.  Parking was fairly easy and well guided, but I did attend early in the evening.  If you have attended Green Bay Fear in the past, expect major changes this year.  Ticket prices are very reasonable at $15, but I always say if you can afford it … go for the added RIP bonus! 

When you enter the “Fear grounds” your senses will be overwhelmed by the amount of things to do.  The feeling I experienced when I first walked in, was that same feeling of excitement and anxiety I would get when I was younger and first arrived at a theme park.  You just don’t know where to start, it is all so exciting and there is so much to see and do.  There is a live band EVERY NIGHT and even if you do not have an RIP pass you can still enjoy the music and see the stage! 

We first made our way to the Zombie paintball.  I have never had the opportunity to shoot paintball before, and I LOVE the idea of being able to waste a real “zombie”.  The set up was great and the zombie was clever, but never the less I nailed him!  After that, we headed straight for some hot cocoa, a cozy bonfire and the live music.  The band was phenomenal and we could have sat there all night listening to them.  There are so many different food and beverage options, I wish I hadn’t eaten supper before I came.  We then moved on to the head toss.  I’m not bragging, but I managed to get each head in (unlike my guest) and won a very cool prize!  We had already spent an hour at Green Bay Fear and hadn’t even began to explore all there is to offer. 

We decided to head for the haunted woods.  You would never know you were in the city because when you are walking through the woods, your senses are so heightened that you must be cautious of all your immediate surroundings.  The ghouls are everywhere and you never have a moment to catch your breath before the next one is chasing you.  We managed to come upon “Psycho” the psychic and opted for a real tarot card reading.  It is an additional charge so make sure to bring cash.  It is a great opportunity to catch your breath and have your fortune read.  I am very skeptical when it comes to psychics, but I must admit this one was so good it was scary!  We were soon out and back into the woods for what seemed an eternity.  Total time through the wood minus the reading was 23 minutes!

Finally, we made our way to the MAIN event.  There are no long, dark hallways used as fillers to increase the length of the haunt.  You literally go from one scene to the next without a moments rest.  The Haunted House is so full of ghouls, creatures and monsters that you must remain attentive at all times.  If you cannot handle being frightened, I recommend burying your head in your friend’s sweatshirt and just pray it will end.  The actors don’t just scream, they contort and move in ways that are clearly not human.   The main attraction was significant in length and took an amazing 28 minutes to complete.  

When you arrive at the Burial Chamber Haunted Complex, it doesn’t take long to realize that this attraction is clearly the most popular haunted attraction in North Eastern Wisconsin.  If you are looking for a guaranteed good time with lots of scares, then you must go to the Burial Chamber Haunted Complex. 

Parking was difficult as the lots were full of fellow “victims” and we were forced to park 4 blocks away.  The overfull lots may be seen as a negative, but in reality, they are just THAT GOOD.  The Burial Chamber Haunted Complex is the largest haunted attraction in Wisconsin and is home to over 125 of the best hand selected actors.  Aside from the main attractions, the Burial Chamber offers a large venue of meals, drinks and souvenirs.  You will have a selection that ranges from “boxers” (for those unlucky ones that may soil theirs) to amazing warm sugar coated donuts.  They wait is outside, so be cautious of rain and expect very long lines due to the popularity.  If you can afford it, I highly recommend a fast pass, it is only $2 more at $30 for three of four attractions and you can skip the long wait. 

There are 4 attractions at the Burial Chamber Haunted Complex and I will go over each separately as they are so different that they require separate reviews.  

Insanity was the first attraction that we entered.  The outside is very professionally done and the ghouls in line make you contemplate if it is possible that what you are about to experience could get any more frightening.  Crowd control inside of the house is very well maintained and you never have to worry about running into another group (unless of course someone from the group ahead of you is running back trying to get out, which did happen in this house).  Insanity is meant to make you doubt yourself and your surroundings.  The actors have no fear and they are certain to put the fear in you.  Hallways will shrink, floors will become unstable, ceilings may drop and your senses will be put to the test.  There is not an inch of this haunt that goes without a single intricate detail.  There are very few animatronics and the house is loaded with some of the best actors.  The animatronics that are in place will have you grasping the wall in order to escape.  The total time through this house was 24 minutes, but it felt more like a mind twisting hour!  If you prefer a haunt that is distinctively mind blowing, then Insanity is the haunt you must visit.

Phobia was the second haunted attraction that we visited.  Phobia is a haunted walk through a very dimly lit woods with several scenes and props professionally placed along the trail.  You must hold tight to those you are with or one of the actors will cease any moment they have to attack.  Phobia is loaded with great actors and has some of the very best of all four attractions.  You can smell the gas from chainsaws as they just barely graze past your limbs.  Phobia this year reminded me of a mix between the classic horror movie “Deliverance” and “Fargo”.  The total trail time was 19 minutes.  I am typically not a fan of haunted woods, but Phobia was so professionally done that I would recommend it as one of the best attractions at the Burial Chamber Haunted Complex.

Adrenaline was the last attraction at the Burial Chamber that we experienced.  After the mind blowing and heart thumping abuse we took from Phobia and Insanity, it is amazing none of us ended up in the ER after facing Adrenaline.  From start to finish, Adrenaline is in your face (literally) nonstop.  You must be certain to wear good shoes as you are guaranteed to jump several times.  I have won many bets taking individuals through Adrenaline as everyone is guaranteed to jump or shriek.  Even your toughest Army vets are sure to gasp and dodge.  The actors do not say much, but they don’t have to because their only jobs are to make sure you are fearing for your life and that you are still alive.  By the time you make it to the end, you will need to stop and use the facilities immediately.  The total haunt took 25 minutes, but at a heart racing pace it can feel like hours.  Imagine skydiving without a parachute … I would imagine that the feeling you have 10 seconds before you hit the ground is similar to what you will experience in Adrenaline.  If you prefer a haunt that offers surprises and in your face scares, then do not miss Adrenaline and make sure to bring friends as it is funny if you make it out ok. 

We did not experience the burial simulator this year, but I have tackled it in the past.  It is a once in a lifetime experience, and it is the only time in your life that you will make it out of a coffin alive.