Pete (dubstyle_2k)

The final stop on my tour of haunts this year was Haunted High presents Dark Carnival. Now in its second season of their new location, Haunted High has completely shed the school gimmick and has chosen to go for more of the straightforward haunted house angle. I hold Haunted High near and dear to my heart. As an educator I absolutely love that this haunt is put on as a fundraiser for the Oconomowoc School District, and as far as I could tell, the volunteers were young, probably students as well. Of the haunts I went to this year, Dark Carnival was the most reasonably priced. Tickets are $15 for regular admission, or you can bypass the line like we did for $23 with a fast pass. If you opt for the regular admission, expect to wait around an hour to enter the haunt, with the fast pass we were in within five minutes. Dark Carnival relies on darkness and misdirection to confuse you, to a fault at times as we went the wrong way a few times and had to circle around once and had to go though a backstage area that completely ruined the illusion. We weren’t the only ones that this happened to, it happened to the people in front of us also. Dark Carnival has some of the most interactive actors in the area! These kids engaged us, from “forcing” us into areas, to squirting me in the face with a water gun, to many other fun frights, these ghouls are a blast! Dark Carnival also has a few terrain effects that make walking more difficult; which is always fun in a haunt! Anything that messes with my equilibrium I’m all for! Dark Carnival also uses a lot of motion activated sensors, so be prepared to be startled! Unfortunately there is one down side to Dark Carnival, and it is that there does seem to be a lack of space. Of the haunts I went to this season, this was the shortest one. With that being said, I still love Haunted High because of the fund raising aspect. I really like the hard work and dedication that the staff and kids put into this haunt, you can tell that they give it their all, and they are all so very nice when you chat with them. Haunted High presents Dark Carnival is a reasonably priced haunt that will deliver giant screams!

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You know, there’s something to be said about the simplicity of a haunted cornfield. A few props, a few people in makeup jumping out at you, maybe some radios piping in some spooky music. Well, you can forget about that when you visit Meadowbrook Haunted Cornfield in West Bend! Meadowbrook has become a staple in my yearly haunting travels for one reason, and one reason only, they do it right! The website boasts that the cornfield sits on 6 acres, and the trail is nearly a mile long.

There are two options when buying tickets here, a general admission ticket, which is $22, with this option you must wait at the bonfire for your group’s numbers to be called and then you can enter the line. For $30 a Speed Pass can be purchased which skips the waiting area and you can head strait for the line. We opted for general admission, it was an unseasonably warm evening on the night we went, and the wait didn’t seem all that bad, plus sitting around a bonfire, not a bad deal! By the time we settled in by the fire, they called our number within minutes, so the fast pass wouldn’t have made a difference for us, but if it is slam packed, that might be an option to consider. The waiting line isn’t very exciting, other than some farm animals to your right that make noises every once in a while. No ghouls’ roaming to hype you up, but the wait was short, so that was sweet.

Once you enter the cornfield, it starts out pretty slow, something you shouldn’t get used too. Soon they hit you hard and loud with animatronics and noises in the night! One of the things that has made Meadowbrook a favorite of mine over the years is their animatronics. They are ahead of the curve, especially when we talk about cornfield haunts, they are fantastic! Scattered throughout the field are several stations or houses that you have to enter. These stations are usually inhabited by ghouls or zombies that will give you a good scare! Unfortunately keeping your own pace comes with its downside. We ran into the group ahead of us rather quickly, but slowed down and let them move up, and then were greeted by a group of apparent speed walkers behind us! We finally let them pass! My advice while in Meadowbrook Haunted Cornfield, take your time and enjoy yourself. As a seasoned vet when it comes to haunts, I always want to try new things, but I always find myself coming back to Meadowbrook, year after year it’s always one of my favorites. I’m continually surprised by what their budget must be, and how much time they must put into this haunt. The dedication the entire staff puts out there amazes me every time I go. Kudos to the owners and all of the staff of Meadowbrook for your hard work and commitment, you guys are amazing!

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No longer the new kid in town, Abandoned Haunted House Complex returns for the 2014 haunt season. Abandoned is two haunts rolled into one, it will take you all of 30 minutes to complete this terror filled attraction. You have two options for tickets at Abandoned, general admission, which is $20, or $30 for a VIP ticket. The VIP area is covered and heated. I opted for this as it was cold and the wait was 2 minutes! The two-minute wait is not typical however, in years past I have waited roughly 30 minutes in the VIP line. If you opt for the General Admission line, expect to wait anywhere from 1-3 hours, depending on the night and time. Abandoned does exactly what you'd expect, they turn out the lights, but that's the only thing that's expected in this haunt! Abandoned hits you with sensory overload, from touch, to scent, sight, to sound!

Ambush
The two haunts are Ambush and Hysteria, the first of which, Ambush, is an in your face, loud at times, experience, with ghouls popping out, complete black outs, blinding lights, and complete unexpected fun!

Hysteria
Hysteria, the second haunt in the complex, features more of the stuff you would expect from a haunt, only amplified by eleven! Abandoned somehow figured out how to take dark rooms and make them seem darker and scarier! This haunt is really where the senses get taken for a ride. You are going to feel, see, smell, and touch things that are unlike anything you've experienced at any haunt before. All of this plus quite a few area of uneven terrain and vibrating floors and walls! Wow, like I said, sensory overload!

When I’m looking for a haunt, this is exactly what I’m looking for. Be prepared to move! This is by far the best haunt in the area. Do yourself a favor, check it out, you wont be disappointed!

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