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Newbie Review Crew Member

Johnny (johnny)

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2008 Reviews

Please note: this review is for the 2008 season rather than the current season.

Terror on Rural Street

by johnny (Newbie Review Crew Member) after attending on Saturday, October 25, 2008 at about 2 p.m.

Submitted: Saturday, October 25, 2008

Fun Factor: Very High Fear Factor: Very High

Review

Terror on Rural Street – worth the money and worth the trip! This is one of my very favorite haunts – every single year! My best goes out to the management of TORS because they make this haunt new and exciting every year!

You will notice new and exciting changes as soon as you arrive, in the form of a new façade at the entrance as well as in the staging area, which is now the entrance to Grandmother’s house. Also, there is a new tale that is told that sets you off on your adventure.

I do not want to spoil anything for you, but I will provide some details. Be sure to keep your eyes open for the organ room – as well as the singing skeleton – “Dead puppies aren’t any fun. . .” I found myself laughing OUTLOUD on that song!

Also, out is the octagon chamber, and in is the “scary-go-round” with the most psychotic, sadistic clowns that you will EVER meet!

Long story short – if you only visit one haunt this year, make sure it is Terror on Rural Street! Not only will you get a GREAT scare and have an AWESOME time, you will also be doing your philanthropical part because you are helping out a non-profit organization.

***NOTE*** this haunt is open on October 31st as well as November 1st! I spoke with management, and they advised me that these days are historically “slow” days in terms of attendance (hello?! That means you don’t wait in line very long!). So, if you want to take advantage of the last days of Halloween as well as avoid some lines, be sure to attend on these days!

Signage / Visibility / Location


I visited Terror on Rural Street on Friday evening, October 6th at around 7:30 PM. The haunt is located in Hartford – it took about 40 minutes to get there from West Allis. It was pretty easy to find using the directions from the website (and on www.hauntedwisconsin.com – shameless plug!) as well as some signage directing you to the haunt. Parking was a BREEZE. There is a recreation center next to the haunt and they also share the parking lot. This time, parking was abundant!

Wait Area / Line Entertainment


The waiting/staging area is one of a kind! Of all of the haunts that I have visited, this wait area is my FAVORITE! Not only is this waiting area HEATED, it also provides you with a CONCESSION stand! The night we visited, it was in the 40’s, so going into a heated waiting area (with a couple of scare-actors entertaining the crowd, I might add!) The costuming was very good and VERY well done. I especially liked the undead creature on the stilts!

The process works like this: purchase your tickets (VERY important!), wait until your number is called, and then enjoy!

Actors' Performance


What can I say; the scare-actors have OUTDONE themselves this year! Every actor kept in character and made it their own! From the beginning to the end of the haunt, every scare-actor had performed amazingly!

Sets Scenes / Props / FX


As with every year, management has tried to make every scene and every set as detailed and as memorable as possible. This year is no exception!
The new designs can be seen from the beginning of your tour, with a new façade as well as a new entrance. “Grandmother” will welcome you to her new house! (You’ll see what I mean!)

Length


It took our group approximately 20 to 25 minutes to go through the haunt.

Crowd Control


Crowd control was very well done. From the security personnel with the talkies, to the presence of the sheriff’s department, everything was more than under control.

Most Memorable Moment


The most memorable moment of this haunt was the behind the scene tour that the manager gave us. Most visitor will not receive this tour, however; I feel it necessary to mention this tour as being “most memorable”. I met with Dick (and colleague of his; I am embarrassed to say I forgot his name so please forgive me!) Dick mentioned that he has worked with haunted houses for the past 21 years, and has been with this haunt from the start. The haunt is run by a non-profit group and is staffed SOLEY by volunteers – approximately 70 on a good night – let me say again, volunteers, including Dick himself.

Workers start on this haunt in April and the passion for details shows.

We must give props to everyone involved, including the local businesses that donate food, materials, etc to the volunteers. All of the revenue generated goes right back to the very haunt that you are visiting, so be sure to visit and visit often!

Summary

For those of you that suffer from coulrophobia (the fear of clowns), I would rate this a 4-clown haunt, meaning there were 4 clowns present. Happy Hauntings! Johnny

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Please note: this review is for the 2008 season rather than the current season.

Mars Haunted House - CLOSED-

by johnny (Newbie Review Crew Member) after attending on Friday, October 3, 2008 at about 5 p.m.

Submitted: Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Fun Factor: Very High Fear Factor: Very High

Review

Mars Haunted House is one of my favorite haunts every year, and this year is no exception!

From the time you walk in, to the time you leave, you will notice many new sets as well as a few old favorites and a NOT so favorite (ahem, bearded lady, ahem!)

Be ready for a “horrific” time on Historic Mitchell Street! (I coined that phrase, thank you!)

Time well-spent, money definitely well-spent – be sure to read the details below!

Signage / Visibility / Location


The location is not hard to find – the directions located on www.hauntedwisconsin.com and the haunt’s website are good. Also, MapQuest is useful as well. It is located on the corner of 8th and Mitchell – look for the line of people who look very anxious and scared to enter this REALLY haunted house! (MWUH HA HA!)

Wait Area / Line Entertainment


Dress appropriately for those chilly October evenings. The wait area is completely outside and is not covered. The evening of this review, the temperature was in the upper 40’s, low 50’s (which is PERFECT haunting weather!).

Mars provides some wicked scare-actors to entertain the people that are in line. Most notable was the wise-cracking clown and his, well; let’s just say “props”.

The managers as well as the security guards are also very friendly and entertaining. Do not be afraid to strike up a conversation with them – they are all very nice people!

Actors' Performance


The “scare-actors” were, in a word AWESOME! Each scare-actor takes his or her role very seriously and owns it! There are two scare-actors that I must mention - the first is the lady that is sitting at a table with a bowl full of eyes – YES EYES – and they were bloody! When she screams at you to “touch them!” um, well – you decide what you want to do (I touched them! EWE!)

The second and MOST memorable scare-actor that I have EVER seen in my many years of visiting haunted houses is BY far the bearded lady. Man, this guy gives me the WILLIES, even NOW as I type this! The worst part of this was when I walked in – he actually remembered me from the previous year!

Sets Scenes / Props / FX


The sets, scenes, and props are, as usual, top-notch, as they are every year. We took some time after our visit to this haunt to speak to the manager (who is a Funeral Director by day!) and he told us that just when they think that they are done with designing a room, they add “this or that” or that someone comes up with an even better idea. Mars is always perfection in progress!

Length


There are numerous rooms in Mars and it took our group about 20 minutes to complete.

Crowd Control


The staff was friendly, courteous, as well as professional and very organized. There are also off-duty police officers staffed, so don’t worry about anything other than having a BLAST!

Most Memorable Moment


Um, HELLO? Hands down, the bearded lady! I still can’t sleep. . .

Summary

For those of you that suffer from coulrophobia (the fear of clowns), I would rate this a 2+-clown haunt, meaning there were 2 clowns present, Happy Hauntings! Johnny

View all Mars Haunted House - CLOSED- reviews

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Please note: this review is for the 2008 season rather than the current season.

Wisconsin Feargrounds

by johnny (Newbie Review Crew Member) after attending on Friday, October 3, 2008 at about 2:30 p.m.

Submitted: Monday, October 13, 2008

Fun Factor: Very High Fear Factor: Very High

Review

So far, this has been the BEST haunt that I have been to - well worth the trip and well worth the money! If you itemize the cost per haunted house (3), it comes out to a bit over $8/house - people, WHERE else can you get a price like that?

Unique, scary, funny - those are three words I am using to summarize my experience.

I really don't want to give very many details away - but each house is unique in its own right. Note - the little lost girl - I don't know how she did it, but that girl was EVERYWHERE! Really freaky, and really AWESOME!

No space was wasted - and no sense left untouched - let's just say that if you are not claustrophobic, you may be after the second house!

BUT - I will give some details on the final haunt - "Freaky's Funhouse". This haunt will attack your visuals, people - in 3D! Everything from the floor to the ceiling is in 3D (as long as you wear the 3D glasses, of course!)

Signage / Visibility / Location



The location is not hard to find – the directions located on www.hauntedwisconsin.com and the haunt’s website are good. Also, MapQuest is useful as well. It is located next to the Waukesha airport. There is a big sign for the Waukesha Expo center – that is the location of Wisconsin Feargrounds. Follow the little signs in the parking lot and look for the group of cars.

Wait Area / Line Entertainment


Dress appropriately for those chilly October evenings. The wait area is semi-outside; it is covered, but open. The evening of this review, the temperature was in the upper 40’s, low 50’s (which is PERFECT haunting weather!). There is also a fog machine running from behind an old hearse – WAY cool effect on an AWESOME October haunt evening.

Actors' Performance


The "scare-actors" were really into character and did not break character at all. You will definitely see some unique characters and not the usual cloaked creatures. Again, the performance was VERY good; my props to the half-dead lady that said I was her favorite, and she was in love with me – hey, don't hate the player; hate the game! Not much else can be said – I was impressed by ALL of the actors' performances. Worth mentioning was also the "Beatlejuice-esque" character, as well as the lost little girl, who seemed to be EVERYWHERE. A bit of advice; if she offers you her dolly, TAKE IT!

Sets Scenes / Props / FX


The scenes and props are professional quality. You can tell that the owner has invested a lot of heart (and money!)

Length


Three haunted houses – took our group well over a half hour to complete.

Crowd Control


The crowd control was very well done. The staff was friendly, courteous, as well as professional and very organized.

Most Memorable Moment


The sheer SIZE and QUALITY of these HAUNTS! Yes, people, I said HAUNTS as in plural! This is, IMHO, the best value for the money this Halloween season! For a mere $25, you get THREE high-quality haunted houses!

Summary

For those of you that suffer from coulrophobia (the fear of clowns), I would rate this a 10+-clown haunt, meaning there were well over 10 clowns present, especially in the final haunt (of the three) "Freaky’s Funhouse" – hello – FUNHOUSE =clowns, people! All in all, this was a very good haunted house, with very good actors and props. Purchase the three haunt pass and enjoy an evening of fun! Happy Hauntings! Johnny

View all Wisconsin Feargrounds reviews

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December 22nd, 2024 10:09 a.m. CST 24.11.01