Sarah (majorXpsycho)

The Haunted Mansion received Haunted Wisconsin’s “Visitors Choice” for 2016 and I had to personally verify this prestigious award! First of all, if you haven’t been to The Haunted Mansion in over 3 years, you have to go back, it is NOT the same haunt! Although it is not located in a heavily populated area, the Haunted Mansion rivals some of the largest commercial haunts in WI! The three things that really stand out to me regarding the Haunted Mansion are 1) The Length – much longer than most haunted attractions. 2) The innovative use of props and scenes – there are things you see at the Haunted Mansion that you will not get anywhere else. 3) The Fun – associating “fun” with “terror” seems like a contradicting mix, but I felt like a kid in a horror story.

We attended on a very rainy/wet opening night. I expected a lot of “hiccups”, but to my surprise it was as if they had been open for weeks! The rain was a bit of a bummer, but the best part was the line was very short. We started on the Haunted Trail, which seems to have doubled in length. The trail reminds me of those horror movies where the individuals are trying to hide from the nightmare waiting for them in a cornfield. You are busy trying to find your way, but there are ghouls and evil above and below. Definitely a lot of screams throughout the trail (and most from a 46 year old male)!! The trail has some major unexpected twists and you may find the ground carries its own surprises. We were on the trail for almost 20 minutes.

The next stop, on to the Zombus! It was great to get out of the rain and what seemed like a typical bus ride quickly revealed horrors inside. The bus drops you off at what I will refer to as the “entertainment” district. You receive a number … NO STANDING IN A LONG BORING LINE. You can walk around, try out the zombie shooting range, enjoy snacks, bonfires, music videos and burial simulator all while watching for your number to be called. Our group was escorted inside ALONE … no pesky groups to deal with while navigating the house. As seasoned attraction goers know, nothing KILLS the experience more than being crammed in with a bunch of annoying unfamiliar faces.

Once inside the first room, we knew we were in for a terrifying experience. You need to be strong and face your fears or you are not going to get out of this one! As someone who does not scare easy and attends more haunted attractions than I will ever admit, there is no way to prepare for the obstacles and horrors inside the Haunted Mansion. Think animatronics (animated huge props that come at you) are only for “big city” haunted attractions? Think again!! I usually dislike a lot of animatronics, but at the Haunted Mansion, they were used so dangerously (in a good way) that they only added to the tremendous amounts of horror inside.

In summary, if you are looking for a haunted attraction that lasts more than an hour and pushes the boundaries of fear, then the Haunted Mansion should be on your list! I would have to agree with the “Visitors Choice” and list the Haunted Mansion as one as my favorite in Wisconsin!

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Terror on the Fox continues to be one of the most popular haunted attractions in Northeast Wisconsin. If you have not seen the terrifying promotional videos, then I am certain you do not have a pulse. But … does Terror on the Fox live up to its hype? In my opinion … yes! I attended on a sweltering opening weekend and Terror on the Fox delivered an outstanding performance. They are constantly seeking new ways to make their attraction better and consistently making changes that keep even the most seasoned attendees on their toes. There are three things that stand out to me when thinking of Terror on the Fox: 1) The fact that they are located at a National Railroad museum and include a double Decker haunted passenger train ride. 2) The amount of collected gruesome décor that makes this a haunt that would be frightening even with the lights on. 3) The dedication and passion for fear displayed by their “ghouls”.

There was a pretty significant line when we arrived, so I recommend purchasing your tickets online in advance and splurge for the VIP as it is worth it! We walked right up to the wait for the train ride (which is semi covered) and patiently waited for the skull ridden train to arrive. There is music and a large screen to help build the anticipation while you wait. Once aboard, a small strobe light and fog filled the cabin as you hear screams from those above or below you. The ghouls are not your typical white paint (looks like your mom did your makeup) ghouls … they are professionally created creatures that are never caught out of character.

Once off the train, you arrive at the Slaughter House and unlike some of its “counterparts”, you DO NOT have to pay separately for each attraction! Our small group of 4 were allowed in “alone” which is a major plus when wanting the full effect and attention of every horror that waits around the corner. The Slaughter House reminds me of the old civil war era Slaughter Pen Farm in Fredericksburg, VA. There are no dark corners or long blank hallways, they WANT you to see the horror they have created. The ghouls are not afraid to show themselves at the most unexpected times and this Slaughter house is full of them!

Our last destination was Blackthorne Manor, the staple haunted house at Terror on the Fox. Every year I think I know exactly what to expect when going through Blackthorne Manor, but every inch inside and out are so carefully mastered that it is impossible to see everything. Our time in Blackthorne Manor was shorter than expected, but I would rather have a shorter, high quality haunted house, than one that is extended simply by adding a bunch of long dark hallways. There is NO dead space and before you can even grasp what that was that tried to attack you in the previous room, you are in the grasp of another horrifying scene. I have to give a shout out to the ghouls, as it was a sweltering “fall” night and they never once came out of character and filled the house with horror.

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