Terror on Rural Street Review by HocusPocus (Review Crew)

Please note: this review is for the 2010 season rather than the current season.

Terror on Rural Street

by HocusPocus (Newbie Review Crew Member) after attending on Friday, October 8, 2010 at about 3:30 p.m.

Submitted: Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Fun Factor: Very High Fear Factor: Medium

Review

Looking for the mecca of haunted houses? Look no further than the Hartford/Slinger/Hubertus area for 3 of the states scariest attractions! As they are just a few minute car ride apart, avid haunt fanatics are certain to be foaming at the mouth at the opportunity to frequent these three ghoulish gems.

Arguably the best venue of the 3 is Hartford's Terror on Rural Street. Located right off of Hwy 60 it's very easy to find. The parking lot is well lit and offers a plentiful supply of spots. The waiting area is heated and indoors and offers a wide selection of treats and beverages as well as an occasional spook or two to heighten your anticipation of the terror that's to come.

...and then there's the haunt.

I've attended this haunt with the same group of friends for a number of years now. Traditionally this haunt has been one of our favorites...and this year was no exception. A few of the scares were eerily similar to last year but there are also a few new scares to keep the avid fan of this venue sufficiently satisfied.

The fun and scare ratings indicated on this review reflect the collective feedback I received from everyone in my group.

Favorable Comments from the group included:

** I had a blast interacting with the actors.

** I think that corpse splattered real blood on me!

** played peek-a-boo with a hole in the wall...got the crap scared out of me in return!

** Great attention to detail with the costumes and set design.

** Just when I thought we reached the end there was another room!

** Liked the Vortex...loved the laser room!

Rather than to leave you wondering why Terror on Rural Street didn't receive a perfect score the following comments were made:

** a couple dark hallways had uneven floors...nearly tripped a few times and I'm sure the person behind me would have fell right on top of me.

** too many dark hallways for my taste...not really comfortable with a complete stranger bumping into me from behind.

** Caught up to the group in front of us.

** felt rushed as the group behind us entered the room before the actors in our room were finished.

** I was stuck in the back of my group of 6 the entire time and missed what was going on in a few of the rooms.

Signage / Visibility / Location

Right off the main drag (Hwy 60) in downtown Hartford. Looking for the flashing sign to point you to the parking lot. Great location. An abundance of well lit parking and a warm place to hang out while you wait. The court yard between the waiting area and the entrance really set the tone nicely!

Wait Area / Line Entertainment

A couple 15ft tall ghouls provide entertainment for those choosing to wait outside. A heated waiting area with concessions is also a bonus.

Actors' Performance

We had a lot of fun interacting with the performers. Some may have been a bit young or inexperienced which may explain the pacing issues indicated in the comments above.

Sets Scenes / Props / FX

A nice variety of sets and some pretty descent special effects. For those of you who traditionally checkout a few different haunts every year you'll appreciate a few of the rooms which showcase some creative concepts. Compared to other haunts, a few of the rooms here were relatively quite spacious....a nice perk for those who don't particularly enjoy being squeezed into a room when your grouped with complete strangers.

Length

Not the longest haunt I've toured but at 18 minutes I felt as if I got my money's worth.

Crowd Control

There wasn't much of a crowd when I attended but there were several law enforcement officers present so I'm sure nothing would get out of control if there was one.

Most Memorable Moment

The laser room/hallway. As I was stuck in the back of the group I'm not sure if there was anything in this room to scare you....but the special effect here was sensational.

Summary

As always, this haunt did a solid job of entertaining everyone in our group. A fantastic venue along with a nice variety of sets, creative ideas and solid special effects make this the best haunted venue of the area. It may not have all the bells and whistles to knock everyone's socks off but it will definitely satisfy your thirst for a ghoulishly good time.

View all Terror on Rural Street reviews

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