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2017 Event Reviews


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78 total reviews. Showing 15 of 15 on this page.

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Please note: this review is for the 2017 season rather than the current season.

The Dark Carnival (PERMANENTLY CLOSED)

by kariniepow (Newbie Review Crew Member) after attending on Saturday, October 7, 2017 at about 8:30 p.m.

Fun Factor: Medium Fear Factor: Very High

Review

Where to begin?! This haunt takes you through the carnival of the senses, disorients and terrifies its victims. From the start you feel uneasy as the wind blows the tent around. The skeleton allowing you access was not shy about picking at your fears and the rest of the haunt hit about every fear a person could have. Hold onto your group because the ghosts in the haunt hate odd numbers and did their bidding to dwindle our group from 5 to 4...

This haunt was the best way to kick off haunted house season and will be added to my list of must attends from here on out!

Signage / Visibility / Location


Pay attention and be on the lookout for a small sign, store front display and a large circus style tent hidden off to the side of Wisconsin Ave. It was windy so the sign had fallen over.

Wait Area / Line Entertainment


It was surprisingly dead when we got there, ha! We waited about 15 minutes in line but there was an emergency inside the haunt so that is why it was longer. Thankfully that person is ok!
You enter a circus tent complete with the infamous red balloon. The waiting area is covered with line entertainment. The staff selling the tickets were great! A really cool backdrop lets you take a really eerie selfie!

Actors' Performance


These actors were next level! The skeleton taking tickets was so calm when he told us what was to come and he was right! Each actor kept to their room's theme and never let up.

Sets Scenes / Props / FX


I tend to rush through haunts but promised myself that I would keep my eyes open and take it all in. The Dark Carnival did not disappoint! Every detail down to the moss was executed perfectly.

Length


It took over 20 minutes to get through. Hold your haunted house buddy tight and remember they don't like odd numbers.

Crowd Control


The wonderful Oconomowoc police and EMTs were onsite keeping us safe. The EMTs were needed as someone didn't make it through the whole haunt.

Most Memorable Moment


The smoldering body at the morgue was disgusting and stunk! The ventriloquist dummy made an appearance and watch out for the dragon. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Summary

This haunt incorporates all your nightmares into one spot. It was well run, with excellent actors and high end props to make this a permanent spot on my haunted house tour.

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Please note: this review is for the 2017 season rather than the current season.

Dwelling Of Despair (PERMANENTLY CLOSED)

by KR385 (Newbie Review Crew Member) after attending on Saturday, October 7, 2017 at about 7:30 p.m.

Fun Factor: Medium Fear Factor: Low

Review

The Dwelling of Despair was my fourth haunt of the season, but technically my first haunt in the month of October. For this haunt, this was their opening weekend. We arrived about thirty minutes before they had started selling tickets for the night and the crowd was very light. If you buy tickets online remember to print out the ticket, as their website says, "Dwelling of Despair will not accept digital versions of the receipt". We bought tickets in person and had no issue with this, but keep it in mind. The haunt also offers deals for veterans, which is very cool. Another amazing feature this haunt has, that very few do, is a covered area with concessions available. Do not confuse this concession area with the waiting area, though there are benches and I swear I saw a door that said, "enter". This was not the waiting area by any means, it was a small white tent located just outside of the concession room. Since there was not many patrons, we had a very short wait once we found the actual waiting area.

Before entering the indoor portion of the haunt, there was a short trail through the woods called the Forest of Fear. Very little happened in the woods, but it was a cool feature that adds to the spook factor. We headed up the stairs to the indoor haunt, which were extremely slippery due to the recent rain, where we had to knock on the door to gain entrance. Don't be afraid to knock very loud, because I don't think they heard us knock for the first minute. The interior of the haunt was composed of a vast amount of disconnected scenes. The props, decorations, and animatronics were not very high quality or new, but the scenes were decently put together. The house didn't have too many human actors that we had interacted which is very disappointing to me. Most of the actors we did see had lower quality masks that muffled their voices and broke the illusion of being in another world.

After exiting the indoor haunt there is an awesome looking outdoor maze where the walls appeared to be made out of pallets. Our group of three was disappointingly broken up before we entered the haunt though, where they had decided to separate the women from the men. I would have enjoyed the experience much better if we could have all experienced it together. Making our way through the maze was very entertaining due to the multiple dead ends they had placed in strategical positions. We had to turn to the guidance of an actor, who hilariously had led us to another dead end. The maze was actually my most memorable part of the experience.

All in all, after being at some of the top rated haunts already in the season, the Dwelling of Despair was not one of my favorites, but I do encourage you to go. The haunt is put on by the Hartford Jaycees, which does an awful amount of good for the community. Their prices are in line with the experience you will have and the amount of time that the haunt takes, you will be able to stop at a few other haunts in the same night. If you have never been to a haunt before, or you are going to take some younger individuals through with you, I would definitely recommend the Dwelling of Despair.

Signage / Visibility / Location


The Dwelling of Despair is located off of highway 60 in Slinger, WI. You will not be able to see this haunt from the main road, but the light up signs they had placed will help you find it.

Wait Area / Line Entertainment


The concession area they provide is excellent, but do not confuse it for the waiting area. The waiting area consisted of a tent with benches. There was no line entertainment that you see at many other haunts.

Actors' Performance


The actors were far and few, and remember that this was from my experience on the first weekend of running, your miles may vary. The actors that they did have had low quality masks and makeup and none of them stood out in my memory.

Sets Scenes / Props / FX


The sets were very well put together for the materials and props that they had. The use of low quality animatronics in place of actors breaks the sense of being in another dimension.

Length


From buying our tickets and making our way through the haunt, we were there for about 30-35 minutes. The crowd was very light when we were there, the line may increase as you get closer to Halloween.

Crowd Control


The crowd was very light and we never ran into another group going through the house.

Most Memorable Moment


The outdoor maze at the end of the haunt was by far my favorite part of this haunt, and one of the best mazes that I have been to!

Summary

I would recommend attending the Dwelling of Despair to support the surrounding community. The haunt would be great for a younger crowd, or ones who cannot handle some of the more intense haunts. I would definitely recommend this haunt if you are planning on making a trip to some other haunts in the area. You will get lost in the maze!

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Please note: this review is for the 2017 season rather than the current season.

Splatterhaus Presents - HELLWORLD (PERMANENTLY CLOSED)

by hex_on_you (Newbie Review Crew Member) after attending on Friday, October 6, 2017 at about 7:30 p.m.

Fun Factor: High Fear Factor: High

Review

Add Splatterhaus to your list of haunts to visit this Halloween season! Their high tech animatronics mixed with live actors will keep you on your toes and keep even veteran thrill seekers coming back for more!

The haunt is located in Sheboygan and is easy to find, not far from highway 43. The waiting area, while it is all outside (which wasn't the best for a rainy night!) was well lit and had plenty of parking.

While this is the shortest haunt that I have been through this season, they made use of your time and jam packed it with scares and effects that are sure to haunt your dreams! Some of the effects are interactive and move in your path of travel--which is great and keeps you questioning what will come next! For the $10 price tag--it was well worth the trip and money to visit!

Signage / Visibility / Location


This was my first time visiting Splatterhaus and it was easy to find! They had signs directing you where to go, and once you're in the parking lot its well lit and easy to see where to find your tickets and get in line. I drove from Green Bay, and some friends met me from near Milwaukee and we both had an easy time finding the haunt!

Wait Area / Line Entertainment


The waiting area is all outdoors, and besides hearing the screams of the house and some animated entertainment on the main attraction, there wasn't any outdoor entertainment while we were waiting. We didn't have to wait too long--which was good because it was raining!

Actors' Performance


The actors inside the house were great. They were committed to their role and did a great job staying in character! There weren't many live actors inside the haunt--but the ones that were were great!

Sets Scenes / Props / FX


The scenes and effects in the haunt were excellent--each scene was broken up by dark hallways with hidden scares, and they had excellent effects in each room that were interactive. Splatterhaus is a modern haunt with a great mix of animatronics and live scares. It takes a lot to scare me in a haunt--and I had multiple jump scares!

Length


The haunt was the shortest of the haunts I have been to this season--it took us maybe 10-15 minutes to get through the entire haunt. Its located in four semi trailers--which you would never know once you're inside! The haunt wasn't long--but they made use of the time you were in the haunt and jam packed it with scares! Splatterhaus is also paced very well--they kept small groups and we never caught up to the group ahead of us.

Crowd Control


It was a rainy night and wasn't very busy, but the wait line was set up for easy crowd control. They did a great job of tracking our groups and tickets and were willing to take pictures of us for us while we were waiting in line!

Most Memorable Moment


The most memorable moment was when I thought an effect at the end of a hallway would give way to a door...but it moved at me instead! I loved that this house wasn't predictable and kept me on my toes!

Summary

Great job Splatterhaus! This was my first visit, but it definitely won't be my last. The attraction is short, but is jam packed with high tech effects and scares that you will remember! Our group exited the house in laughter at how much fun we had in such a short period of time! Keep up the great work--I can't wait to see what the future has in store for your haunt! Happy Haunting!

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Please note: this review is for the 2017 season rather than the current season.

Dominion of Terror

by PaigeBerrier (Junior Review Crew Member) after attending on Saturday, October 7, 2017 at about 9 p.m.

Fun Factor: Very High Fear Factor: Very High

Review

I LOVE this haunt – last year was my first time going, and I ended up going three times! I was so excited to go on Saturday for my first time of the season – and I know it won’t be the last! DOT is truly an amazing haunt – fantastic location, great price, nice and long, but best of all, VERY SCARY! My partner and I went, alone, on Saturday night, during the opening weekend. We waited for about 20 – 30 minutes with general admission tickets, enjoyed a beverage in line as well as the little store they cleverly have set up in the area while you wait. Once inside, we were given the rules in a very creative movie format, and then we were off!

Dominion of Terror is a multi-level, winding haunt that will have you crouching, crawling, descending stairs down to a creepy basement, and walking through a movie set, scary kid’s rooms, a less-than-peaceful nursing home, and so many more scenes. We experienced a TON of well-timed jump scares, and we though the actors had amazing skills of “misdirection” – several times we were distracted by props/scenery, only to be scared moments later. The quality of the “sets”, the rooms themselves, was so detailed and intricate; each room truly had its own theme and they used lights, videos, mannequins, and all sorts of other props to scare.

My absolute favorite thing about DOT, however, is the fact that from last season (even in April of this past year), everything was completely different, both in the content of each individual room and the actual layout of the haunt. Every single room had changed! We were so impressed! Such a fantastic and creative haunt full of dedicated volunteers… I can’t wait to come back again before the season ends!

Signage / Visibility / Location


The haunt itself is very visible and easy to find, as it is a three-story building, however, the parking, while ample and convenient, could benefit from someone to guide the patrons.

Wait Area / Line Entertainment


There weren’t too many actors in line while we waited, but DOT does have a snack/beverage area (with hot cider) that you can drink while you wait, as well as a store with shirts, beads, pins, and other merchandise. We did not have long to wait after all!

Actors' Performance


Awesome – great misdirection, as I said before, and true commitment to their scares, including screaming, crawling, growling, and more. I thought the actors used their areas really well, as well as the lights and effects in the space.

Sets Scenes / Props / FX


So, so high-quality – I loved the eye surgery videos, the dark silhouette room, the nursing home, the hotel ballroom and so many more scenes. I love seeing actors work with strobe lights as well, knowing when to run and crawl for the maximum scariness!

Length


Very long; probably about 25 – 30 minutes.

Crowd Control


Great – they had lots of volunteers helping with the line, as well as security/officers on the scene. The line was very clear and we didn’t experience any problems at all.

Most Memorable Moment


I loved a moment in a hotel bar/ballroom with masked figures – spooky! Also loved the dark silhouettes, that part really gets to me!

Summary

Dominion of Terror is one of my favorite haunts in the state. It’s very long, very well-done, very unique and very SCARY! I would 100% recommend it to anyone who is interested in a great haunt, and the price is a bargain. FANTASTIC!

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Please note: this review is for the 2017 season rather than the current season.

Terror on Rural Street

by PaigeBerrier (Junior Review Crew Member) after attending on Friday, October 6, 2017 at about 8:30 p.m.

Fun Factor: Very High Fear Factor: High

Review

I’m so excited to say that this is my fourth year attending this haunt, and every year I am more and more impressed with the creativity, professionalism, and of course spookiness of this haunt – and this year was no exception! From the moment patrons arrive, to their walk to their car, TORS is chock full of jump scares, cool animatronics, and amazing actors.

We arrived around 8:30 PM on Friday, their opening night, in a light and creepy rain. We had purchased our tickets online ahead of time, and we only had a few moments to wait before our group of 4 was allowed to enter, however, in that time we enjoyed interacting with quite a few actors, including a memorable woman with a shopping cart. TORS also offers snacks and drinks in their covered waited area. Once entering the haunt, we journeyed through the shops of Rural Street into the main part of the haunted house.

There were countless memorable scenes, including the “hellevator”, a mystical field of lasers, a scary kitchen, a creepy church, and a live execution. We also loved their animatronics, which were all of amazing quality, but our group did feel like the timing on a few of them was just slightly off (a little behind). All of the actors were fantastic – they were not afraid to get up close, and at times we had to edge away from their touch! Another thing they were fantastic with was communicating our names and using their throughout their scares – front of the line goers, make sure you whisper the name of the most scared person when you pass! Our group was also offered the opportunity to scare some of our fellow patrons toward the end, which is something we adored!

Overall, we had a fantastic time at Terror on Rural Street. I was so impressed with how much they changed from the year prior (and those before that)! It’s clear everyone there is extremely passionate about what they are doing, and we really enjoyed every element of the haunt! I only wish it were longer!

Signage / Visibility / Location


The haunt is very easy to find, as it is located in a permanent shared building. There was lots of very visible parking and a big sign directing us in!

Wait Area / Line Entertainment


Great line entertainment – we loved the woman with her shopping cart and the creepy bear! They had several, very varied actors walking around their covered waiting area to entertainment the guests. We also enjoyed our traditional of jello in plastic syringes!

Actors' Performance


The actors were all fantastic – I loved that they remembered our names and “preyed” on certain people; they weren’t afraid to scream or get really close to us! They all used their costumes, space, and lighting amazing as well.

Sets Scenes / Props / FX


Fantastic animatronics (several VERY memorable ones that I won’t divulge!), great use of strobe lights in combination with the actors, and unique uses of lazers/neon, including a “field” of neon and a corridor light by neon red lines.

Length


This haunt is a little shorter, maybe 15-20 minutes.

Crowd Control


I saw several officers on the scene, but there was no need for major crowd control on this night.

Most Memorable Moment


The most memorable moment for me was when I was looking over the field of laser mist standing on the bridge… and I will leave it at that!

Summary

Overall, we had a fantastic time at Terror on Rural Street. I was so impressed with how much they changed from the year prior (and those before that)! It’s clear everyone there is extremely passionate about what they are doing, and we really enjoyed every element of the haunt! I only wish it were longer!

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Please note: this review is for the 2017 season rather than the current season.

Scare USA 2022

by wm (Senior Review Crew Member) after attending on Friday, October 6, 2017 at about 7:30 p.m.

Fun Factor: High Fear Factor: High

Review

A damp, chilly Friday night drive to Two Rivers. A town I have not visited in at least 5 years. Two Rivers was once home to THE scariest haunt in all of Wisconsin. But that was then. And since then, I’ve heard for a few years that there’s a new haunt in town. Hello Scare USA, pleased to make your acquaintance!

We arrived about 20 minutes after their opening and were the first victims. There was really nothing going on at first. That is, until Francisco decided to show up and get some people jumping! It took some time for them to start things up, and then the rain started coming down. We entered the haunt a little before 8pm. I didn’t really know what exactly to expect. Walking in, it sure felt like the unrelated Haus of old. But in the first few minutes I realized that this was different. This was a mash-up of many different haunts I’ve seen over the years. A monster mash if you will. (Yeah, I just went there!)

Love narrow, twisting turns? Dark room where you can barely see or not see at all? Other rooms with strobes, loud lights? Air guns? Creatures above you, or below you? Some areas with very low lighting or fog? Some pretty bad smelling… ? I really don’t know what I was smelling, and I don’t think I want to know! If you said yes to any of those, then Scare USA has you covered. They’ve have certain elements from other haunts and crammed them all into one warehouse! There are also some very original props and sets! The ending was a little predictable, as they are showing a video during your wait in line that gives it away.

This haunt is also heavily promoting Don't Be A Monster. This campaign aims to stop bullying in schools with a creative approach. I fully support this cause and I love that haunts are embracing it! http://dontbeamonster.org

I'm not going to go into to much detail here. Reviews that give away all the surprises scare me. But I will say that this is an old school haunt with elements of modern ones. If you've read my reviews over the years, you'd know that I prefer the old-school haunted houses. Dark and spooky! This warehouse has that. They also have some loud music at times, strobes at other times, etc.. Considering how many different things they were including, they were able to make it flow very well! We left Scare USA knowing we would be back again someday!

Signage / Visibility / Location


The signs for this haunt are very small but it's pretty easy to find. If you end up in the river, you've gone too far!

Wait Area / Line Entertainment


We were the first to arrive, so there was no line. By the looks of it, they are set up to hold a good number of people in their line. There was only one monster roaming around on the night we attended and he was great!

Actors' Performance


Some actors were a bit off on their scares. Others were spot on. Overall I’d grade the actors a solid B. Most of them didn’t speak which I found interesting.

Sets Scenes / Props / FX


Some great things to look at in this haunt! There were some rooms that were lit only by 'candlelight', which I loved. Overall, it's a very dark haunt. One thing to note: There are some VERY narrow hallways in this maze.

Length


It took us around 20 minutes to make our way through. Again, we were the first ones in line. I would think it would be closer to 30 when there's a crowd going through.

Crowd Control


At the time, we WERE the crowd! There were over 20 actors in the warehouse, so I'm sure they can slow up a crowd if need be.

Most Memorable Moment


We heard a noise throughout the haunt. As we continued making our way, the noise was getting closer. I didn't expect what we eventually met! Trippy!

Summary

This haunted warehouse has a lot going for it. Seriously, there's something for everyone. It will be interesting to watch how it develops over the years. If you haven't visited yet, make sure you check this one out!

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Please note: this review is for the 2017 season rather than the current season.

Wisconsin Feargrounds

by KatieTepp after attending on Saturday, October 7, 2017 at about 9 p.m.

Fun Factor: Very High Fear Factor: Very High

Review

With new twists and turns, this haunt is similar, but very different from last year. Morgan Manor was a blast to go through! Unknown.... is Unknown! It plays with your senses like no other haunt! Unstable was fun as well!

Summary

I would highly recommend going to this haunt! One of my favorites!

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Please note: this review is for the 2017 season rather than the current season.

Wisconsin Feargrounds

by KellyOHay after attending on Friday, October 6, 2017 at about 9 p.m.

Fun Factor: Very High Fear Factor: Very High

Review

I came in on opening night - what a time we had! We went through all three houses and enjoyed each of them! I don’t want to spoil anything, but as someone who drives a little ways every year to visit haunted houses - I would say this one is definitely worth the drive!!

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Please note: this review is for the 2017 season rather than the current season.

Chamber of Horrors Haunted House (PERMANENTLY CLOSED)

by CassandraVanDusen after attending on Friday, October 6, 2017 at about 9 p.m.

Fun Factor: Medium Fear Factor: Low

Review

This attraction is OKAY. If I hadn't driven 2 hours to get there I may have been able to enjoy it a bit more. There were a good handful of scary parts but the overall haunted house was very short. The zombie hunt was also okay. I wished there were more live characters and that they came closer just to intensify that fear. I think that having this attraction does hype up the whole experience and is definitely a neat thing to do. The staff was awesome and SUPER KIND!!! There was alot of great detail within the haunted house and alot of fun in the zombie hunt. The price was decent.

Summary

This is not really worth a 2 hour drive. I would say this is more for the locals. Has great detail and is something different.

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Please note: this review is for the 2017 season rather than the current season.

Shockwave Haunts

by spirit44 (Junior Review Crew Member) after attending on Friday, October 6, 2017 at about 7:30 p.m.

Fun Factor: Very High Fear Factor: High

Review

It was a dark misty October night. Small pockets of fog laid heavy on the country roads. As our path meandered through corn fields we came upon our destination, a farm sat in the darkness with a beacon of light welcoming all who dared to enter, it simply read Shockwave Haunts. After parking we wandered through the grounds a bit and were drawn to a quaint little gift shop to buy our tickets. With the haunt only a short drive from the Metro Milwaukee area, it was well worth the trip. This haunt provided a great value and a setting that I just can't say enough about. You can pick one of the four houses for $10, or treat yourself to all four for only $20. The best part is to enter the houses you walk through the outbuildings of the farm and if you're lucky enough to get the right weather conditions for a perfectly spooky fall evening, it almost feels post apocalyptic.

Bloody Manor was by far my favorite of the houses. in my opinion it did the best job at portraying the horror that the setting of this farm was capable of. As you walked among the outbuildings of the farm, I was put in the mindset of great films like "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and "House of 1000 corpses". The walk through Bloody Manor strongly reinforced that feeling with it's gruesome rooms and surprise scares throughout. I really would have liked to see them capture the natural environment of the old farm setting more and grow that theme through the other houses.

Dick's Funeral Home was a very unique haunt experience as it was set up to be a more light hearted and comedic haunted house. I found the high level of interaction between the characters and the guests to be a great change from the ordinary and while the other houses on the lot were your typical scare the pants off of them thrill we have all come to expect, in Dick's Funeral home rather than scare your pants off, they would like to make you wet them with laughter. It was a great change of pace house in the middle of all of the terror.

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention, you still even get a taste of the "flavor of the day" and get a popular clown scare. It seems that even a secluded farm isn't immune from what seems to be one of the most popular creepy crawlies out there today.

Signage / Visibility / Location


The location is very remote and you drive down many dark country roads. To be honest though, I think that it lends itself to the overall atmosphere of the farm. As you drive up however, you can't miss the attraction. They have Shockwave Haunts sprawled across the side of the building in lights.

Wait Area / Line Entertainment


They have a very large centrally located waiting area that is well lit and has a nice offering of snacks and other refreshments. There is also a costume shop area and a nice country gift shop on site.

Actors' Performance


The performances were very believable. I always am disappointed when you go into a great haunt that they obviously put a lot of time into the details of the rooms, just to have the feeling wrecked by overzealous actors that are just to over the top. Shockwave's actors deliver a great performance that is convincing and not schlocky. They time many of the jump scares perfectly so that the suspense builds to a climax and you almost feel like nothing is going to happen, then they appear out of nowhere to milk a blood curdling scream from you worthy of the farm you're walking.

Sets Scenes / Props / FX


The sets at this haunt range from very basic to elaborate. There were some rooms that were very impressive in how they blended living characters into what appeared to be just a series of props. This also added to the great performances of the characters. As I alluded to earlier, the only thing I would have liked to see is taking the naturally spooky setting of the farm and theme more of the haunt to it. Take it to the next level with what could be an absolutely terrifying multi house themed haunt using the great setting they have.

Length


The length of seeing all four houses took us about an hour. However we were there on opening night when the crowds were small. So later in the season expect this to be an hour plus. But having a great waiting area and the natural surroundings tying the haunts together, free of standing in turnstiles would make for a very enjoyable evening.

Crowd Control


It's difficult to assume how crowd control would be on a busier night, but the open flow around the attraction presumably would give plenty of opportunity for disbursement of busy crowds while offering plenty of distractions while you wait.

Most Memorable Moment


There was one room in particular that stuck with me. As you enter it appears to be the meat locker of a madman with bloody bodies severed and hanging all around. The detail in this room was remarkable and totally drew us in, to the point we didn't even see the madman himself lunge at us from the shadows.

Summary

For me a truly great haunt is a total experience. My all time favorite attraction, that is no longer around, had the advantage of being set in an old shut down resort. You started getting the feeling of being pulled in from the drive in, to stepping out of your vehicle onto the premises, and walking into a Hollywood worthy set. This attraction gives you all of that. Do yourself a favor on the drive in to this haunt and clear your mind, let the natural surrounding take you on a terrifying journey into the macabre.

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Please note: this review is for the 2017 season rather than the current season.

Screamin’ Acres Haunted Houses

by Policechick11 after attending on Friday, October 6, 2017 at about 7 p.m.

Fun Factor: Very High Fear Factor: Very High

Review

Went to screaming acres because they said they were open. Drove over an hour and a half to get scared, only to find that they were closed. Would have been nice if website said they were closed

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Please note: this review is for the 2017 season rather than the current season.

Burial Chamber Haunted House Complex

by PaigeBerrier after attending on Saturday, September 30, 2017 at about 9:30 p.m.

Fun Factor: Very High Fear Factor: Very High

Review

This was my fourth year going to Burial Chamber, and I was so impressed to say I thought it was the best year yet! My boyfriend and I went, just the two of us on Friday night, arriving around 9:30. Both of us had already purchased the Abandoned/Burial Chamber combo pass, which is a great deal for admission + fastpass at both haunts for only $60. With our fastpasses,, we were able to bypass every line for each individual haunt; literally walking up to the haunt and going in. It wasn’t incredibly crowded that night, but the fastpass was still definitely worth it for us.

Burial Chamber consists of three parts – Adrenaline (the first haunt we went through), Phobia, an outdoor haunt, and Insanity, which used a lot of neon and lasers. All of the haunts were nice and long; at least 20 minutes to walk through, and were full of amazing props, detailed rooms, and terrifying actors. Adrenaline was my personal favorite as it went through several different areas, including a hospital, a war zone, and of course, countless dark hallways. The actors in every house had amazing timing; our adrenaline truly was pumping! Insanity was also great, with more of a clown/psychedelic theme, messing with your perception and forcing you to go through lasers and inflatables. Perhaps the one missed opportunity was Phobia, and a lot of that derives from it being an outdoor haunt, but we still enjoyed it, particularly the 2 live musicians incorporated into the trail. All in all it was a fantastic, scary night full of a ton of surprises, no waiting, and an amazing haunt.

Summary

Burial Chamber is an amazing haunt, and I enjoyed going this year more than any other! With three long, detailed haunts, you can't lose and you will be scared! Overall the haunt is professional, long, well-executed, and above all, terrifying!

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Please note: this review is for the 2017 season rather than the current season.

Green Bay Fear Haunted Attractions

by hex_on_you (Newbie Review Crew Member) after attending on Friday, September 29, 2017 at about 7 p.m.

Fun Factor: Medium Fear Factor: Medium

Review

If you're looking for more than just a single walk through haunt, Green Bay Fear is the place to visit! With a "Freakshow" midway including a fire to wait around, live entertainment, and four different attractions, there was plenty to do to pass the time. The scenes were set up beautifully and there were plenty of live actors in each attraction. I'd recommend visiting later in the season, when actors have time to get into the roles in the main house and work on the timing of their scares.

Signage / Visibility / Location


I've been to this house before, so finding it was a breeze. It's located not far from 41 and is easily accessible for anyone visiting from out of town. There were plenty of signs, and even someone directing you from parking to the short wooded trail to the ticket booth.

Wait Area / Line Entertainment


There wasn't much of a line (we went early and it was the first night!), but if there were, there are plenty of things to keep you busy. A small gift shop, a fire, live music--and even a few roaming creatures to keep you on your toes!

Actors' Performance


Three of the four attractions had live actors (the odditorium could use a knowledgeable tour guide!), and it seemed like there were plenty of live actors to staff the other three attractions--with a few extras to roam the midway! The experience level of the actors varied--some of them were immersed in their roles and some could definitely take direction from the former. Its hard with it being the first night, as I know it takes some time to get into your roles within the house and learn your timing for groups coming through, but there were some areas of the house that lacked the scare factor when it came to the actor's performance. The house has a wonderful back story (check out their website and social media!) which was set up perfectly by the actor welcoming you into Shawano Manor, but they lacked follow through throughout the rest of the house following the theme.

Sets Scenes / Props / FX


The scenes and sets were set up wonderfully! There were four different attractions to visit--the Odditorium, Mr. Jingle's Fun House, the Twisted Trail, and the main attraction--Shawano Manor. I loved the scenes set up along the Twisted Trail! If you're new to Green Bay Fear you'll appreciate the detailed scenes in the main house. If you're returning to Green Bay Fear, you may see some scenes from years past, and a few new scenes as well!

Length


There were four total attractions, and it took about an hour from ticket booth to being done with the final house to see all four attractions. We were able to get through all of the attractions at a good pace and didn't catch up to any other groups.

Crowd Control


Again, with it being early and only the first night, a large crowd hadn't had time to build up, but with the variety of houses and other attractions, I don't think it would have been too long of waits and I think that with the way that their midway was set up they would be able to control crowds with ease.

Most Memorable Moment


There were definitely two actors that made the experience memorable -- the fan favorite Mr. Jingles is always fun to interact with, and the character welcoming you into the main house were wonderful! Kudos to these actors--keep up the great work and spread your enthusiasm to the other actors in the attractions!

Summary

Overall--job well done Green Bay Fear! Your scenes and props were great -- take advantage of the effects and props that you have and enhance them with a bit more work on your actors, and you'll have an attraction that will have thrill seekers coming back year after year! Happy Haunting!

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Please note: this review is for the 2017 season rather than the current season.

The Dark Side Haunted Adventure

by Captn_DeathSchlager (Senior Review Crew Member) after attending on Friday, September 29, 2017 at about 8 p.m.

Fun Factor: Very High Fear Factor: Medium

Review

OVERVIEW:  While most haunts measure their size by square feet The Dark Side actually measures its size in acres.   At 40 acres The Dark Side is larger than the Bradley Center (6 acres), the Pettit National Ice Center (9 acres) and Miller Park (25 acres) combined!  If you compare The Dark Side to a popular Theme Park like Noah’s Arc you’ll find that the 40 acres and 6 attractions of the Dark Side compare to 70 acres and 8 attractions for Noah’s Arc.  With this in mind perhaps The Dark Side should be considered more of a haunted theme park than a haunted house or attraction? 

Haunt goers that appreciate the use of endowments over size will find that this haunt has an impressive arsenal of astonishing surprises.  The base price of admission includes 6 distinct adrenalin filled adventures that feature a multi-story mine shaft, hay-ride, ginormous vortex (…perhaps Wisconsin’s largest?), wilderness village, tree top suspension bridge, two mind boggling and bizarre mazes, an exploding car, multiple bonfire locations and a train ride to boot.  For an additional admission fee ($10-$15) haunt goers can join the fight to prevent the walking dead from invading The Dark Side’s base camp aboard a double decker hay wagon equipped with fully loaded paintball guns.  (Yes, that’s right…on this ride you not only see zombies, you’re actually allowed to shoot them!)
 
PERSONAL THOUGHTS/REFLECTIONS:  My immediate tour group consisted of one novice haunt goer, three 13yr old first time haunt recruits and myself…an avid scare seeker of 20+ years and over 100 haunts.  (Yes, that's 5 or more a year!)  For the duration of our 90+ minute tour through the haunted attractions of The Dark Side my immediate group was combined with approximately 15 others.  If being stuck at the back of a VERY large tour group makes your blood boil like mine fret not.  At the entrance of the Decent, Backwoods Revenge and Foxglove Nurseries attractions the large tour group is broken down into groups of 2-5.  The large group reassembles for the hay wagon ride that tours “Twilightmare” and the grand finale attraction. 

As most of the theme park tour is outside and requires a little downtime for the large group to reassemble definitely do come dressed for the weather.  If you’re concerned (…as I was…) that a haunted theme park that’s been voted “Wisconsin’s Scariest Haunted House 4 years in a row” would be a bit much for younger first time haunt goes, don’t be.  While the new haunt recruits of my group did scream on a few occasions these screams were always followed by laughter and never tears of terror…a noteworthy point since the three 13yr old first timers were allowed to tour the attractions by themselves when the large group was divided. 

While personally I wouldn’t consider my experience at The Dark Side as the Scariest I would definitely classify it as THE most immersive haunted theme park adventure I’ve ever toured.  The Descent, Twighlightmare, Backwoods revenge and train ride contain amazing effects that will satisfy even the most avid scare seeker’s thirst for thrills!
 
INSIGHT & SCARE/FUN RATINGS FOR EACH ATTRACTION:  (averaged 1-5 rating from my group of 5)

The Descent – Multi-level tour of a haunted mine.  Scare: 4  / Fun: 4

Twighlightmare – Enjoy a bonfire hosted by locals before taking a hayride through the forest that surrounds The Dark Side.  Scare: 2 / Fun: 5

Backwoods Revenge – Warm yourself by the fire and listen to the stories of Grandma Townsend before taking a self guided tour of the pine forest dwellings.  Scare: 4 / Fun: 5

Mephistopheles Lair – Enter if you dare and exit if you can find it.  Scare: 1 / Fun: 3

Schizophrenia – Tour the corn maze but beware of what lurks in the shadows.  Scare: 2 / Fun 3

Foxglove Nursery – Visit briefly with a bizarre botanist before taking a peak at what’s growing inside these greenhouses.  Be careful, it is not what you’d expect to see!  Scare: 3 / Fun 4

Train (with no name) Ride – Enjoy a ride through and around The Dark Side Theme Park while being entertained by the locals.  Scare: 2 / Fun 5
 
note:  I toured The Dark Side on it’s opening night which can be a blessing a curse when it comes to a fully operational haunt.  As most haunts don’t advertise their technical issues it’s quite possible that I may not have experienced The Dark Side at an unintended scare level.

Signage / Visibility / Location


This may not be the easiest haunt to find as most would likely consider this location the epitome of “the middle of nowhere”.  If you’re traveling on HWY 67 keep your eyes open for the small town of Ashippun.  In the heart of Ashippun you’ll find an angled intersection for Hwy O.  Follow Hwy O west until you see a lighted sign with an arrow that points you towards The Dark Side haunted theme park.

Wait Area / Line Entertainment


This haunt offers a heated barn complete with ticket window, gift shop, concession stand and a waiting line that features a spa/salon station for those looking to spruce up their ghoulishly good looks.

Actors' Performance


During our tour we encountered 5 locations with actors who’s role was intended to interact and entertain rather than to just scare the bejeezus out of us.  These actors portrayed their roles brilliantly and were absolutely exceptional at adlibbing and allowing you to playfully interact with them.

Sets Scenes / Props / FX


A nice variety of themes and superb special effects you won’t find anywhere else.  A genuine haunted theme park complete with rides and demented dwellings.  All sets were elaborately decorated with a fine attention to detail to ensure haunt goers receive a totally immersive experience.

Length


Approximately 90-120 minutes.

Crowd Control


Indoor waiting line weaves through the stables of a barn.  Ghouls entertain you periodically while you wait.  VIP tickets allow you to avoid the wait and skip to the front of the pack.

Most Memorable Moment


As you may have guessed if you read this entire review, the immense size of this haunt and how much they’ve packed into this experience make this a uniquely memorable haunted theme park!

Summary

With 7 different attractions covering 40 acres The Dark Side has more in common with a Theme Park than a traditional Haunted House!  For the base price of admission haunt goers enjoy 6 distinct adrenalin filled adventures that feature a multi-story mine shaft, hay-ride, ginormous vortex, wilderness village, tree top suspension bridge, two mind boggling and bizarre mazes, an exploding car, multiple bonfire locations and a train ride to boot.  For an additional admission fee ($10-$15) haunt goers can join the fight to prevent the walking dead from invading The Dark Side’s base camp aboard a double decker hay wagon equipped with fully loaded paintball guns.

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Please note: this review is for the 2017 season rather than the current season.

Abandoned Haunted House Complex

by BrittanyAnnBula (Junior Review Crew Member) after attending on Saturday, September 23, 2017 at about 7 p.m.

Fun Factor: Very High Fear Factor: Very High

Review

Ambush and Hysteria - Two indoor haunted attractions that run back to back. Characters all over! They put in the effort of making you really feel the moment. From the different scents, the energy from the performers and the effort is second to none! The long passages that twist and turn you around making you anticipate your next thrill! The fear of tight spaces, inclines and descends all on one area. Characters appear out of no where leaving you wondering how they actually got there! As you navigate you find yourself in many different dimensions that somehow flow so perfectly together. No matter if you are leading the group through the narrow hallways or you are the "chicken" of the group you will be scared and scared multiple times!

The special effects in this haunt are second to none: strobe lights, black lights, scents and moving floors you truly don't know what to expect or predict what is coming next! As you navigate through both houses your senses will go crazy and leave you anticipating what is coming next and wanting to see what all is possible!

Stalker - Corn Maze...Not so much! Haunted with characters surprisingly jumping out at you somewhat! In my mind a haunted corn maze would be weaving your way through corn; coming up to dead ends, and trying to find your way out. This is a haunted corn trail. We enjoyed it, but the name is deceiving! Go through the corn trail, come up to haunted rooms that are filled with characters, tight spaces, and detailed scenes.

Signage / Visibility / Location


Large strobe lights, along side the interstate, can't miss

Wait Area / Line Entertainment


They have a large TV playing music, Shows, and showing ads for other attractions. They had many characters roaming the lines and interacting with the crowds. Concession stand that is reasonable priced, sitting area.

Actors' Performance


The characters were very good! They put in the effort to scare you!

Sets Scenes / Props / FX


Very detailed, never miss an opportunity to make everything perfect!

Length


Stalker about 20 minutes

Ambush and Hysteria about 40 minutes

Crowd Control


Several security guards and characters roaming

Most Memorable Moment


The effort that the characters put in and the small details that weren't missed! We drove 2.75 hours to get here and it was worth the drive for sure!

Summary

One of the best haunted houses in WI! These people truly love their job and scaring people!

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