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2009 Gilly's Haunted House Event Reviews


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9 total reviews. Showing 5 of 9 on this page (4 filtered).

Page 1

Please note: this review is for the 2009 season rather than the current season.

Gilly's Haunted House

by kenjamin after attending on Friday, October 30, 2009 at about 3:30 p.m.

Fun Factor: Very High Fear Factor: Very High

Review

This was the best haunted house ever! One of the people in my group soiled themselves. It was great. I give it a 9 out of 10.

Summary

Chainsaws, clowns, mazes, vortexes, axes, syringes. They use everything to scare you and it works. The actors are also superb. They don't break character and they are great at what they do. The creepy guy with the hat and glowstocks that said he ran a flower shop was really creepy. He gave off a sexual offender vibe.

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Comments: (0)

Please note: this review is for the 2009 season rather than the current season.

Gilly's Haunted House

by x0char0x (Newbie Review Crew Member) after attending on Friday, October 23, 2009 at about 5 p.m.

Fun Factor: Very High Fear Factor: High

Review

Gilly's Haunted House really surprised me. This was my first time going to this haunt and it was one of the better ones I have ever been to. One of the main reasons I enjoyed it is because the actors actually interacted with you. Whenever, you get to a scene they played a little game with you and actually put more effort in it than just popped out and screaming in your ear like some do.

Signage / Visibility / Location


The location of this is very easy to find. They have signs all over the place.

Wait Area / Line Entertainment


The wait area for this haunt is located in a green house. They don't have any actors in there other than the man that pops out to greet your group when its time to go in, but they do have stories posted throughout for you to read while you are waiting in line.

Actors' Performance


The actors did a great job. They really know how to entertain you and keep you scared.

Sets Scenes / Props / FX


Their scenes are set up very well. There wasn't really any down time throughout the entire haunt, so you never knew what to expect as you were walking along.

Length


The length of this I would say took about 20 minutes to walk through the entire thing.

Crowd Control


I felt they do an excellent job on crowd control. They don't send any more than 4 to a group which makes the haunt itself so much better. The actors also keep you in the scenes longer so you don't run into the group in front of you..

Most Memorable Moment


My most memborable moment would have to be the room with the doctor in it. The friend I went with was so terrified by him it made my whole night.

Summary

Overall, this was a very fun and scary haunt. I would recommend this to anyone over the age of 12.

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Please note: this review is for the 2009 season rather than the current season.

Gilly's Haunted House

by dubstyle_2k (Newbie Review Crew Member) after attending on Saturday, October 17, 2009 at about 4 p.m.

Fun Factor: Very High Fear Factor: Very High

Review

Gilly's the haunt I was least excited for, turned out to be the best so far!  The line was short and fast, there were no actors entertaining, but there were, "newspaper clippings" explaining the history of Gilly's.  I really liked the music that was being played as we waited, part circus, part halloween, part ska, it was fun to listen to.  After the line we were led down a path to a very smokie greenhouse-ish area where we boarded an animated boat!  It was great.  A ghoulish woman then boarded the boat and went over a few rules with you.  The smoke was so dense, you couldn't see a thing, it was very cool.  The theme was very circus heavy, which is alright with me, sideshows, clowns and freaks all in one place!  The highlights of the haunt were the spinning room, this left you feeling real disorientated.  There was a room with a swirl on the floor, a strobe light and what appeared to be a fake clown contorsionist on the wall, but he wasn't fake!  Creeped us out!  Another great part was the mirrored hallway, my girlfriend said the highlight of her season was me leading the way down this hallway, walking up to one turn, seeing my refection, and saying "oh wait, that's me"  Great effect!  In all, the effects were great, the actors were top notch, the staff was awesome, and Gilly's was the best haunt of the year!  

Signage / Visibility / Location


Gilly's was well lit, and easy to find.

Wait Area / Line Entertainment


Waiting area could have used some actors, but the clippings on the wall and the music was very entertaining.

Actors' Performance


The best actors around, very dedicated.

Sets Scenes / Props / FX


The sets were great, all in the circus theme.  They spent a lot of time!

Length


15 minutes to complete, but felt like we were in there for an hour, lots to see, lots of fun!

Crowd Control


The lines were contained very well, nobody bouncing around

Most Memorable Moment


The boat ride was the best, it was just the rules, but nothing I had experienced in a haunt before.  The spinning room definately was second.

Summary

I have been to Gilly's a few times in the past and never was "WOWed" by it, but this year Gilly's made a believer out of me.  It was by far the funnest experience haunt wise.  They had the most dedicated actors.  Lots of fun!

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Please note: this review is for the 2009 season rather than the current season.

Gilly's Haunted House

by shimmer_23 after attending on Sunday, October 18, 2009 at about 4 p.m.

Fun Factor: Very High Fear Factor: High

Review

As not a fan of clowns, I was apprehensive of attending this haunt. However, I wasn't that traumatized. The concept is a great one though, but I wish there were more scary/jump out circus themes.. a lot of it was more disturbing than anything.

Faves of the night - there were a few!
*Def the door maze...actor asked me to turn the knob and I did and it fell off!! He starts wailing and I'm like was that supposed to happen!? It was quite funny and I liked the concept. The actor did a great job!
*The striped room with the "surgeon" - great ideas for each one of us on how he was going to perform surgery.. way cool and original. His laugh was insane! Great job!
*The last room with the microphone.. great idea! The actor did a great job there too.

Summary

Overall seemed like a slightly scary fun house. Sure I got scared when things jumped out at me, but I laughed a lot too. I really enjoyed it... a great themed haunt.

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Please note: this review is for the 2009 season rather than the current season.

Gilly's Haunted House

by katie_kiesow13 (Newbie Review Crew Member) after attending on Friday, October 16, 2009 at about 5 p.m.

Fun Factor: Very High Fear Factor: Low

Review

Gilly's Haunted House is a great find for the Halloween season! It was certainly not the most scary of haunted houses I have experienced this year, but it was definitely one of the most entertaining and fun. We had a blast. The actors really got into their characters and provided an entire experience throughout the house. It was a full themed haunt - not just several scary ideas streamed together for the sake of the scare. I was not scared by much throughout the house, but we enjoyed a couple of jumps here and there. One actor really got me as we were exiting the "freak show" - she told me (in character, of course) that I looked just like the woman her husband left her for and threatened to kill me, too! Creepy. Quite a few of the rooms were unique and interesting. The maze where you need ot find the right exit, the coffin, the room of mirrors, and of course the "boat ride" right at the beginning.

***Warning - just want to give anyone visiting this haunt this year a head's up - they use fog machines to the extreme. I actually couldn't breathe and felt like I needed an inhaler when I left because the fog was so intense throughout the entire haunt, though the first room (boat ride) is the most intense. If these fog machines bother you, I'd be wary to visit this haunt.***

Signage / Visibility / Location


Very easy to find - takes up almost the entire block. It shares space with a flower shop, so look for greenhouses. Using my GPS I found it with no problem whatsoever.

Wait Area / Line Entertainment


There were a few actors outside, most of them not in character, however. We didn't have to wait very long, maybe twenty minutes to get into the house. There was a covered waiting area, but no concessions or warmth - so dress appropriately!

Actors' Performance


Overall, each and every one of the actors in this house did an excellent job. They all stayed in character - and each character had a story and a point and a purpose. It was fantastic. A+ all around to the actors at this haunt!!

Sets Scenes / Props / FX


For the most part there wasn't a lot of intricate sets at this haunt, but they fulfilled their purpose. They provided a background for the actors to play - that's where the true talent is.

(As aforementioned - fog machines are used a great deal so beware if these machines bother you)

Length


It took about 20 minutes to get through the whole haunt - could go faster or slower depending on how fast you run away from everything...

Crowd Control


There wasn't any crowd to control while we were there. But we never ran into anyone nor did anyone run into our group, so all was well.

Most Memorable Moment


The actor in the hallway before the last room (clown) as well as the actor in the last room (with the syringe) were fantastic. The doctor asked us for our names and we gave them unwillingly and the actor in the hallway acted a little like a mental patient and said "and I'm Doris..." He was fantastic. And the doctor guy followed us out of the house asking all sorts of silly questions. It was definitely memorable.

Summary

To sum up quickly - a great haunt if you enjoy a good time but don't necessarily need to get scared. It's a lot of fun, but not scary. We laughed through most of the house because it was so entertaining and the actor interaction is phenomenal.

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Please note: this review is for the 2009 season rather than the current season.

Gilly's Haunted House

by HocusPocus (Newbie Review Crew Member) after attending on Friday, October 2, 2009 at about 3:30 p.m.

Fun Factor: High Fear Factor: Low

Review

Looking for a haunt you can enjoy with your family? Gilly's Haunted House may be for you. While waiting in line I spoke with a group of five 6th graders who were anxiously awaiting their second trip through the haunt. When asked how they'd rate the scare factor of Gilly's on a scale of 1-5 they enthusiastically gave it ratings that were off the chart. (One even rated the haunt as a 100 on the scale of 1-5!)

While adults may not agree with this assessment on the scare factor scale I think all will agree on the fun factor. Solid acting performances are mixed with a creepy carnival / freak show circus theme and dashed with a few instances of special effects to excite the visual senses. If you're looking for a haunt that totally immerses you into the theme of each room you may leave a bit disappointed. While the acting is notable and some of the special effects will totally disorientate and confuse you, many of the rooms lack the attention to detail provided in other haunts. This is most likely the result of the room lighting which certainly will encourage kids to interact more in the sets than to send them rushing through in search of the exit.

If your into evaluating haunts with your senses you might find this helpful:

* Sight: Come prepared with your imagination and you won't be disappointed with this haunt. In some rooms the lighting makes it apparent that this venue does not have as much attention to detail as other haunts. The lighting, however, does encourage more interaction with the actors. The acting, though, does a great job of diverting your attention from the room detail. The vortex double dose will visually excite and disorientate you!

* Sound: The sound won't knock your socks off but is effectively used at times to compliment rooms.

* Smell: Nothing special on this front...although there are haunts that venture into this realm.

* Touch: Nothing special on this front...although there are haunts that venture into this realm.

Signage / Visibility / Location


Hard to miss this venue as it occupies nearly the entire street corner. Gilly's doubles as a floral shop / greenhouse during the day...but once the sun sets the floral displays found at the store font will do little to sooth your soul. Look for the scary bus in front and a fence that surrounds the entire establishment to ensure the creatures from within don't escape.

Wait Area / Line Entertainment


A canopied area covers the wait area to protect you from elements but will do little to keep you warm. Dress appropriately for the wait. There was no line entertainment while I waited.

Actors' Performance


Ghoulishly solid & fun to interact with. At times spoken lines were delivered with unique accents to set the tone of the room. Very enjoyable!

Sets Scenes / Props / FX


Loved the double whammy of vortex rooms and really enjoyed the comical maze of doors...clever! The boat ride and acting performance at the onset of the tour were a real treat.

Length


Of the three haunted houses in the proximity of Gilly's this one was the longest...which isn't surprising as it appears to enjoy the largest location of the three.

Crowd Control


I attended early on the first night of business so there wasn't much of a crowd to control. The line inside the canopied area is clearly marked and the narrow sidewalk leading to the entrance to the admission area appear to be adequate to control sizable crowds.

Most Memorable Moment


By far the most memorial moment is not one but TWO vortexes. The first one was cool and disorientating...the second one took me by complete surprise and blew my mind. The opening boat ride and presentation also get honorable mention for the most memorable moment.

Summary

Great attraction for kids and families. Adults who are freaked out by clowns or enjoy the absurdity presented by fun houses will also enjoy this attraction. Solid acting and a fun atmosphere. Gilly's Haunted house may not stand your hair on end or blow your mind with dazzling special effects but it will certainly entertain you.

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Please note: this review is for the 2009 season rather than the current season.

Gilly's Haunted House

by Haunting Reviewer after attending on Saturday, October 3, 2009 at about 3 p.m.

Fun Factor: Medium Fear Factor: N/A

Review

Not a scary haunted house at all. I love to be startled & made to jump and that never happened. The description talks of two Vortex's in the house, I only saw one. That one needed some fresh neon paint to give it the full effect too. And I know I'm tall(6'2") but I was hitting my head in the Vortex and that's not cool either. My favorite things in the house were the black & white room & the room of doors. Very cool. It can be a very good haunted house if they put the time in to make it a little better.

Summary

This would be a good attraction for people who scare easily or younger kids. I'm not saying it's horrible it's just not my kind of thing.

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Please note: this review is for the 2009 season rather than the current season.

Gilly's Haunted House

by JJrakman after attending on Saturday, October 3, 2009 at about 5:30 p.m.

Fun Factor: Medium Fear Factor: Low

Review

This haunt had a mix of really good points and really bad points. First the good.

The whole theme of a haunted circus is a great one, and one that isn't done too often. The actors gave a great performance and stayed in character. The initial boat ride in the fog was a great introduction to the haunt, and helped to set a mood. I really loved the black and white room with the harlequin camouflaged in it. Great effect. The vortex was awesome!

Now the bad, most of the haunt is too brightly lit for my tastes. There's nothing wrong with a haunt that is operated on a short budget, but darkness, shadows, and fog go a long way to hide a low budget. Many of the sets seemed plain and ordinary in regular lighting, not frighting at all, and a large room with only a few set pieces looks rather empty in bright light. Some of the "puzzle" rooms are clever but frankly after a while you want to get moving on, plus I see these as devices for holding up the line when it gets busier, not to mention separate groups bouncing into each other as one group gets stumped over a puzzle. A few more actors could be used in the transitions from room to room. Even something as simple as reaching out at the audience as they pass. The haunt could greatly benefit from the use of some sound effects as well.

Summary

While it definitely has its good points, it could use a bit of work.

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Please note: this review is for the 2009 season rather than the current season.

Gilly's Haunted House

by Haunt_Master_Terri after attending on Saturday, October 3, 2009 at about 4 p.m.

Fun Factor: Very High Fear Factor: High

Review

This is a very unique haunted house that seemed more like a scary circus fun house. Lots of clowns and sideshow freaks everywhere! This wasn't just a linear path haunted house, there were several mazes which were very enjoyable. One was a shifting exit maze where you were presented with over a dozen possible "doors" or exits. It was a challenge to find the correct way out! There was also a great mirror maze portion which produced a good effect in the dim light.
Very unique was a boat ride through an incredibly foggy tunnel. You could barely see what was coming at you!
A bonus was not one, but TWO vortexes. The last one was incredibly disorientating. There is a lot of cool aspects to this haunt, and it has the potential to be super scary for those who are afraid of clowns. If it takes a lot to scare you, you will still enjoy the fun house aspect. Be advised that waiting and parts of this haunted house are outdoors so be sure to dress warm.

Summary

With the whole psycho circus theme, this place seemed more like a haunted fun house! Two vortexes, the haunted boat ride, and the mirror maze and shifting exit maze really made this place stand out. It wasn't the scariest place, but there were some actors who were very intense and who really got into character. This is definitely a place worth checking out!

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November 24th, 2024 10:42 a.m. CST 24.11.01