2013 Haunted High Presents: Terror @ 212 Event Reviews

From the ashes, Haunted High returns!  This year, it takes the form of Terror @ 212.  New location, new haunted fun!  When I found out that last October was going to be the final Halloween season for Haunted High, I must admit, I was crushed.  Haunted High had everything going for them, great staff, awesome volunteers, and a dream location, a closed down high school.  But like all good things, it had to come to an end, and the land the school sat on was sold.  So going into this season, I was excited to hear that the folks who brought us Haunted High were back, with a new venue, and a new theme. 



Not being from the area, I naturally drove right past the place, even though it is plenty lit up, and there are two large signs letting you know that it was
here!  Once there, we entered the waiting area, which, fortunately for us because it was raining, was a giant heated tent.  A few concessions were
available, most noticeably a stand selling some of those delicious roasted, sugary nuts.  Once we bought our tickets, we were directed to the corrals,
where we waited to enter the haunt.  I must admit I was a little let down that the waiting area wasn't as entertaining as Haunted High was in the
past.  A few ghouls roamed around, and a very crowd friendly Jason came through with a chainsaw, but Haunted High had that really cool warped gym
floor, and would project horror movie trailers on the wall.  I did learn, however, that the projector would return, but because of the rainy weather,
they didn't want to risk it. 



The haunt itself was amazing.  Because the new location is roughly 1/10th the size of the school, they were forced to hit hard you from start to finish,
with little down time, something the school location couldn't offer because its enormous.  This theme heavy haunt relies heavily on throwing off your
equilibrium, and challenging your senses.  From pitch darkness, to blinding lights, to smoky haze, and from complete silence, to deafening sound,
you may not know which way is up.



Terror @ 212 is split up by themes.  Jungle, carnival, and industrial are just a few of the spooky areas you will visit at 212.  The detail that the
workers put into the sets and props are what sets 212 apart from the other haunts.  I naturally take my time and try to pay attention to details, and
boy am I glad I did.  Do yourself a favor, soak it all in, this place is professional!  Sets and detail are great, but they are nothing without
good actors, and 212 has some of the best.  One of the advantages to having a smaller space is the ability to be more selective when it comes to
hiring talent.  You can tell 212 hired the best of the best.  All of the actors I encountered were dedicated to making you jump! 



I think it's fitting to give Terror @ 212 a letter grade, since after all, it is put on by the folks who brought us Haunted High, and all of the proceeds go
to the Oconomowoc Public Education Foundation.  I give Terror @ 212 a solid A+!  Bravo Terror @ 212, you made the best of a crummy situation and hit it out of the park.  If you are looking for the best fright in the area, look no further than Terror @ 212! 

Signage / Visibility / Location

Wait Area / Line Entertainment

Actors' Performance

Sets Scenes / Props / FX

Length

Crowd Control

Most Memorable Moment

Haunted High Presents Terror at 212 and I was lucky enough to attend this amazing haunt opening weekend. Upon arriving in the area of the haunt, there were clearly visible signs and both on and off street parking available. Next, I was excited to see a large white tent which houses the waiting
lines and ticketing area, as well as some concessions. The tent was wonderful because it was rainy and cool on the night I attended but underneath the tent it was warm and dry! There were quite a few people at the haunt but we were able to get our tickets and move through the line quickly. While we waited in line there were creepy characters that made appearances creeping and terrorizing their guest. Our wait time was about fifteen minutes in total.

I was very excited to attend Terror at 212 because I have been a fan of this organization for the last four years during which time, Haunted High delivered wonderfully entertaining haunts. Also, the entire event is created as a grand fundraiser for the Oconomowoc Public Education Foundation so I always know I am supporting a good cause when I attend. Now, in the first year at their new site, Terror at 212 continues the tradition of leaving visitors pleasantly terrified. Although the new location creates a slightly different type of haunt, it still delivers with all of the scares and flare this group has been bringing our way for the past four years. The new facility is a smaller square footage than the previous old high school building they have used in years past but the excitement, terror and laughs are power packed into the new venue creating a slightly shorter total amount of time inside the haunt which creates an effect that is quite possibly more powerful. Now there are seemingly endless twists, turns, and screams back-to-back. The new facility includes great physically challenging effects including uneven flooring, inclines and declines, narrow halls and areas where my advice is to duck or you may just lose your head.

As my group entered the haunt I was impressed by how quickly I felt engulfed by the experience. My trip through the haunt began with darkness and a grouping of hallways and doors that create a dizzying maze effect. These effects are then paired with jarring episodes of darkness or strobe lighting and loud noises, all of which assaulted my senses to create a seriously disorientating beginning to my journey.

After my senses were thoroughly rattled, I traveled through several corridors, twists and turns and a variety of eerie areas with many rooms and passageways with different themes including: dungeons, a jungle, an industrial warehouse, and a chilling home with several creepy rooms and characters and my favorite, a supremely creepy carnival!

The decor is extensive and detailed. I am so impressed with the carnival area of the haunt. You should attend this haunt for this area alone- this is a must see! I also want to give a special thank you to the group of girl clowns in this area-way to keep us on our toes ladies. I also love a vortex room and this haunt has an amazing one. As I finished my journey I had a difficult time readjusting to the outside world. Our journey through the haunt took approximately fifteen minutes, each of those minutes full of screams, laughter and leaps from fright. An evening full of great scares for a great cause, this haunt should be on your list to visit this year.

Signage / Visibility / Location

Wait Area / Line Entertainment

On a rainy Saturday evening, I made my way out to Oconomowoc to experience the new Terror @ 212 haunt. While I've heard of the former Haunted High haunts, this was my first time actually experiencing the frights that this team has to offer.