| HAUNTED
ATTRACTION |
RATING |
REVIEW |
| BAXTER AVENUE MORGUE |
| 451 Baxter Ave. |
| Louisville, KY |
| (502) 589-0959 |
| $15 |
 |
| click
logo above to visit their web site |
 |
|
9 ½ |
BAXTER AVENUE
MORGUE: Arguably the Best Haunt around! You're
first led into in the parlor where pictures and documents on the walls
recount the morgue's actual history. Ushers creepily guard a coffin
while you wait in line. You enter the Morgue itself through an iron
door where you're greeted by the mortitian, Warren Vanderdark as the big
heavy door slams shut behind you! Dead, bloody bodies, and dark corridors
with spider webs hanging from the rafters lie ahead. Very scary background
music accompanies your journey. It's very foggy inside, and bursts
of air spurt out at you while inside the old morgue. Realistic body
bags seemingly containing actual bodies hang in one of the rooms.
Bodies suspended by chains hang from the ceiling, one of which is still
alive! An evil coroner saws a body in two, and "blood" spews
out on you as his saw rips the body in half! A crazed, bloody doctor
sews his victim's mouth shut so she can't speak, or yell for help.
Excellent! Closed body vault drawers which vibrate, and open on their
own haunt the morgue, along with skeletons, body parts, and blood splattered
walls. A young girl (Diedra) plays with bloody dolls, and bloody
doll body parts are scattered about her room. There's a girl zombie
eating the guts out of a dead body, and a coroner performing an autopsy
who asks if anyone needs a finger before pulling one off the body he's
working on. "How about an arm?," he wickedly asks. Coffins
containing corpses, and numerous hospital gurneys are part of the morgue's
decor. At one point, you must walk through a coffin inverted on its
end to make your way from one room to another. Hands reach
out and grab at your arms and legs as you make your way through one part
of the morgue. Someone flies back and forth overhead, across a fairly
low ceiling as you proceed down another dark corridor. A cute blonde
admiring herself in the mirror has a major surprise in store for you!.
And don't miss the ghost apparition of a doctor working on a live patient.
Awesome! The morgue exits into a maze leading to the gift shop.
Length-8½, just over 15 minutes. Actors-9½, full of surprises
and scares! Excellent make up, and original characters. Props-10,
in a word, realistic. Design-9½, what a spooky place!
Scariness-10, formerly an actual morgue only adds to the effect.
If just being here doesn't give you the creeps, then you don't need to
be going to Haunts! Value-9, it's a bit expensive at $15, but you
get the scares of your lives.
Final Score: 9½
The morgue has it all! This is everything a haunt should be, and
more. If you're looking for a traditionally scary Halloween attraction,
this is it! Don't miss it! reviewed
10/1/05, revisited 10/22/05 |
| HOUSE OF NIGHTMARES |
| 7520 Johnstown Rd. |
| Mt. Vernon, Ohio |
| (740) 393-2005 |
| $15 ($5 discount coupon available
on their |
| website good on specific days ONLY) |
 |
| click
logo above to visit their web site |
 |
|
9 ½ |
HOUSE OF NIGHTMARES:
Built in the 1870's, this old four story house is as frightening to look
at from the outside as it is on the inside. Your first glimpse of
The
House of Nightmares, is that of strobes bouncing light off the spooky
looking structure. A graveyard welcomes your arrival to the stairs
that lead up to the main entrance. Once inside, you're directed into an
"elevator," where you're told a story of an accident that occurred on board
many years ago. Legend has it that the cables once snapped, sending
the elevator crashing down to the lower most floor, killing all passengers
in the process. Following a warning that the victims' souls still haunt
the house, the doors open, and your journey begins. A dark maze leads
to a flight of steps, up to the ticket line. Glancing downward, the
view of the floors below is obscurred by fog, which envelopes the lower
third of staircase. After purchasing tickets, you're led to more
stairs, in preparation of your ascent to the fourth floor of the old house.
A skeleton sits at a spider-web covered pipe organ, surrounded by two coffins,
that appear to be recently vacated. The pillows and sheets that serve
as their linings have been disturbed - like someone, or someTHING had been
lying in them not too long ago! The area is appropriately lit by
flickering, gothic candelabras. Up the steps, haunting is evidenced
by a rocking chair that moves on its own accord! Cupboards vibrate
and shake as you walk past various patients in the hospital ward, including
one wearing a gas mask attached to an oxygen tank. A bloody doctor
desperately searches for his next patient. Blood spattered walls,
and insane patients confined behind fences asking to play games, are all
part of the Happy Hill Insane Asylum. Downstairs, cauldorns
line the walls, and creepy noises induce fear as you navigate a bridge-like
walk way, having "sinking" wooden floors. At one point, a ghost comes
fliying quickly down at you! Scary music, arched doorways hiding
various ghouls, body bags, a gargoyle, and a beating heart are just some
of the "nightmares" encountered in the old house. Count Dracula watches
the undead rise out of caskets in the coffin room, while the ring girl
climbs out of a well in another. The parlor features a TV showing
a severed, evil head! Walls vibrate, chains rattle, and bookcases
fall towards you as you continue on through the haunted House of Nightmares.
Crossing over a grating, it begins to vibrate, then suddenly, and unexpectedly
drops down beneath your feet! Awesome effect! Around another
dark corner, a hand suddenly waves in front of your face, then it's onto
a convincingly real looking cemetery, where ghouls reach up out of their
graves trying to escape death. Descending into the boiler room, who
else but Freddy Krueger lurks in the shadows. Sparks fly off his
blade-like fingers when he drags them across the wall, as you pass through
the furnace area, and exit the house to safety. Or, so you think,
until a madman with a chainsaw appears from out of nowhere, and chases
you up the ramp, through the yard, and back towards the parking lot!
Length-10, over 25 minutes. Actors-9, outstanding make-up and convincing
characters throughout. Just a few spots where it looked as though
someone was missing. Props-9½, not a lot of animatronics,
but who needs 'em here? Outstanding variety of traditionally scary
scenes, with unmatched attention to detail relating to decor. Scariness-9½,
the scares are spooky in nature, with just the right blend of scary music,
encounters with actors, and "alone" time to give your fears the opportunity
to surface. Design-10, lots to see, on a lengthy course. Value-9,
a bit pricey, but one of the most elaborate haunts around. Final
Score: 9½, This is the definition of a "haunted
house!" From the authentic building, to the traditional frights found
inside. Ohio Valley Haunts urges you to visit The House of Nightmares.
You've got to see it to believe it! Make sure you do!!! reviewed
10/14/05 |
| DEAD ACRES |
| 13861 State Route (Broad St.) |
| Columbus, Ohio |
| (740) 927-3568 |
| $15 ($25 VIP line) + $2 Parking |
 |
| click
logo to visit their web site |
|
9 ½ |
DEAD ACRES:
This is one of the most impressive Haunted Attractions you'll find anywhere.
Horror movies play on a giant screen TVwhile you wait in line for the Dead
Acres Experience. Once you pass through the double door entrance,
the surprises are basically non-stop, beginning with an oversided grave
which suddenly opens, freeing a large mechanical skeleton that quickly
invades your territory. This is the first of literally hundreds of
animated devices that engage you along your journey. An inverted
skeleton devours his prey, a giant bat springs to life flapping it's wings,
an enormous, red-eyed fly-like monster, a serpent spraying water, and vibrating
doors and floors all must be dealt with as you continue on. Ghouls
grab at you from the walls, and ceilings, and run at you from all directions.
They're everywhere - in pictures that hang on the walls, and caged behind
bars shooting sparks off the metal! They're armed with power tools,
and weapons of all sorts. One bursts out of a grave in the cemetery
beneath a giant impaler. There's even a sewer monster in the water
beneath a bridge! Enraged characters charge out of shacks, and order
you into a dungeon, which turns out to be a dark maze. A girl levitates
above her bed that thrashes about violently on the floor in response to
the presence of ghosts and demons, a la The Exorcist! Outstanding
effect! Around a bend comes an encounter with a truck-like vehicle.
It's blinding headlights come at you quickly from out of nowhere, and it's
deafening horn blasts away as it comes to a sudden stop! There's
a spinning vortex, and dozens of mad men with chansaws, who actually brush
up against you with their instruments of terror before chasing you out
the exit! Whew! Length-8, just under 15 min. Actors-10,
hundreds of them. All are highly energetic, and interact with you
all the way through - sometimes 2 and 3 at a time! Props-10, numerous,
well-timed, high impact animatronics compliment the live actors perfectly,
and vice versa. Static props are nice too. Design-9½,
jam packed from start to finish. Rooms are loaded, decor is meticulously
constructed, and someone or someTHING is terrorizing you nearly the entire
time you're in the Haunt. Props are positioned in the perfect locations,
and the actors well hidden and concealed until just the right moment.
About the only way to improve upon the design would be to extend the length.
Scariness-9½, overwhelming numbers of startles and surprises from
start to finish - vastly more than you'll find anyplace else!
Most of the scares are of the modern, "in your face" variety, resulting
from being startled, intimidated, or terrorized, as opposed to traditional,
old-school Halloween spookiness. The complete absence of scary, bone
chilling music in favor of heavy metal is unfortunate. Value-9½,
a bit pricey, especially for the VIP line, then there's the parking fee.
But, the density of action inside is unmatched - the most high-tech animatronics
around, in addition to the huge volume of highly motivated actors performing
at fever pitch levels to bring you the best possible experience. Final
Score: 9½. Dead Acres is the most intense
Haunt around. Whatever you do, get to Columbus and see this place
for yourself. It is UNBELIEVEABLE, and, a MUST SEE "Haunt
of the Year" candidate. reviewed 10/6/05 |
| THE HAUNTED HOTEL |
| 3000 S. 4th St. |
| Louisville, KY |
| (502) 634-4478 |
| $14 - ($2 discount coupon on web
site) |
| - coupon valid Thursdays and Sundays
only - |
 |
| click
logo above to visit their web site |
 |
|
9 ½ |
THE HAUNTED HOTEL:
Once again, this haunt is loaded with lots and lots of startling scares.
Upon entering, you're led into an old, run-down elevator. The doors
shut, and the buttons on the panel board flash on and off as the elevator
shakes and vibrates it's way to your selected floor. The gears and
pulleys grind overhead as the elevator struggles to reach your destination.
When it stops, the lights go out. When power is restored, a ghoul
has mysteriously appeared, and orders you out! The doors open, and
you exit onto the 13th floor of the hotel. The terror continues as
you enter a bedroom where a girl lies in her bed. A terrific scare
awaits as a a skull pops up out of a dresser, and a skeleton is simultaneously
propelled at you from out of the bed! An electric chair with a convulsing
victim sits at the bottom of a staircase you must ascend. The hotel
is just loaded with all sorts of additional surprises! Among them
are numerous moving objects, sparks shooting out from caged ghouls behind
chain-link fences, uneven floors, floors that move, and even a "naked"
girl behind a shower curtain! Pushing the button on the wall might
give you a peek, or some other surprise! A loud, drop-down panel
in a wall allows a huge monster to lunge out at you! Those of you
with weak bladders be forewarned!!! Various characters await throughout
the hotel, including a mad butcher with sparks flying off his knife!
Chuckles the Clown has his own plans for you, and a crazy Dentist wants
you to be his next patient! Ghouls with chainsaws and other devices
are always lurking close by. Down a flight of stairs, you exit the
hotel into the side yard where a large, spinning vortex totally destroys
your equilibrium making you feel like you're falling to the side!
A truck comes at you from out of nowhere with its headlights on and horn
honking! Watch out for the Grim Reaper who's always at this Hotel!
Chopper the dog guards the premises. Be advised that he's not too
friendly - actually, he's trained to attack! Crazed, gas mask wearing
ghouls, some armed with chainsaws, chase you through a maze, and out and
into the street! Length-9, almost 20 minutes. Actors-10, they're
in every room just waiting to put the fear of God into you! Some
of the best around! Scariness-9, non-stop, startling scenes throughout.
Design-9, the hotel itself is an unparalleled experience, but once outside,
it's just a bit too light to feel the true effectiveness of the maze.
It's a shame fire ordinances prevent them from covering it. Props-10,
lots of animatronics, all perfectly timed to deliver the best possible
scares! Don't blink, or you'll miss something! Value-9, up
$1 from '04. Final Score: 9½. This is one
fabulous haunt - the standard by which all others are measured! As
always, a legitimate "Haunt of the Year" contender, and one
you don't want to miss! reviewed 10/1/05,
revisited 10/22/05 |
|
|
9 |
WAVERLY HILLS
SANATORIUM: The sanatorium was built in the 1920's to
house tuberculosis patients. Death was a part of everyday life. As
such, it's reported to be among the 10 most legitimately haunted places
in the world! The building induces fear just looking at it
from the outside. Entering the foyer, pictures that mysteriously
change into ghouls as you walk past them adorn the walls. One transforms
into a hanged skeleton, and another into a headless bride. A nurse,
and a hooded fiend attired in black are there to greet you. The door
slams shut, and the experience begins! Inside, the intensity
is tremendous. Bloody patients locked in their rooms behind bars
try desperately to escape. One girl laughs and jumps on her bed,
while others reach out grabbing at passers-by. An apparition
of a scary face appears on a crystal ball, and numerous patients yell for
us to get out! Many authentic rooms readily contribute to your skin
crawling as you continue on. Dead bodies, strobe lights, and bloody
body parts are scattered throughout the creepy rooms. An insane Doctor
with a chainsaw attacked us at one point A girl sitting on
a bed screaming captivates your attention, then a skeleton propels outwardly
from the bed towards you. Many strange beings are encountered,
as well as scary sounds of someone, or someTHING pounding with a pipe.
Mad Doctors kill their patients! Insanity is the rule, not the exception.
A girl eating her baby's head is found in the nursery, while another mother
offers to show you her baby, which has sharp teeth, and appears to be possessed!
Bloody walls and dead babies are everywhere. Dark, intimidating corridors,
frightening sounds, and well hidden ghouls give you the chills as you make
your way through the west wing of the old sanatorium. Length-9, fairly
long, about 20 minutes. Actors-9, very convincing and believable. Scariness-10,
a spooky, creepy, eerie place - the perfect setting for a haunt!
Design-9, legitimacy, with lots of surprises along the way.
Props-7, they could do more with the numerous rooms rather than relying
so much on the facility itself. Value-9, $15 by itself, or $20 with
Beyond
the Darkness. Final Score: 9. Walking through
the dark sanatorium is something you simply must experience! We loved
it! reviewed 10/1/05, revisited 10/22/05 |
| 7 |
BEYOND THE DARKNESS:
This haunt is located in the old morgue and autopsy rooms of the sanatorium's
north wing. Upon entering, shadows of people are evident through
the covered windows, yet you see no one. Some move up and down, others
run along-side your group, but you never see the people, or should I say
the GHOSTS, just their shadows! Creepy music plays on your emotions
as you continue down the dark hallways. Plenty of strange, startling
sounds are heard, but again, you never see anyone. Door knobs shake
on their own, and a light briefly illuminates the body vault area of the
morgue, but it's short lived, and you're immediately cast back into total
darkness. Spirits clang on pipes, chains rattle, and doors slam.
You've probably got the creeps just reading this, and you weren't even
there! Length-7, about 13 minutes. Actors-8, never saw a one, just
heard them! Extremely well hidden, or perhaps the noises were emanating
from the ghosts who haunt the sanatorium! Scariness-8, dark most
of the time, plus you're in the sanatorium's morgue and autopsy rooms!
Props-2, not much other than darkness. Design-6, for the most part,
just a stroll through the darkened halls. It's your nerves that provide
the effect here. Value-10, only $5 if purchased along with the sanatorium
itself. Final Score: 7, a nice compliment to the sanatorium
proper, but difficult to rate higher on its own. Being part of TheWaverly
Hills Sanatorium makes it worth a look. reviewed
10/1/05 |
| OHIO STATE REFORMATORY |
| HAUNTED PRISON |
| 100 Reformatory Rd. |
| Mansfield, Ohio |
| (419) 522-9053 |
| $13 - (speedpass $5 extra) |
 |
| click
logo above to visit their web site |
 |
|
9 |
OHIO STATE REFORMATORY
HAUNTED PRISON: This is one intimidating place from the
time you first lay eyes on it. An electric chair sits off to
the side in the foyer where you wait to enter the prison, serving as a
reminder of The Reformatory's past history. Ascending a spooky
staircase up to the third floor commences the eerie journey through The
Haunted Prison. From this point on, you can feel your skin crawl
as you make your way through the former corrections institute. Rusty,
iron doors, the jail cells themselves, and the paint peeling off the walls
just adds to this old building's legitimacy. Zombies pound on walls,
dead bodies line floors, and screams ring out from off in the distance
as you proceed. An animated body srpings out of desk as you make
your way through a room littered with computer monitors. Ghouls entrapped
behind walls, send sparks shooting out at you, and zombies peek out of
the shadows, and around corners as your creepy experience continues.
Sound effects are impressively loud throughout the haunt. An animated
head popping out of a barrel, skeletons moving along walls, and a realistic
autopsy room are just some of the sights you encounter on the third floor
of The Reformatory. Down a flight of stairs, a dark, confusing
corridor seemingly divides in two. Pick the wrong way, and a crazed
zombie armed with a chainsaw will gladly show you the correct path!
One area is protected by an animated guard dog, while zombies with power
drills rule elsewhere. Down to ground level, zombies inhabit jail
cells, and can't wait to terrorize all who pass by. A vortex of lights
lies ahead. Once again, sounds are incredibly LOUD, and the dimly
lit hallways only add to this nerve racking experience inside the Mansfield
prison. This is especially true as you make your way underground,
through solitary confinement, then look upward at the six floors of prison
cells. You know zombies occupy some of them, you just don't know
which ones! At one point, a projection on the floor gives the appearance
of water up ahead, and it looks as though you're going to have to wade
through it in order to continue on. Great effect! Scary music
adds to the bone chilling experience as you make your way into the west
cell block. An iron, spiral staircase accesses all six floors above.
You can really sense evil - even death inside these concrete walls that
at one time housed the state's most violent felons. As the end draws
near, you're reminded of the three ways to deal with zombies - avoidance,
termination, and disposal. Length-10, nearly 25 minutes.
Actors -7½, well hidden, and intense, but need more variety, especially
in the cell blocks. Props-7, original, realistic scenes, as well
as some animatronics, but is it enough? Understanding that props
are used to compliment the experience, not overshadow it, makes this a
tough call. Still think they could benefit from some additional props,
instead of relying so much on the facility itself as the primary scare
factor. Scariness-10, given it's history, just walking through the
dimly lit prison is down right fear inducing. Deafening sounds along
the way strike fear in the hearts of all who enter. Design-9, although
the minimal use of props is a detriment, the legitimacy of the old, run-down
prison is an experience like no other. Lengthening the route this
year plays heavily in their favor. Nice job! Value-9, reasonably
priced considering its length, and the authenticity found inside. Final
Score: 9, this is one creepy place! Ohio Valley Haunts
encourages everyone to visit The Haunted Prison and see for yourself
why lines are longer here than at any other haunt we've visited.
Get there early! And don't forget to visit the souvenir stand, where
t-shirts bearing the awesome new logo cost only $8! reviewed
10/14/05 |
| USS NIGHTMARE |
| Newport on the Levy |
| Newport , Kentucky |
| (859) 261-8500 |
| $15 - or $20 RIP pass
(no line) |
| ($4 off coupon on web site - Thurs./Sun
only) |
| (or buy 1 get 1 free on Weds.
w/coupon) |
 |
| click
logo above to visit their web site |
| view
photos
taken aboard USS Nightmare |
|
9 |
USS NIGHTMARE:
A strange, gory sailor with one arm in a sling greets you as you board
the USS Nightmare, and a one-eyed crewman detains you before granting permission
to enter. Once on the boat, it's down a dark, spooky corridor to
"Rat Girl" a traditional fixture aboard the haunted USS Nightmare.
She wears a blood stained dress, and rats crawl all over her body.
Soon thereafter comes an encounter with a giant Inpaler - an animated,
growling monster that must be 20 feet tall! It holds a headless victim
in one hand, and a spear in the other. Impressive sight! There
are many more animatronics on board the vessel, including a wolf (or werewolf)
lunging out at you, a mechanical skeleton leaving its coffin and moving
toward you, and a wall panel that drops down freeing a skeleton which propels
out at you. These distractions give way to up close, and personal
meetings with the ship's bloody, disfigured Captain ready to throw you
into the brig, or a face to face encounter with a skeleton witch doctor!
Later, a bell rings, signaling the start of an execution. The animated
victim convulses wildly in an electric chair as he begins to fry!
Hallways with secret passages, rooms with hidden doors, and plenty of living-dead
monsters waiting to scare you are found on board the old boat. You
pass through the engine room, and walk steel gratings to and from various
levels of the ship. The waters of the Ohio River splashing against
the boat surround your every step. You can even look down through
the grating into the river! Fantastic! Thick, creepy fog rolls
through the decks of the Nightmare. Remains of dead crewman
are a common sight. A hanged victim swings back and forth, a noose
still clutching his throat, and life-like body bags hang in your path
impeding your progress. Watch out! A few of them may still
be alive! A ghoul warns you to get off the boat, then laughs
wickedly saying, "There is no escape!," followed by more unnerving laughter.
Roaches infest the decks of the ship as well, covering some of the doors
and walls. Strange crewmen wander about. Beware of the crazy
doctor in the ship's infirmary, as he needs some new body parts for his
patient, and searches for a donor. Coffins containing the bodies
of dead sailors are found on the bottom deck . One contains the remains
of Count Dracula. Is he still alive, dead, or undead? You'll
find out! A bloody cook is hard at work in the ship's kitchen.
Holding up whats left of a dead body, he invites us to stay for dinner!
Very Scary music, and strange sounds can be heard throughout the journey.
In the laboratory, a condemned man lies on a gurney, his hands and legs
strapped down. He desperately beats his head up and down trying to
escape. Ana wants you to stay and play with her dolls, and Creepo
the clown can't wait for your arrival his playroom. Many other
scenes and surprises await you in the bowels of the wrecked vessel
formerly known as The Mitchell. Length-9½, pretty
long, over 20 minutes. Actors-9½, their costumes and make-up
are quite realistic. All did a great job interacting with us, and
trying to scare us. Props-9½, many well-timed animatronics
inside. You gotta see the giant Inpaler. Scariness-9, the music
and the old ship itself set the tone for a truly scary experience.
Design-9, They changed a few things around from last year, and there's
only one noticable dead spot along the entire route aboard the ship.
Value-8½, a little steep at $15, but lots of scares along the way.
Use the coupon if you can. Final Score: 9. The
USS Nightmare is the best Haunt in the Cincinnati area. Oho Valley
Haunts recommends getting out and experiencing the Nightmare! reviewed
10/5/05 |
| THE HAUNTED CASTLE |
| BLACK FOREST &
PHARAOH'S
REVENGE |
| 8965 Auburn Road |
| Fort Wayne, IN |
| (260) 489-1763 |
| $9 each - any 2 for $15 - all 3 for
$20 |
| 3 haunt Silver Passport (VIP combo)
= $25 |
| discount coupons available on their
website |
 |
| click
logo to visit their web site |
|
9 |
 THE
HAUNTED CASTLE: The Haunted Castle sits directly
beside an actual cemetery. The story of The Black Knight is related
upon first stepping inside, prior to a bookcase swinging open to reveal
the secret entrance to the Castle. An animated skull offers a surprise,
then you walk through the front of a Grandfather Clock to exit the room,
and embark upon your journey. Extremely tight, narrow corridors,
low ceilings, and creaking floors lead through various levels of the old
building. Upstairs, downstairs, up circular staircases, down slides,
through shrinking hallways, numerous methods of maneuvering about are employed
at The Haunted Castle. Animatronics include a body springing
forward out of a casket, a skeleton that pops through window shutters,
and a corpse on a gate that swings around and bangs loudly on a glass panel
as you approach. They shoot out of beds, and from within tables.
There’s a mirror maze, and a button on the wall beneath a sign warning
against pushing it. Whatever you do, DON’T PUSH THAT BUTTON!
An impressive slanted room makes navigation difficult, and on two separate
occasions, they actually place you in coffins! You’ll have to see
for yourself what happens once you’re inside! Length-10, 30 minutes.
Actors-7, need more. Props-8, nice animatronics. Think they
could strategically fit in a few additional scenes. Love the coffins!
Design-9½, lots of trips up and down stairs, through barely manageable
corridors, and into various rooms, cellars, and slides. Slanted room
is amazing! Scariness-8, lots of startles, and challenging navigation
inside. May score higher if someone is afraid of the coffins or slides.
Value-10, a real fun haunted house! Final Score: 9,
a really entertaining experience! As you exit The Haunted Castle,
be sure to stop by and visit Lynn in the Goblin Shop for some souvenirs,
and really nice looking t-shirts! reviewed
10/26/05 |
| 9 |
 PHARAOH'S
REVENGE: A ghoul with glowing red eyes led us into Pharaoh’s
Revenge through an Egyptian Tomb. His amplified voice echoed
loudly as he warned us of the sole exit to the ancient catacombs, then
sent us on our way. Nice start! Wandering the dark, maze-like
passages inside the tomb, we immediately encountered a mummy lying in a
casket, that rose up as we made our way past! Several other animated
props are inside Pharaoh’s Revenge, including falling crates, and
moving skeletons. Passageways narrow in places, both in width and
height, and you have to duck down often in order to pass through.
The first series of mazes leads to six more passages. The correct
one of these, in turn, leads to the Pharaoh’s Throne, which levitates as
he addresses you, warning of the mysteries that lie ahead! Excellent!
Ten mysterious doors are soon encountered inside the Pharaoh’s Tomb.
Surprises lie behind some; others lead into complicated mazes that give
new meaning to the terms “dead ends” and “loops.” One of the doors
accesses a maze that leads to three additional doors, one of which just
might help you find a mirrored, pole maze, and eventually the way out!
But Beware, an error along the way can actually send you back through various
parts of the adventure all over again! If you’re successful, a skeleton
praises your abilities, and rewards you by revealing a secret panel that
leads to the escape route. Length-10, took us 30 min., could easily
take much longer! Actors-7, those they had were good, but need lots
more. Props-7½, some good ones including animatronics, but
not enough. Maze upon maze for the most part. Doors are awesome!
Design-10, confusing mazes and doors lead to disorientation, and to retracing
your steps over and over again. Scariness-9½, after awhile,
it becomes more and more unnerving as you forget which doors you’ve been
through and remain lost inside. Value-9, best as part of the
combo pac. Final Score: 9. This is the most intricately
designed maze we’ve encountered. If we’d reentered, I doubt that
navigation would’ve been any easier the second time through! Lots
of fun! reviewed 10/26/05 |
| 7 ½ |
 BLACK
FOREST: Blinding lights and deafening horns welcome your
entrance into The Black Forest. The woods are dark and isolated.
Low-level fog rolls about the grounds making for an eerie experience.
Spooky music accompanies your journey along the streams where a variety
of ghouls, some armed with chainsaws, leap from the brush to startle you.
Illuminated eyes stare at you alongside the rugged terrain. Animated
props, like heads popping out of barrels, provide some surprises of their
own, and a ten-foot tall monster pursues you for a while. Bloody
sheets hang in one of the structures obstructing your path, and sparks
fly off a metal cage that’s home to a crazed ghoul. Mad Max the watchdog
guards the grounds outside the barn, so watch out for him! Iron gratings
must be traversed, as well as a vortex. Flames shoot up out of the
ground, and the undead roam cemeteries. Other sights include a skit
of a girl gunfight, a mineshaft that you must pass through, and a skeleton
riding a white horse. Up next, is The Black Forest trademark – the
super maze. Two paths are offered, an easy maze, and the fun maze.
A secluded area of the super maze is labeled “perfect make-out spot.”
You’ll have to ask Erin about her experience here! I’m not talking!
Exiting the super maze, more sparks emanate from the bars of monsters in
jail cells, and a slanted room makes walking difficult. Beware of
the Boogieman as you exit The Black Forest to safety. Length-10,
over 30 minutes, and possibly longer depending on the amount of time spent
in the super maze. Actors-5, not nearly enough. Lots of kiddy
actors, but that’s pretty much expected at a Boy Scout Haunt. Props-7,
could use lots more. Design-7, a lengthy trail, but lots of typical
dead spots. Scariness-7½, great scary music, and the placement
of fog machines throughout gives this a mystifying look. Could rate
higher with additional props and actors. Value-8, less than 8 bucks
as part of the combo ticket if you take advantage of the discount. Final
Score: 7½ . Trails rarely measure up to other attractions,
due to the numerous dead spots between scenes, and that’s the case here.
This is the weakest of the three haunts, but still a nice compliment to
Pharaoh’s
Revenge and The Haunted Castle. reviewed
10/26/05 |
| GHOSTLY MANOR |
| 3319 Milan Rd. |
| Sandusky, OH |
| (419) 626 - 4467 |
| $10 |
 |
| click
logo above to visit their web site |
| view
photos
taken at Ghostly Manor |
|
9 |
GHOSTLY MANOR:
The entrance to Ghotsly Manor is constructed to look like the main
entrance to a spooky, haunted house. Upon entering, they quarantine
you in the first room, where house rules are read. Just prior to
the beginning of your journey, Fluffy the dog suddenly awakens from a sound
sleep, to attack you, then a panel in the wall drops down allowing an animated
skeleton to scare the tar out of you! Through the door, and into
the haunted Manor, window shutters shake and bang violently on their own,
and doors follow suit, opening under their own power, then slamming themselves
shut again. Dark, foggy corridors having numerous spooky pictures
hanging on the walls lead to a variety of scary looking rooms. Some
of the pictures have drop down panels, providing plenty of opportunities
for the ghouls of the Manor, to surprise and frighten you. Numerous
animatronics spring into action as you make your way through a creepy dining
room, a doll's room, and a bedroom where something sleeps in the bed, and
a crazed ghoul hides in the closet awaiting your arrival. Monsters
pound madly on glass windows as you walk by. Even the walls come
to life, reaching out to grab at you! In the nursery, skeletons pop
up out of a baby carriage and bassinet, and the kitchen is inhabited by
giant rats, one with its tail moving back and forth! Cabinet doors
vibrate of their own volition, and a ghoul charges at you from out of the
refrigerator! The dimly lit den is adorned with dusty bookcases,
and a skeleton shoots up out of the desk! Other sights include a
coffin room adorned with huge bats hanging from the ceiling, a caged impaler
dangling a victim over the remains of those that came before him, an autopsy
room surrounded by body bags, and a headless ghoul clutching his own head
in his left hand! Animated skeletons line the walls of one of the
hallways, grabbing at you, and moving in all directions as you continue
on, and jailed ghouls desperately try to escape their cells, as one of
the inmates fries in an electric chair near the exit of Ghostly Manor.
Length-7½, under 15 minutes. Actors-8½, many original
looking characters, but some confronted us more than once. Could
stand a few more. Scariness-9½, convincing actors, traditionally
spooky background music, "haunted" doors and shutters, and an abundance
of other surprises along the way. Design-9½, a little
short, but great while it lasts. Well decorated, realistic rooms
- exactly what you'd expect to find inside a haunted house! Props-9½,
loads of animatronics (although some weren't working), in addition to the
meticulously decorated rooms. Value-9½, a lot of "bang for
the buck" at Ghostly Manor. Final Score: 9,
was expecting an old, spooky looking house similar to that pictured on
their logo, so was somewhat disappointed to find the entrance inside a
single story skating rink. While the construction here is top notch,
it's a created atmosphere, and as such, loses a little personality that
could be gained from an authentic structure. Ghostly Manor
is a tremendous haunt, boasting many more props and animatronics than most,
and one you don't want to miss this Halloween season. Ohio Vally
Haunts highly recommends visiting. NOTE: Ghostly
Manor is fully accessible to the handicapped! If anyone you know
is confined to a wheel chair and typically unable to attend haunted attractions,
take them here! reviewed 10/14/05 |
| TERROR PARK |
| 1155 West Mound Street (Cooper Stadium) |
| Columbus, Ohio |
| (614) 462 - 5250 |
| $13 ($20 VIP Speedpass) + $3 parking |
| $2 discount coupon available on their
web site |
| (cannot be used with VIP Ticket) |
 |
| click
logo to visit their web site |
 |
|
8 ½ |
TERROR PARK:
The
Fun House is included with your Terror Park admission, and as
the name implies, it’s occupied by clowns - some hiding in corners, others
popping through windows, and even a jack-in-the-box clown! Near the
exit, there’s one encaged behind a metal fence that has a “shocking” surprise
in store for you! Leaving The Fun House, you enter the queue
line for Terror Park. You must crawl through an authentic
hearse in order to enter the haunt. Beware of what’s inside!
Fabulous beginning! As you make your way through Terror Park,
you pass through the field level seats of the baseball stadium, the ghoul
infested dugout, and a dark tunnel that leads beneath the stadium itself.
The sounds of water dripping and leaking into the tunnel accompany your
walk through the darkness. Inside, you encounter Psycho Playland
– an maze-like area inhabited by various screaming lunatics, some wearing
straightjackets. There’s a false partition that blocks the actual
exit, sending you in a loop back through for a second encounter with these
insane psycho playmates. This time around, the partition has been
moved to the opposite side, revealing the exit that was earlier obscured
from view. Great idea! Making your way out, a security officer
detains you for a brief time, before allowing you to enter a high voltage
area. Numerous exposed wires hang from the fuse box, and a ghoul
in the ceiling grabs at you, as electricity sizzles all around you!
Other sights including, a live, spine exposed upper torso (see photo at
left), and an overflowing toilet spraying water on you, lead to a Horrificus
and chainsaw chase out! Length-9, just under 20 min. Actors-9½,
unique and original costumes – some of the best we’ve seen. Make
up is top notch as well. All actors were highly energetic, and enthusiastic
in their roles. Props-8, love the hearse beginning. Could stand
a few more. Design- 8, well done, except for a few dead spots.
Scariness-8½, Psycho Playland is quite intimidating. Value-8½,
includes Fun House in addition to Terror Park. $3 parking
fee for admission to Cooper Stadium parking lot is ridiculous. Final
Score: 8½, wouldn’t take much to cross that final hurdle
and make it into the 9 zone. Ohio Valley Haunts highly recommends
the Terror Park experience. reviewed
10/21/05 |
| BULL RUN FARMS |
| HAUNTED HAYRIDE & BLACK
BOG |
| 6070 Springboro Rd. |
| Lebanon , Ohio |
| (937) 748-2272 |
| o$15 for both |
| ($1 off coupon at Scary
Ohio) |
 |
| click
logo to visit their web site |
|
8 ½ |
 BULL
RUN FARMS HAUNTED HAYRIDE: Climb aboard the tractor pulled
hay wagon, and find a bale of hay to sit on, and you're ready for the Bull
Run Farms Haunted Hayride. Sit back and relax - yeah, right!
Prepare to have the living daylights scared out of you! The
tractor pulls out and stops in an old barn. The barn doors shut behind
you, and previously hidden, half-crazed ghouls begin jumping on the wagon
warning that they will be watching us! One of the ghouls shouts into
a microphone, and his voice echos throughout the barn. Nicely done!
Onward, throuhgh the field leading to the woods, you suddenly see something
coming at you from off in the the distance. Out of the darkness rides
The Headless Horseman! He charges up closely behind the wagon, then
up along-side the hayride. Simply AWESOME! Many more scares
await your journey through these haunted woods including a skeleton driving
a loud, powerful hearse who tries to run you off the road, a mad trucker,
and a crazy farmer coming out of the cornfield. They drive loud,
motorized vehicles, so prepare yourselves for the terror they have in store
for you! A giant grim reaper is encountered, as well as werewolves,
executioners, killer clowns in the Psycho Circus, and plenty of chainsaws.
The ghouls repeatedly jump on and off the hayride providing loads of scares.
This hayride is a thrill a minute, with many more scenes along the way.
Length-9, almost 20 minutes. Actors-8, most are great, but there are a
few too many kiddy actors. Scariness-8½, ghouls terrorize
the wagon throughout, jumping on and off for scare after scare. Design-8½,
really good with just a few dead spots. Props-9, love the hotrod
hearse, headless horseman, farmer, and trucker. Value-9, only
$7.50 when purchased in combination with the improved, and newly renovated
Black
Bog. Final Score-8½, if you're looking for a great
night of scares and fun, don't miss this one! We at Ohio Valley Haunts
highly recommend a visit. This is the best Hayride around! reviewed
9/30/05 |
| 7 |
 BULL
RUN FARMS BLACK BOG: We were all very pleasantly surprised
with the major improvements in the Bog - much better than '04!
You enter into an old barn built back in the 1850's. Down a flight
of stairs and into the cellar to an encounter with a strange girl sitting
on the floor singing Freddy's Nightmare on Elm Street theme song,
"One, two, Freddy's gonna get you...." She warns that Freddy will
kill us all! A tunnel (a large sewer-like pipe) leads to the next
room where a fortune teller sits predicting our imminent deaths!
Around the next corner is a real elevator with fully functioning doors.
Very nice! The elevator shakes and vibrates as it transports you
to a floor with caged ghouls. They order you out of their building!
Exiting into a cornfield, an old school bus must be boarded where a few
more surprises lurk in the darkness! Off the bus, you begin walking
down a wooden pathway. You pass by a junkyard, angry farmers warning
us off their property, Michael Myers, and a spooky, foggy old graveyard.
Watch out for the gravediggers - they have an open grave waiting for you!
You exit the trail into a foggy building with tight, dark corridors.
Just as you think you're on you're way to safety, Freddy Krueger confronts
you. The Bog exits back into the barn where concession stands
are located. Length-7½, about 15 mins. Props-7, the
Cellar has a lot, and is an excellent beginning. Loved the new elevator
and the tunnel. Still could use more along the trail, but significant
improvements in comparison to '04. Actors-6, the farmers were outstanding,
but some of the others didn't even try to scare us. They just walked
right by. The gravediggers were excellent as well, and deserve a
9. Design-7½, vast improvements over last year. Scariness-7½,
the cellar and the graveyard are best. Value-7½, worth the
combo ticket price of $15 considering you get that fantastic Hayride as
a bonus. Final Score: 7, make a trip to Bull Run Farms
and enjoy The Black Bog and the Haunted Hayride.
reviewed
9/30/05 |
| HAUNTED SPOOK COOP |
| 4753 E. Lower Springboro Rd. |
| Waynesville, Ohio |
| (937) 603-5228 |
| $10 + $ 2 parking |
| ($2 off coupon available here.) |
|
8 ½ |
SPOOK COOP:
After the house rules are read in the foyer, the journey through the Haunted
Spook Coop begins. A very dark maze starts things off. Don't
expect any help from the ghouls in finding your way out. Some haunts
ruin their mazes by telling you which way to go, or lighting the path with
flashlights. That's not the case at the Coop. They leave you
in the dark, and it's up to you to find your own way out. Very well
done! Corridors with uneven floors, and monsters behind bars await
your exit from the maze. Then it's onto a cemetery where many devilish
ghouls lurk to terrorize you, including one who flies across the ceiling
overhead. Numerous animatronics inside moving in all directions,
and popping out at you. Plenty of characters as well, such as Freddy,
Jason, and Leatherface, among others. One of the rooms contains
a dozen or so doors. Can you find the one that leads to the way out?
Be careful! There are surprises concealed behind some of the doors.
As you proceed through the many well designed scenes, you encounter a bloody
bride, bloody body parts, strobe lights, an executioner, skeletons, and
some crazy, scary clowns in a playroom. Watch out for the spider
lady who encourages her very large spiders to attack you. Another
dark maze with several dead ends must be navigated near the end.
Length-8½, seemed a little shorter this year, just over 15 mins.
Props-8½, lots of moving, mechanical props inside, but fewer than
in years past. Scariness-8, lots of screams from our group due to
the numerous actors and props. Actors-8, a few kiddy actors.
Design-9, love the way this is set up with large number and variety of
mechanical props, unique scenes, and challenging mazes . Value-8, loses
a point for the parking fee. Final Score: 8½,
always one of our favorites! Get out and see the Spook Coop! You'll
be glad you did. reviewed 9/30/05 |
| 97.3 HAUNTED HOUSE |
| 5963 Harrison Ave. / Dent, Ohio |
| (513) 598-4600 |
| $10 - ($2 off coupon on website) |
| + $2 parking |
| $15 Fast Pass Option |
| $5 Re-entry Fast Pass Option |
 |
| click
logo to visit their web site |
|
8 ½ |
97.3 HAUNTED HOUSE
(DENT HAUNTED SCHOOLHOUSE): The old building is as scary
looking as ever from the outside. A graveyard adorns the yard on
the left side of the house, near the exit. As you make your way inside,
a skull hologram greets you in the first room, then the door opens on its
own, and your journey begins. Many scares await in the 20 plus rooms,
including a dropping ceiling, an animated skeleton shooting out from a
picture on the wall, and a clown maze that surprisingly continues on, even
after you first believe you've found your way out! There's also a
fabulous vortex, with a mirror located just past its exit, that really
adds to the effect! A school room is occupied by a mad janitor, and
zombies roam the cellar graveyard, one of which separated a member (Gary)
from the rest of our group. She threatened to eat him, and summoned
her brother for assistance! She must've detained him for about 5
minutes while the rest of us continued on! Other scares include Norman
Bates searching for his mother, and a bereaved widow demanding you pay
respects to her dead husband, who's lying in a coffin. As you quietly
approach, a ghoul springs out of the bottom half, startling you!
Beware of Freddy Krueger in the boiler room, and the rocking hallway where
skeletons and coffins close in on you from both sides! Don't miss
the haunted 97.3 radio booth, and ghoul DJ! Now if Porkchop, Shaggy,
Jimmy "The Weasel," or especially Notorious had been in that haunted studio,
it would've really been scary!!! Length-8½, nearly 20 mins.
Actors-8½, highly energetic, and after us non-stop! Design-8,
it's well done, but doesn't change much from year to year. Scariness-8½,
the old boarded up building is scary enough just looking at it. The
actors provided many more throughout. Props-8½, some really
good animatronics inside. Value-9, use the coupon on their web site,
or pick one up at Arby's and you can't go wrong. FINAL SCORE:
8½, improved from last year, plus they've got the coolest shirts
of any haunt around! You can re-enter for only $5 with no line, and
no wait! Go through again, like we did! reviewed
9/30/05, revisited 10/16/05 |
| HUSTONVILLE HAUNTED HOUSE |
| 9837 East Main Street |
| Hustonville, KY |
| (606) 346-2198 |
| $10 |
 |
| click
logo to visit their web site |
 |
|
8 ½ |
HUSTONVILLE
HAUNTED HOUSE: The scares begin immediately upon arriving
at The Hustonville Haunted House. Jason Voorhees stalks the
crowd as they wait in line, loudly banging his knife on stop signs, and
whatever else he can find. You’re warned about a rickety, old elevator
inside that’s been classified as unsafe for groups over four. They
caution you of the darkness upstairs, and of falling through holes on upper
story floors that drop you all the way down to mattresses in the basement!
The police arrive and threaten to condemn the building, and put them out
of business! And most frightening of all, just prior to entering,
smoke begins bellowing out of the house near the electric meters out front!
Workers scream about smoke filling the ticket booth, and the owner grabs
a fire extinguisher, and charges up the third floor fearing the building
is about to burst into flames! Then, they ask you to go inside!
ARE YOU KIDDING? Enter a burning building? Yep, it’s your turn,
and if things get worse, they’ll usher you out the other way. Still
want to go inside??? If you’re bravery is still holding out, you
climb up a flight of rusty, iron stairs to the third floor. It’s
pitch black inside, and the corridors are narrow and cramped. Is
this place really on fire, you wonder? The old wooden floors have
loose boards everywhere, and you timidly move forward, feeling your way
along, attempting to avoid those holes in the floor. If you’re successful,
you continue on to several lavishly furnished rooms, including an asylum,
where an insane person in a wheel chair orders you out, and an autopsy
room containing numerous hospital gurneys, dead bodies, and shelves of
body parts encased in jars. Autopsy photos are displayed on the walls,
and a live head, that turns and moves on its own as you pass by, rests
on a table. There’s a funeral parlor with legitimate music and lighting,
where a corpse lies in an authentic casket, and dozensof floral arrangements
line the walls. Another funeral scene displays smaller coffins, containing
dead babies (dolls), one with a teddy bear in with the body. Very
nerve racking! A hunters’ room displays wall mounts of deer, and
even a human capture! You make your way down to the second floor
via a slide. A knotted rope allows you to lower yourself down through
the slide, where Freddy Krueger awaits. Lying ahead is the aforementioned
elevator. They crowd 5, 6 even 7 or more people into it, after insisting
earlier that 4 is the limit! I’ll let you guess what happens!
A barrel maze lies ahead, as well as a large table saw ripping a screaming
body in half. Pin Head, clowns, and numerous other well-hidden monsters
and ghouls terrorize you inside The Hustonville Haunted House. They
overheard the name of one member of our group (Christine), and tormented
her the entire time, calling out her name, and threatening all sorts of
devious acts against her! Spongy floors lead outside to a foggy graveyard,
a swaying bridge, and a chainsaw chase out! Be careful in that graveyard!
There’s a wild driver on the loose! Length-8, around 15 min.
Actors-8, outdoor theatrics are outstanding! We visited on a weeknight
when only a “skeleton” crew was working the house, so could rate higher
with a full staff. Props-9, boat loads of static props and meticulously
designed rooms. Could benefit from some properly placed animatronics.
Design-8, everything flows very well from room to room. They’ve paid
great attention to detail in decorating the various scenes with authentic,
realistic looking props. But, there’s a series of crawlspace tunnels
on the ground floor that have been removed in order to expedite the trip
through, considering the large crowds. Would really like to experience
these! Scariness-8½, lots of fear induced from
the very beginning. Great spooky music, and perfect lighting for
each individual scene. Would’ve scored higher with additional actors.
Value-9½, you get your money’s worth before even entering! Final
Score: 8½, I still can't get over the way they work
the crowd outside this haunt. It's very realistic and believable,
and people really react to all the goings on. The house itself is
a traditional Halloween haunt, but the outdoor shenanignas are just as
important, and really add to the overall experience here at Hustonville.
Ohio Valley Haunts recommends paying them a visit and experiencing this
production for yourselves. Go on a Friday or Saturday night, and
watch how the waiting crowd reacts to all the surprises that await them.
reviewed
10/18/05 |
| HAUNTED TOWN HALL |
| 101 E. High Street (Napoleon St.) |
| Lafayette, OH |
| $7 - ($1 off coupon at Scary
Ohio) |
 |
| click
photo above to visit their web site |
 |
| shackled victim |
|
8 |
HAUNTED TOWN HALL:
This haunt takes place in a spooky old building constructed in 1899 that
served as the former town hall, housing the mayor’s office, fire department,
jail, etc. It begins in a run-down office, where you’re addressed
by a “ghost” seated at a desk. The lights go out, the empty chair
scoots across the floor, and a voice rings out warning about the souls
that still roam the hallways of The Haunted Town Hall! A secret
panel inside the fireplace opens on its own, allowing you to escape the
office into the prison ward. The corpse
of a hanged convict occupies one of the authentic jail cells, and a skull
peers out from behind the bars of another. Four doors lie ahead,
and you’ll have to select the correct one in order to continue. Beware!
Surprises lurk behind three of them! The correct door leads to a
narrowing hallway with a descending ceiling. Up a spooky, old staircase,
and across creaky wooden floors, you pass by a series of arched doorways.
Monsters stand in the openings, so be forewarned! Some of them might
be alive! Continuing into a haunted bedroom, the bed jumps up off
the floor on its own, and a hidden ghoul leaps out of the closet.
Through a TV room, and down a picture-lined corridor, you enter a tilted
maze. This is really disorienting, as the walls and floors lean from
side to side, and pitch forward as you make your way through. Ghouls
pop out of caskets, clowns laugh at you, and another monster relentlessly
taunts, “We’ll find you!” as you continue on your journey. The lights
and horn of a vehicle startle you as you exit the final room, and head
down the back staircase to safety. Length-7, between 10 and 15 min.
Actors-7½, well hidden throughout. Need some original characters
wearing make-up as opposed to masks to up the score. The “we’ll find
you” guy deserves a 10! Props-8, especially like the “haunting effects”
– chair, bed, etc. Design-9, well thought out, with some original
inventiveness, like the tilted maze, and the secret passage in the fireplace.
Would like to see it lengthened. Scariness-8½, the old building
itself is the prefect place for a haunt. Fog, scary music, the actors,
and the design make for a traditionally spooky experience. Value-9½,
only $6 with Scary Ohio coupon. Final Score: 8.
This haunt left us wanting more! Really good, considering it’s only
their third year. Lots of potential here to rank among the state’s
best! Ohio Valley Haunts highly recommends The Haunted Town Hall
in
Lafayette. reviewed 10/21/05 |
| MIDDLETOWN'S LAND OF ILLUSION |
| featuring |
| MIDDLETOWN HAUNTED TRAIL |
 |
| (4 haunts in 1) |
| 8762 Thomas Rd |
| Middletown, Ohio |
| (513) 423-9960 |
| $30 for all 4 - plus $2 parking |
| click
logo above to visit their web site |
|
7 ½ |
 THE
MIDDLETOWN HAUNTED TRAIL: The trail is about a mile long.
Scary music sets the perfect mood as you begin your journey. Spider
webs line the trail early on, and a witch soon greets you along-side her
boiling cauldron A wrong turn shack soon crosses your path where
ghouls warn you against going the wrong way. There's a slaughterhouse
where Leatherface and his ever-ready chain saw await you inside.
A cornfield's up next with scarecrows on stakes, and "the children of the
corn" rustling around in the cornstalks. A blood-spitting ghoul happily
informs us that we'll be killed by his brother! This was very reminiscent
of the movie
House of a 1000 Corpses, complete with Rob Zombie music.
The blood-spitting ghoul was our favorite character of the night - a really
cool costume. We managed to escape "the brother" and encountered
a series of school buses which must be boarded. Freddy awaits inside,
as well as a "Jeepers Creepers" character. There are several other
structures along the trail. Don't miss the man being sawed in half,
and watch out for the blow torch wielding ghouls, giant gorillas, caged
skeletons, and of course the numerous chain saws which must all be navigated
successfully in order to survive The Middletown Trail. Length-10,
about 25 mins. Props-5, the buildings are well done, but there were
a few too many dead spots where not much was happening. Actors-7½,
the brothers were fantastic! Scariness-7, not quite as scary
as the other three, but the darkness of the outdoors adds to the spookiness.
Value-10, only $7.50 on the combo ticket. Final Score: 7½.
reviewed
9/10/05 |
| 8 ½ |
 DR.
PSYCHO'S HAUNTED ESTATE:. The estate is awesome! Everyone in
our
group agreed that this was the best Haunt at the Land of Illusion. It begins
with a brief walk through a cemetery where a hearse with a skeleton driver
guards the path leading up to the estate. Inside the hearse lies
a casket which begins to shake as you pass by as if the corpse is
trying to escape. There are plenty of other corpses popping out of
gravesides, and loads of animatronics throughout the graveyard. One
came so close to us that one member of our group (Erin) thought it was
going to crash right into another (Jim)! Lots and lots of surprises
and we haven't even entered the actual estate yet! Once inside, the
rooms are excellently decorated and loaded with many more startles and
surprises. At one point, a panel in the wall drops down revealing an angry
monster ready to grab you! Erin nearly peed her pants when the panel
dropped! This is a really great Haunt - go see it for yourselves!
Length-7½, 15 mins. Props-9, jam packed with excellent
props! Actors-8, Dr. Carver snuck up behind us near the exit asking
what we were still doing in his house? Scariness-9, you will get
scared! Value-10, for $7.50 this haunt is a steal. Final Score:
8½ . We highly recommend this one reviewed
9/10/05 |
| 8 |
 THE
TEMPLE OF TERROR: As you first enter the catacombs, a
voice warns you against entering the chambers inside. The surprise of the
night awaits early on. We're surely not giving this one away! It's
very dark inside and poisonous snakes line the walls shooting their venom
out at you. You may get a little wet from the spray. Continuing on,
you pass through a mummy morgue, and several spiders, snakes, skeletons,
and some great animatronics. The walls are adorned with hieroglyphic
symbols and writings in keeping with the temple theme. Don't miss
the 12 plus foot tall monster dangling an upside down victim from one hand,
and waving a weapon in his other! Length-7 ½, about
12 mins. Props:-9, lots of great ones inside - watch out for that
low ceiling! Actors-7, could use a few more. Scariness-8½,
lots of scary things happening inside these catacombs. Value-10,
only $7.50 on a combo ticket - well worth it.
Final Score: 8,
much bigger and better than last year! reviewed
9/10/05 |
| 7 |
 KILLER
KLOWNS: This is a new attraction at the Land of Illusion.
If you're frightened by clowns, you'll be terrified of these "Killer Klowns"
at Middletown, Ohio. Inside, are disorienting strobe lights, spinning vortex's,
and of course male and female "Klowns" who haunt your every move.
There's a chain link fence maze with deceptive dead ends to navigate. One
of the "Klowns" distracts you by laughing when you go the wrong way.
This actor really earned his money with his stalking attacks of relentless
laughter. Beyond the maze, the corridors are dark and loaded with
chain saw packing "Killer Klowns." This Haunt is a nice compliment
to the site. Length-6 only about 8-10 mins. Actors-8, the guy that
chased us in the maze deserves a ten! Props-7, vortex's and maze
and a few other surprises we're not giving away. Scariness-6½,
if clowns scare you, add a point or 2 to this rating. Value-8,
for $7.50 it's worth it! Final Score : 7. reviewed
9/10/05 |
| 8 |
OVERALL SCORE OF THE 4 HAUNTS AT
MIDDLETOWN TRAIL: Overall, the LAND OF ILLUSION is a
great night of fun! $30 gets you all four haunts - only $7.50 each!!!
Ohio Valley Haunts highly recommends a visit, and suggests hitting the
trail first as the line forms early and gets longer as the night goes on.
Overall
Final Score: 8 reviewed 9/10/05 |
| CULBERTSON MANSION HAUNTED
HOUSE |
| 914 East Main Street |
| New Albany, IN |
| (812) 944-9600 |
| $10 |
 |
| click
logo above to visit their web site |
 |
|
8 |
CULBERTSON
MANSION LITERALLY A HAUNTED HOUSE: Several creatures,
including an undead bride and a limping gravedigger
roam the cemetery area outside the haunt while you wait in line to enter
The
Culbertson Mansion Haunted House. An undertaker approached our
group and measured one of us (Gary) for his casket, implying that he wouldn’t
be making it out alive! Entering the haunt itself, you’re ushered
up an old iron staircase to a dark room, and seated on a bench. One
member of the group is selected to serve as a contact with the dead for
a séance. This creepy ceremony is initiated by a medium, whose
chants grow increasingly louder as she summons the Prince of Darkness.
Fantastic Beginning! A circus area lies ahead, as does a room lined
with glowing masks. You progress through a shrinking tunnel with
a surprise, then upstairs, encountering spider webs, coffins, and a variety
of ghouls along the way. Back down to the main level, a spooky looking
door unveils the steps leading down into the cellar, where spiders, roaches,
and giant bats reside. Spooky music plays as you pass by body bags,
a bloody nurse, jail cells, and a hanged victim with a noose around his
neck, in route to a chainsaw chase out. Length-7½, just under
15 min. Actors-7½, could use more. Except for séance,
best acting comes from the undead characters outside the haunt itself.
Props-8½, lots to look at, but not many animatronics. Design-8,
a little on the short side. Especially like the old door leading
to the cellar. Scariness-8, séance is best, although its ending
is somewhat confusing. Value-8½, priced about right for the
experience. Final Score: 8. This is a nice haunt,
just a notch below the leaders of the pack. Literally a Haunted
House is operated entirely by volunteers, and all proceeds benefit
the restoration of the historic Culbertson Mansion.
reviewed
10/22/05 |
| XENIA DUNGEON OF DOOM |
| Corner of So.Detroit and 3rd St. |
| Xenia, Ohio |
| (937) 689-3029 |
| $10 |
|
8 |
DUNGEON OF
DOOM: An old, abandoned warehouse is home to The Dungeon
of Doom, making this one of the most realistic looking Haunts around.
Concrete floors, walls containing old, iron doors, the boiler room, etc.
all set the stage for an unnerving entrance into The Dungeon.
Very spooky music plays as you encounter an apparent victim sitting in
an electric chair. He's still alive, and attacks all who enter!
Next up, is a room with a TV, and a large, round well. Don't
look back, because this is the abode of The Ring girl! A bloody
ghoul armed with a large, recently used knife confronts you, then the lights
go out providing for a very scary moment! A frightened little girl
runs up to you at one point saying she got lost, and is too scared to continue
on alone. She asks if she can go through with you, then Freddy
Krueger comes out of the furnace room, and "kills" her! This is a
trademark of The Dungeon, surprising all who enter. A maze
lies ahead constructed of doors and very small rooms. There's a secret
to getting through, and if you don't figure it out, you'll be there
for awhile! This too is a unique trademark of The Dungeon,
and is a nice and different effect. Length-7, about10 mins.
- longer if you're unable to figure out the maze. Props-8, traditionally
scary ones, (the maze doors rate a 10). Actors-8, could use a few
more. The little girl did a fantastic job suckering us in!
Scariness-9, the Freddy scene, the maze, and the old building itself
make this one super scary. Design-8½, very well done from
start to finish, if only it were longer. Value-8, a bit short, but makes
up for it with its uniqueness, and number of scares. FinalScore:
8 This was our second time visiting this haunt, and we enjoyed
every moment. Get out and experience The Xenia Dungeon of Doom
for
yourself. Ohio Valley Haunts highly recommends it! You don't
want to miss this maze! reviewed 10/8/05 |
| CHAMBERS OF HORROR |
| 1601 S. University Blvd |
| Middletown, Ohio |
| $9 - ($1 off with canned good) |
 |
| click
photo to visit their web site |
|
8 |
THE CHAMBERS
OF HORROR: Scary music plays as you wait outside the double
door entrance of the Chambers. A ghoul butler briefly opens the doors
and instructs you to wait. Upon his return, he reopens the doors
and leads you into the foyer of the chambers where he intimidatingly barks
out the house rules before allowing you to enter. (Great Job!).
Dimly lit corridors and uneven floors await your first steps inside.
Add strobe lights to that combination and you're in for a disorienting
experience right off the "bat" (no pun intended) as you begin to navigate
your way through the chambers. A room with 5 or 6 doors for possible
escape is soon encountered. There are surprises behind 5 of
them, if they open at all, but there's only one way out! Can you find it?
There's a coffin room that has a hidden exit. It first appears that you're
trapped as you attempt to open door after door. One member of our
group pulled on a coffin door and said, "this isn't it" when it didn't
budge. The instant he turned around, that same door mysteriously opened
on it's own revealing the way out! Walking through that coffin leads
you into Dracula's chamber. Next up are corridors where walls close
in, ceilings fall, and mad butchers (you gotta see these guys!) point you
in the wrong direction in order to lock you in one of their freezers!
Many dead ends, locked doors and ghoulish effects that await your trek
though the chambers including a live girl's bloody head on a table - no
body just a head! The head is alive, and her eyes follow you as you
approach! There's a hallway where the ceiling gets lower and lower
forcing you to eventually crawl your way out, and many masked monsters
inside the chambers - Jason, Michael Myers, Leatherface and Freddy Krueger,
among others. They've just added an elevator this year, but at this
point, it seems somewhat out of place as there is no real reason for it
being where it is - no ride up to the 13th floor, or down to the dungeon,
etc. It also developed a malfunction just as we arrived (our luck),
but the owner assured it would be repaired and invited us back to
see it in working condition. Length- 8, about 15 mins. Actors-8½,
most of the actors were really into providing the best possible scares.
Props-7½, some great ones, but could use more and possibly some
animatronics. Design-8 Not much has changed since last year. Scariness-9,
This is a spooky haunted Halloween attraction. The butchers are outstanding!
Value-8½, for $9 you get plenty of traditional scares. Final
Score: 8 reviewed 9/16/05 |
| NIGHTMARE FOREST |
| 16611 Dixie Highway |
| Louisville, KY 40272 |
| 777-0850 |
| $15 - (buy one get one free w/Insight
Cable Bill) |
| - NOTE: discount not valid
Friday or Saturday - |
 |
| click
logo above to visit their web site |
 |
|
8 |
NIGHTMARE FOREST:
After a one-year hiatus, Nightmare Forest is back for its fifteenth
year of fear. A variety of scenes from numerous horror movies are
recreated in structures throughout the forest. Beginning with attacking
headhunters and mummies in the Mayan Ruins, and encompassing the ages from
classics like Frankenstein, all the way through modern-day
scares brought about by Michael Myers, Thirteen Ghosts, and Scream, they’re
all found at Nightmare Forest! In addition to the aforementioned,
Dracula and some vampiresses lurk in The Count's Castle, Freddy Krueger
resides in a boiler room, and Jason Voorhees waits on the porch of an old
shack. Pinhead, witches, and , clowns among others are also encountered
along the trail. Rusty, iron gates protect the entrance to a cemetery,
where an undead ghoul escapes his earthen grave to attack your group, and
a crazed miner occupies a mineshaft, where a mine car has crashed.
A giant Impaler guards the exit to Nightmare Forest, where Leatherface
is all cocked and primed for a chainsaw chase out! Length-10, over
30 minutes! Actors-8, legitimate looking characters, but they could
stand to be a bit more aggressive. Most were masked, and in
all fairness, it was a bit difficult to get a good grasp on their talents,
simply because we went through with an oversized group, due to the enormous
crowd on hand. Props-8, lots of different scenes, and some animatronics
in use. Design-7, very lengthy, but some dead zones between scenes,
as is the case with most trails. It’s just an inherent detriment.
Majority of structures consist of simple mazes, and a central point of
interest, where scares are delivered. Scariness-8, actors are well
hidden, and there’s plenty of alone time to allow your nerves to get the
better of you. Each scene is complimented with just the right music.
Sounds are loud and realistic. Value-8, a bit pricey, but consistent
with other haunts in the area. Take advantage of the discount offer
if you can. Final Score: 8, horror movie fans will really
love this one! It’s fun to watch how members of the group respond
differently to the various characters, depending on their individual phobias.
The trail's length alone insures you’ll get your money’s worth. Ohio
Valley Haunts encourages your patronage at Nightmare Forest.
There’s something here for everyone! reviewed
10/22/05 |
| BUFORD HAUNTED SCHOOL |
| State Route 138 |
| Buford, Ohio |
| $10 |
 |
| click
logo above to visit their web site |
|
8 |
BUFORD HAUNTED
SCHOOL: WARNING: This is not a typical haunt.
Expect to be grabbed and touched at the Haunted School! If
that presents a problem for you, it might be wise to skip this one.
Entering, the old school, you ascend a flight
of stairs to the second floor. Be forewarned. A ghoul inhabits
the space beneath the staircase! Down a tight, dark corridor, numerous
monsters attack from caskets that line the walls. Screams ring out
- some come from victims who entered before you, others from the monsters
themselves! These fiends are everywhere - within the walls, and hanging
down from above. They pound, they shout, and they reach out and grab
at your arms and legs! A dark room containing a well, reveals
the presence of the ring girl! What appears to be the exit actually
turns out to be a great surprise - one we won't give away! Continuing
on, a bloody man with a table saw prepares to saw a body in half!
And, crazy, laughing clowns warn of your impending death in a clown room.
One of these maniacle clowns jumps down from the rafters to startle you!
Spongy floors, hidden passages, mirrored mazes, narrow corridors, electrified
fences, and even a cornfield must be navigated while inside The Buford
School. Shackled and bound prisoners torment you from behind
the bars of their cells. Don't get stuck here, because they're sure
to escape! Headless bodies hang from chains, and a giant tarantula
drops down from its web above to capture it's next victim! Prepare
to become trapped in some of the rooms for awhile until you're able to
locate the hidden escape! Near the end is the biggest shock of all!
You're on your own here, as we don't want to spoil the surprise!
Suffice it to say you won't believe it! Exiting the school, you can
breath a sigh of relief - or so you think, until a herd of chainsaw packing
ghouls descend upon you from all directions, chasing you through the parking
lot, all the way back to your car, up State Route 138, clear out of Buford...
You get the idea!!! Length-8, around 15 minutes. Actors-9,
some kiddy actors, but all were highly energetic, and did a fabulous job
of scaring us from every angle possible. Chainsaw guys are relentless!
Scariness-9, actually being touched by the monsters makes this a
haunt like no other! Props-7, no animatronics, but the actors and
props they do have work very well together, so they don't really need them.
Design-8½, hidden doors and compartments are outstanding, just needs
to be longer. Value-8, $10, but filled with lots of scares. Increasing
the length would raise the value. FINAL SCORE: 8, just
shy of 8½. This is the only Haunt I know of where the ghouls
will intentionally come in contact with you. That alone makes it
unique, not to mention more realistic! If they had better props,
and extend the length, this could easily rate 8½ or 9! The
Buford Haunted School is one of the best haunted experiences in Southern
Ohio, and that's saying alot considering it's a fund raiser, and operated
solely by volunteers! Everyone involved in its production should
be extremely proud of their efforts. The praise offered here is well
earned. If you're not afraid to be touched, it's well worth the trip
to Buford. Ohio Valley Haunts highly recommends visiting.. You won't
find another one like this! reviewed 10/15/05 |
| FRIGHT MANOR |
| 350 Anniston Dr. |
| Southport, IN 46227 |
| (317) 767-7540 |
| $15 - ($1 off coupon on their web
site) |
 |
| click
logo to visit their web site |
|
8 |
FRIGHT MANOR:
A spooky cemetery is the setting for the queue line as you “fear the dark”
waiting to enter Fright Manor. Mysterious music, dark corridors,
and a sign asking if you’re afraid of the dark welcome your arrival.
Early on, you encounter a butcher standing at a table where a gutless corpse
lies. He offers some food, then pulls out a chainsaw! Escaping
the butcher, you pass by some caged skeletons, then a shackled body thrashing
about. Through a rusty, iron gate, you’re warned against trespassing.
A sign reads, “Violators will be buried alive!” Not heeding the warnings,
we continue into a coffin room containing many dead and undead corpses
in caskets. Beware of the undead, as they don’t like to be disturbed!
Lots of animated props ahead, including a witch stirring a cauldron, a
corpse that sits up in its coffin, a skeleton rattling the bars to his
cage, and a medieval knight-like character that lunges forward as you make
your way past. Various scenes surprise you as they are first obscured
in darkness, but illuminate as you pass by. A hanged man in a closet,
thrashing about from the noose around his neck is one such example. Fright
Manor is home to various ghouls and monsters, such as Chuckles the
Clown, a 7-foot tall creature on stilts, and even Martha Stewart showing
off her eye for fashion, as she invites you into her bloody kitchen, where
a convulsing body lies on the dining room table. Later on, you become
trapped in Dracula’s room where The Count plans to add your body to the
victims who already adorn his walls. You escape into an autopsy room
where a bloody doctor chases you with a chainsaw, then onto a high voltage
area containing stacks of barrels that fall toward you, and electrified
floors that vibrate beneath your feet! Guillotines, sparking fences,
an animated guard dog, and a maze lead to the exit, and a quadruple chainsaw
chase out! Length-9, nearly 20 min. Actors-7, most in masks
as opposed to make-up, and not nearly enough. Props-8½, lots
of animatronics, and well decorated rooms. Design-7½, well
done, but name implies a scary, old mansion, and some of this takes place
in a tent. Scariness-8, plenty of startles from the numerous props.
Creepy background music, dimly lit rooms, and dark hallways throughout.
Would benifit tremendiously from additional actors. Value-7, a bit
on the expensive side. Be sure and use the coupon available on their
website. Final Score: 8, Ohio Valley Haunts recommends
stopping by Fright Manor if you're not "afraid of the dark." reviewed
10/20/05 |
| WILMINGTON HAUNTED HOLLOW RIDE |
| 1261 W. Dalton Rd. |
| Wilmington, OH 45177 |
| (937) 382-6147 |
| $10 |
 |
| click
logo above to visit their web site |
|
8 |
WILMINGTON HAUNTED
HOLLOW RIDE: You enter the Hollow aboard one of three
buses (Gravedigger, Widowmaker, or Undertaker ) that
have the tops and sides cut away. Down a hill, and into the hollow,
your first encounter is with a young, bloody girl on a swing. A second
girl with a chainsaw approaches, but the bus speeds away. Ghouls
attack the bus throughout, beating on it with baseball bats, slamming it
with sticks, and even catapulting a log into the side. Some
even jump onto the bus, and terrorize those who are frightened! Off
to the side, a flaming Bulldozer waits to plow you under, and a wild police
chase ends in a crash! An insane trucker comes out of the woods,
and pulls up behind you. Flames shoot skyward out of his exhaust
stacks, and his air-horn blasts continuously as he bumps your bus from
behind attempting to run you off the road! Other sights include a
devil sacrificing a girl on a cross, crazy clowns jumping out of boxes,
and a jailed ghoul desperately trying to escape his cell and attack
you. In Death Valley, a witch brewing stew waits to put you in her
large, smoking cauldron. Large spiders have a girl entrapped in their
web, and they race toward the bus as you exit the hollow. Length-7,
only about 10 minutes. Actors-8, they did a good job of attacking
the bus, but some areas were completely dead and devoid of actors
entirely. Design-8, lots of unique experiences along the hollow ride.
But, scenes often occur on both sides of the bus simultaneously making
it difficult to see everything. Would be better if they were more
staggered from side to side. Nice that the chase scenes are set up
to cover the dead spots. Props-8, the police chase, bulldozer, and
trucker are awesome! Scariness-9, the truck ramming the bus is best,
but the attacking ghouls are good too. Value-8, a bit short, but
you do get loads of thrills. Final Score: 8. The
bus went a little too fast, and seat backs are high making it difficult
to see, especially when things are occurring on both sides of you at the
same time. Overall, a pretty unique ride. Ohio Valley Haunts
is glad to see
The Hollow back in business, and recommends visiting
this Halloween season. reviewed 10/8/05 |
| JAMESTOWN HAUNTED WOODS |
| 6261 Old U.S. Route 35 |
| Jamestown, Ohio |
| $10 |
 |
|
8 |
JAMESTOWN
HAUNTED WOODS: You get to the Jamestown Haunted Woods
by first entering the Castle of Doom, pictured at left. Inside the
Castle is a very dark maze where well hidden monsters and ghouls reside.
You may end up face to face with one or two who suddenly appear from out
of the darkness. Body bags hang from the ceiling, and you crash into
them as you try to navigate your way through. The maze is different
from last year. You exit the Castle into the dense, dark, haunted
woods where scary music readily gives you the creeps as you begin your
journey through. You walk past the gallows where an executioner accompanies
a hanged man in a tree. Eerie screams are heard from off in the distance
as you go deeper and deeper into the woods that's home to a grim reaper,
a graveyard, and lots of other surprises. A lost girl wandering the
trail alone soon comes into view, but Freddy Krueger quickly jumps out
of the brush, grabs her, and proceeded to "kill" her. This was unique
as the girl appeared to be separated from the group ahead of us, but was
actually an actor!&nb |
