The Haunt and Field of Terrors at Pearce’s Farm Stand were my first haunts on Saturday evening.  Pearce’s Farm Stand was easy to find with help from our phone’s navigation system and once we were near there were large lights and signs identifying the haunts.  There was plenty of parking and everything was very well lit.  When we walked up from the parking lot, there was a large building where you could buy your tickets and some great concession items including some tasty hot chocolate that I tried.  We purchased our tickets and then we took a look around the attraction area.  There is a huge hay bale climbing structure and a small maze for little ones.  There are cut-outs for picture opportunities and many fire pits to sit near and keep warm.  The fire pits were just what I needed on Saturday because it was cold.  The cold wasn’t keeping other visitors away from Pearce’s, there were lots of people there enjoying the attraction with us.  We decided that we would go through The Haunt, a haunted barn, first.

THE HAUNT

The haunt at Pearce’s Farm Stand is a haunted barn.  When we got in line and waited at The Haunt the line seemed short, but quickly we realized that at this attraction, very small groups go in at a time.  So, although the line seemed short, our wait time was a little longer than I first thought it would be.  That being said, when we did get to go in, just the two of us got to go in all by ourselves.  This is not something that you get at every attraction.  Many times you may walk around a haunt with a group of five to seven people, many of whom you may not know.  I thought it was pretty exciting to go in by ourselves.  This haunt lasted about ten minutes and includes a lot of disorientating dark winding passageways and quick thrills that startled us.  This haunt is creepy and effective for young and old alike.  We saw a variety of ages of people going through the haunt and all seemed to be having a great time.  When we exited the haunted barn, we decided to go get into line for the haunted hayride.

FIELD OF TERRORS

The Field of Terrors at Pearce’s Farm Stand is a haunted hayride through a winding, creepy corn field.  When we got in line for the hayride, I thought we might we waiting a long time, the line was long and there the ride seemed long.  Then we saw they were bringing in another tractor to pull us along and our wait time only totaled about 20 minutes.  When our ride approached, a large group of us were allowed on, in the entire group there were probably about 25-30 people on the ride.  When I got on, I realized you get to sit on hay bales that are set up against the walls of the ride, as well as, along the middle of the bed.  We sat on the ride and waited for the tractor to start up.  We waited another ten minutes or so before the ride began.  Make sure you wear extra layers if it is cold outside, because I was very cold.  The ride lasted for about 20-25 minutes as it wound around twists and turns in an eerie cornfield.  The cornfield is very dark and there are not a lot of other lights around.  As I rode around, I found to my delight several displays set up throughout The Field of Terrors.  All of the displays include sound and light effects, as well as actor interaction.  There is also sound set up through the duration of the ride.  I don’t want to give too much away, but the actors in The Trail of Terrors are great.  Super surprising and creepy, there were people jumping all over the ride.  I really enjoyed the ambiance of the ride and the fact that you get to sit and be pulled the entire time you are being scared, really is a treat that I haven’t often encountered.

The Haunt and Field of Terrors at Pearce’s Farm Stand are great attractions and Pearce’s has so much more to offer.  Pearce’s Farm Stand strikes me as one of the best places to go haunting with a large group of people or with the family.  The bonfire atmosphere screams sit and chat awhile, catch up with an old friend or with your children.  I thought that the area was beautiful and very professional.  The attractions were fun and creepy and I hope to go back next year to see Pearce’s again.

Abandoned Haunted House Complex was everything I had been anticipating and more when I visited last Saturday night.  Abandoned is a huge two haunt attraction that reeled me in the moment I saw it.  We arrived at about 9:15 p.m.  There were bright inviting lights with a large parking area, with many signs and people guiding you onto the grounds.  The minute we stepped out of the car, I could not wait to get into the haunt.  As you walk up from the parking lot you see a clearly labeled ticketing area.  There are also a few areas that are decorated and a really great little store front that has sweatshirts, T-shirts and other cool Abandoned gear.  Also featured prominently are some amazing masks that are for sale as well. We walked right up and purchased our tickets.  As we made our way around the grounds we quickly realized we were not alone when we decided it was a great night to visit Abandoned. 

Once you walk around the side and to the back of the ticketing area, there is a huge waiting area and on Saturday it was packed with people chatting, laughing, eating concessions they had just purchased at a vendor on the grounds, and many were watching a myriad of macabre and other entertaining video clips playing on the complex’s huge movie screen which has an explosive secret. The lines seemed organized and controlled
and there were plenty of employees and security around if you needed to ask a question.   

We walked around to the area where the FastPass ticket line began, and we were extremely grateful to have our FastPasses when we heard that there was a significant line wait of two or more hours without the FastPass.  I must state that if it is a chilly night or you don’t feel like waiting, I believe this is the way to go.  We walked into a covered
waiting area where a few other groups of people were waiting in the Fast Pass line.  We waited in the Fast Pass line for approximately fifteen minutes where we were kept company by either an extremely funny grounds crew worker, or an actor in a janitor-type outfit, who was conversing with a group behind us in line.  Either way, kudos to you sir, you were funny and helped keep my mind off of the cold!  We made our way into another smaller enclosed winding area where we walked through and found our way to the entrance of the first haunt, Hysteria.

Hysteria

This was the first of the two haunts I experienced at Abandoned.  It greets you with
haunting cackles and eerie laughter, creating an ambiance true to the haunts name.  As we made our way through the amazing and mind-bending haunt I was surprised, terrified, and thrilled. In this haunt I was delighted to find many different areas with a variety of themes and marvelous sets.  While I walked through the haunt I realized that the walls of the haunt had turned from dark creepy passage ways to walls with vegetation growing and cave walls that appeared moist and textured.  Other walls in this haunt seemed to shake along with the floors under your feet.  The sets and props are professional, realistic and unique. I have been attending haunts for many years now and I saw
set ideas I had never seen done before in any of the haunts I have visited.  The variety of different areas is excellent.  Hysteria offers so many things tricking and treating your senses I feel it has something for everyone. The actors were highly interactive and really worked on getting you to jump by creeping up on you when you least expect it.  I really enjoyed the tactile and visual effects of this haunt.  This haunt also seemed to last a long time but every moment of that time I was filled with a great sense of wonder.  I remember thinking, “What could be coming up next?” I was elated by how much fun I had in this haunt. However, I didn’t have much time to contemplate this thought because we walked out of Hysteria and through a short passage way and we were entering Ambush.

Ambush

Ambush was the second haunt that we visited.  This haunt begins with a lot of
dark foggy passages with loud disturbing noises coming from everywhere around you.  I really got the feeling that my senses were being assaulted, thus proving Ambush to be a fitting title for the second half of my journey at Abandoned Haunted House Complex.  Ambush gave me the feeling that I was under attack and I was slowly loosing myself in the haunt.  The actors are coming out of nowhere from every direction.  This provides an atmosphere of chaos.  I heard some pretty chilling
screams during my time in Ambush.  I jumped numerous times and became pretty nervous when I realized I actually might be under attack.  I found this haunt worked on my nerves and made my heart race.  If surprises around every dark corner and a chilling sense that something isn’t quite right, gets you rattled like me, than this haunt will frighten and thrill you.       

As I exited Ambush, I was quickly greeted by the chilly autumn air again.  Around the area where you exit the second haunt is an area with items for sale and one of my favorite characters of the entire evening to greet you at the end of your journey.  I even had my picture taken with this actor. Overall my journey at Abandoned Haunted
Complex was one of my most favorite trips so far this haunt season. I had an amazing time and you should too, shouldn’t you?

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And the winner is...  Abandoned Haunted House Complex!  Yeah, that's right, who's got the best haunt in southeastern Wisconsin? They do!  When asked about Abandoned last year, I always said that it was cool, and had potential.  I knew this year would be special for them, but I didn't know how special!  I don't know if words will do it justice, Abandoned nailed it.  No sophomore jinx here, just pure awesomeness!  We arrived at Abandoned and were told the wait was almost two and a half hours!  Needless to say, we went with fast passes!  After a short wait, less than fifteen minutes, we were ushered into the haunt.

Abandoned Hits you hard from the very start with its first attraction, Ambush.  If you have been to their sister haunt Burial Chamber, you already know that Abandoned relies heavily on disorientation.  Darkness is key here, and they use it so well.  But it's not just darkness; a new fad in haunts is the blinding LED's and smoke.  Ambush is a theme heavy haunt, with a fantastic mixture of live actors and gruesome scenes that rival the very best in haunted houses.  Ambush is a nonstop barrage of startling effects and scares.  The actors here are some of the best you could hope for.  Every last actor in there is most definitely a fan of haunts and horror, if they weren't, this haunt wouldn't be the amazing attraction it is.  Ambush is about fifteen minutes of awesome, covered with awesome sauce, sprinkled with shredded awesome, and topped with a heaping helping of awesome.  To some it up, I think Ambush is a great haunt, could you tell‽

The next section was Hysteria.  On it's own Hysteria is worth the price of admission, and is a fantastic haunt, but when coupled with Ambush, Hysteria is just the icing on an already perfect cake.  Hysteria is slightly shorter than Ambush, but what it lacks in length, it makes up in, well, hysteria!  The haunt focuses less on themes, and more on pure fright.  Lights out, loud noises, which way is up, bright light, thick smoke, tight spaces, pure insanity! 

When I heard rumors that the people who ran Burial Chamber were opening up a haunt in southeastern Wisconsin, I was psyched.  Burial Chamber was always one of my favorites, and I couldn't wait to see if they could make it work down here.  Well, in my opinion, they made it work, and in just their second year, the Abandoned Haunted House Complex is the best haunt in southeastern Wisconsin.  I'll go ahead and say it, they are probably the best haunt in the entire state, at least of the haunts I have been too.  Do yourself a favor, get to Racine, get to the Abandoned Haunted House Complex, buy a ticket, preferably a fast pass, and experience what this reviewer is all fired up about.  You will not be disappointed!

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I must be honest, when I learned that I would be reviewing a brand new haunt, I was a little concerned.  It usually takes a few years for a haunt to hit its stride, so as you can guess, I went into The Haunt & Field of Terror with low expectations.  I must say, I was pleasantly surprised!  Right away we were greeted by some of the most pleasant staff members of any haunt.  We bought our tickets from the concessions area, which thankfully was selling some much-needed hot chocolate, and headed to to many fires that were there to warm you up.  We warmed our bones beside the fire and then we were off!  The Haunt & Field of Terror has two main attractions, a haunted house, and a haunted hayride.  We opted for the house first, because the hay wagon was full at the time. 

My biggest complaint with The Haunt & Field of Terror is the waiting.  We waited in a short line for way too long.  The time between groups was just too much.  It was a cold night, so the wait was worse than it should be, but this is Wisconsin, and I was prepared for that!  Once we got into the haunt I was surprised at how well it was put together.  The haunt was a good mix of live actors, above average animatronics and still scenes.  You can tell the Haunt did their homework, which I later learned was a good deal of on the fly suggestions, to make the house very entertaining.  The actors in the house portion were fantastic.  This is yet another area that can be lacking in first year haunts.  Without the experience of auditioning actors, you can almost guarantee lazy, non-committed actors, but these guys and girls played their parts well, and made me jump quite a few times!  My next issue with The Haunt & Field of Terror is the end was very anticlimactic.  I'll explain why, but am going to remain vague, as I don't want to ruin anything for anyone.  The big finish was played out for everyone in line to see, several times before you even enter the haunt.  I would suggest that the folks at The Haunt & Field of Terror stop that ending from reaching the outside waiting area.  We knew it was coming, and walked right past it, not surprised or startled at all.  It would have been good, if we weren't anticipating it.  In all, the house portion was better than average and I commend the people at The Haunt & Field of Terror for putting a good first year haunt on.

After the house, we walked over to the haunted hayride, and waited for the wagon to return.  We were on pretty quick, but were sitting there idle for a good 20 minutes.  I am not sure if the driver was on break, using one of the port-a-johns, or what, but we sat on the cold wagon, with exhaust blowing in our faces, and waited.  After all that, the ride was just okay.  Again, it was a colder than usual night, so it was less enjoyable than it could have been.  The ride takes you through cornfields with scenes every so often.  The scenes weren't much to speak of, but the actors out there were great fun.  Not much acting took place, just a lot of jumping onto the sides of the wagon, and growling, but considering the cold weather, these guys were top notch!  Hats off to them and their commitment to spooking!  The ride seemed redundant after a while, as each scene wasn't too much different from the last one, it was the zombies and ghouls that made this ride worth it.  They could have skipped the scenes all together and taken you on a dark ride through the fields and it would have possibly been more scary.  The ride took about 20 minutes to complete.

In all, I give The Haunt & Field of Terror a good rating.  Good upstart haunts are few and far between, The Haunt & Field of Terror showed me that they have all the potential in the world to grow and become one of southeastern Wisconsin's premier haunts.  I can't wait to see what they do next year!

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My second time to the Abandoned Haunted House Complex and wouldn't you know it was even better than the first. Abandoned has continued to impress me. My first year there I was impressed with the amount of detail, professionalism of the actors, and amount of technology used by the attraction. This year certainly did not disappoint, with a new layout and new technology this year was just another awesome year.

Abandoned has the benefit of being very close (about a 30-40min drive) to Milwaukee AND Chicago. Even better it is not that difficult to
find. Abandoned is perfectly positioned just off of I-94, near Mount Pleasant, on the frontage road. You barely need instructions. Just drive towards Mount Pleasant and look for the big lit up letters that say Abandoned on the left or right of the freeway (depending on where you are coming from). There is plenty of parking and the ticket booth is easy to find. The attraction also offers “Abandoned” merchandise and concessions. It is definitely a nice stop.

Abandoned this year has grown. You will never be bored in the line as there is now an outdoor movie theater screen that shows music videos
and various other Halloween related media. Actors prowl the grounds and keep you entertained in line. They are not afraid to get in your face but they will also hold a conversation with you in character. My fiancée and I particularly enjoyed a friendly exchange between two reptile overlords and the property’s security guard. Again you will NOT be bored in line. Even as you get closer to the main entrance you will be able to talk with people around you as there are 5 lines that line up side-by-side. So even while waiting you will have a good time.

Due to this attraction’s popularity, even if you get there early, be prepared to wait. My fiancée and I got there near the tail end of the
night and we still had a 30min wait, but it is worth it. For those who are impatient the attraction offers a Fast Pass ticket that will take you to the
front of the line…for an additional fee of course. No matter how you get to the main entrance once you are inside be prepared for an adventure. Abandoned generally puts groups of 4 -6 people through at a time although you may be able to request to be by yourself. Don’t let the fact that you may be with a few more people deter you. It will still be loads of fun.

Like last year you start off in their “main room”. Here you get to watch a borderline disturbing video that will put you in the mood to
either take the house head on or cower behind someone. Either way, this room is going to get you excited. Now, this haunt being so expansive, I could break down the type of scenes you are going to see and things you are going to experience but that wouldn’t be right. So I am just going to focus on the main components that will give you a great experience. Those components are: the actors, the technology, and the scenery.

First let us start off with the actors. ALL the actors are highly dedicated and committed, professional actors. Each actor is “done-up”
(i.e. make-up and costumes) professionally. The actors bring an awesome “lifeforce” to this attraction. They will keep you going, keep you guessing, and keep you entertained from start to finish. Each actor is committed to their role and is tasked with different ways to scare you. It appears that the experience of these actors is so vast you will never feel like one actor just copied another. These guys and gals know what they are doing and they will give you a great experience. Major thumbs up to those actors.

Abandoned offers top-of-the-line haunted house technology for your enjoyment. Tiny LED lights are placed strategically in some areas to
give the impression that you are underground. In other areas they are placed just so to mimic sunlight. And in still other areas they are placed to the give the illusion lightening. That is just part of it. There is so much technology in this complex you feel like you really are in a bad situation. You will see real sparks (that rain down on you), lighting that perfectly sets the stage, and animatronics and other moving parts that make you believe everything you are seeing and doing is real. With the aid of technology you will even experience a zombie attack (and that is all I will mention with that). All the technology is there to disorient you or make the experience as real as possible. Everything this house has to offer is a site to behold.

Finally you have the scenery. Abandoned held nothing back when they created this house. All the scenes are professional, Hollywood-grade
scenes. You will see real coffins, realistic animal corpses, and props that make you wonder if you really are still in a haunted house. This is a full
immersion haunted house. You will smell things, you will feel things that are wet or gummy, and you will see things that are straight out of major horror movie blockbusters. You can tell a lot of work was put into this haunt and you will appreciate the amount of detail that you will experience. It is this type of dedication that makes you want to go through a house again and again.

This haunted house is so expansive you will feel like you are in there for over an hour. The whole attraction, however, is a little more
than 30mins. Abandoned has pacing down to a science. You will likely never run into another group and if you do that group will be separated from you so you can continue on in your group. This further adds to the enjoyment. The pacing will give you enough time to soak in each environment and get treatment from each actor in a given area. There is a reason that this haunted house's popularity has grown. Come and see why first hand.

Oh man. Friday the 18th was my first visit to the Dominion of Terror and let me just say it was an awesome experience. The Dominion of Terror is based in an old factory. From the roadway you can’t miss this building. The attraction has effects (like flickering lights and a soundtrack) on the exterior of the building. Even the building, without all the effects, is imposing in nature. Just the look of the building and that creepy feeling that the special effects give you, make a perfect combo for putting anyone in the mood for some scares.

I was with my fiancée and as we got in line we were immediately welcomed by the freaks and ghouls of the haunted house. I almost did not get in because an escaped insane asylum inmate tried to steal my ticket. Then he made the mistake of attempting to go through my fiancée’s purse. Needless to say the actors are already very committed at what they do before you even get inside the house. Furthermore, nobody in the line will be left alone. Everyone, at some time before they get inside, will get to deal with a dedicated actor. It provides for some immediate fun and scares, and even some laughs.

The wait was nothing dreadful. I believe my fiancée and I were only in line for 10mins at most before we got inside. Unless you ask to be by yourself or just you another person, the staff will generally pair small groups up. So if you are a major scardy-cat this may benefit you. My fiancée and I went with another couple inside the house. Once we were inside we were met with a sweet old lady that told us a story. What is unique is the story was really the rules of the attraction but presented in a fairy tale format. This is no safe zone. All I will say is be weary of the mice!

Once you receive this story you proceed on to the rest of the house. I was pleasantly surprised with the first few areas which took a detour from normal haunted house layouts and instead provided a wide open area. Be forewarned this does not mean that it is less scary. As we went through the house I began to pick up on the theme of this attraction. If you ever wanted to know what it would be like if you ever dropped some of your favorite childhood fairy tales into the pits of Hell, well the Dominion of Terror will show what that would look like.

The scenery was solid. With every area you knew where you were. With this fact and solid acting by the performers you will never be asking yourself, “what kind of area am I in now?”  The actors were committed to their roles which only deepened the immersion that you will experience  at this haunt. The actors also knew every nuance of how to scare. From yelling, to ambush tactics, to creepy portrayals, the visitor to the Dominion of Terror will experience it all. I have to give major kudos to the actors that lied in wait right in the open and were still able to make scares because people thought they were just a prop. Excellent job.

Dominion of Terror, however, does not just rely on great actors and great scenes to get the job done. Like all modern haunted houses, Dominion brings some of the latest technology out to help scare those that venture inside the house. You will certainly not be disappointed with what this house has to offer. Even better is that, even though this attraction is roughly 30mins long, the pacing was so good that the time spent inside felt longer and the pacing allowed you to take in each room and everything that the actors had to offer.

This was all around a fun and scary attraction. There was one point that an actor, knowing exactly what he was doing, almost got my fiancée to fall down onto her butt because he scared her just at the right moment. If you want the experience of escaping to different worlds than the Dominion of Terror is right up your alley.

Neenah’s Most Haunted is a haunted attraction located in Neenah, WI that is a nonprofit and put on by a youth group called Youth Go.
Based in what appears to be an old warehouse building, I was thoroughly impressed pulling up to the location of the attraction. The building has a welcoming, or terrifying (however you see it), façade that really puts you in the Halloween mood. My fiancée and I got to the location early so the wait was minimal. I believe I waited only 5 to 10 mins before I was admitted into the building.

The wait certainly will not be boring, however. Youth Go actors are ready and willing to engage you in some Halloween scares right in
the line. I particularly enjoyed the young man that was playing the gatekeeper at the entrance. I had a full conversation with him and throughout he stayed in his character. He made the wait pleasurable and made my fiancée and I laugh several times. His interaction made me completely forget about the cold weather and the water that was dripping on my neck from the roof (P.S. If it is wet out stand close to the wall or far out from the edge of the roof).

When I finally got inside the house my fiancée and I were immediately welcomed by 2 actors that started off the mood with some pleas for
help, screaming, and sudden movements. The youth certainly make it clear what they are there to do. The scenery throughout the house is simplistic. If you are only interested in highly detailed, professional level scenes, you will not find such scenes at this attraction. Neenah’s Most Haunted is what I like to call “a classic” haunted house.

On Haunted Wisconsin’s website the proprietors of the attraction state that there are no animatronics, holograms [or other high-end
technology] but that what they do offer are "rooms full of over-energized youth that creep and crawl and howl for your shrieks." This is the attraction in a nut-shell. If you like highly motivated actors, that you can tell are enjoying what they do, Neenah's Most Haunted is the ticket. I was impressed with the actors and their determination to get a scare out of you, one way or another. I could also tell all of them were having fun. This really helps increase the excitement of going to this haunted attraction.

At this haunt you will be bombarded with actors. At times, however, this can become more overwhelming than scary. When this happens just let the youth have their fun and move onto the next room. Not all rooms have actors in them so you will get breaks. The attraction was 30mins long and very well paced. We only ran into another couple after that couple had had difficulties finding the next room.

Being a "classic" haunted house you will be forced to interact with the environment. In other words you will have to find the correct door (to gain access to the next area) and you will have to feel around in dark areas in order to navigate to the next location. I thoroughly enjoyed this and it
provided a level of entertainment that some more modern haunted houses have long forgotten. The only time I was not having fun was when my fiancée and I ran into a particularly long and totally dark maze.

The maze was way too long and way too dark to provide any sort of entertainment value. Eventually the maze just became frustrating. All I can say is do your best and eventually you will find your way. Do not count this against Neenah’s Most Haunted, however, I understood what they were trying to do, but it was just a bit too much.

This has been my 3^rd year attending the House of Bathory. It’s always been one of the most scary and unique haunts I’ve attended. This haunt is heavy on dialog, interaction and intense scares. Once again, I wasn’t disappointed.

There’s indoor waiting in the basement area of the building, with plenty of room and a movie playing. What’s unique is if the wait is long, you can leave your cell number and they’ll call you when you’re next up. Which is great if you want to check out an area business or location. Once ready, you head to the front of the building and inside you’re explained the rules. Which are different for the House of Bathory than most haunts in which touching is allowed. No inappropriate touching but actors will grab ankles, grab a shoulder and get pretty close to you. It adds to the intensity.

The theme to this year was a loosely based Disney theme. Though it’s not the Disney you’d expect, unless you expect Snow White with a chainsaw or a creepy chant of “It’s a small world after all.” You start with an excellent scene of a hotel lobby, with faulty electricity and great dialog. Then the scares start and you’re off. Coming across various scenes, some scary, some disturbing but all of them entertaining. Creeping out guests or leaving them screaming. The woman we walked through with several times covered her face and tried to get out of the room as soon as possible. The House of Bathory also requires interaction on your part. Whether it’s talking back to the actors, crawling over a cage, sliding down a ramp or sitting down next to a freak. It keeps this haunt intense and is not uncommon to see guests running up the street screaming.

Once again, the House of Bathory has been my favorite haunt so far of the season and I strongly recommend it. It’s a unique and intense haunt that will stand out this Halloween season. 

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A creepily lit, old, multi-floored warehouse building greets you as you walk up to the Dominion of Terror. Which acts as the perfect backdrop to a solid haunt. Along with clowns and other creepy fellows taunting you as you wait to enter. 

The entrance and rules is like nothing I’ve seen before. They used a fairly tale theme. Having a sweet old lady, with perfect diction, sitting you down for a fairy tale as she explains the rules. With the book projected on the wall. Ending with a good fright. Sending you on your way. 

The most striking thing about this haunt is the elaborate sets and scenes you are sent through. A lot of rooms with trees, props, ghoulish sites. Whatever needed to take you into another world. All the while you deal with actors jumping out, interacting and scaring you along the way. One of my favorite aspects is you’re sent though dark hallways and dead ends. You feel constantly lost. You also encounter many rooms where the exit isn’t clearly known. Many times you had to feel around the walls and find a moveable wall, or some other way, to move on. It was a great way to make the haunt more interactive. Another wonderful aspect of the Dominion of Terror is the size of the haunt. It exists through multiple floors of a fairly large building. The haunt is huge and takes a long time to get through, especially with all the tricks and hidden exits. Making it a great value for a haunt. 

Overall I really enjoyed the Dominion of Terror and was pretty impressed. It has some great thrills, chills and surprises, even for an experience haunt goer. 

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I'll be honest and say that I wasn't expecting much as I drove up to Misery Haunted House.  I know it's for a great cause (Haven of Hope Day Care).  I know they are new and I'm aware that the weather might play a part in some haunts poor turn-out.  And I also know that more often than not, new haunts with little funding behind it can be a yawn-fest.  But with all that said... I'm so pleased to say that I had a blast at Misery Haunted House!

The night began with a visit to the doctor.  What's a trip to the doctor without a wait in the doctor's waiting room?  I even had to take a number and then you have to see 'the doctor' one at a time.  Very clever...  you feel more vulnerable in a haunt when it's just you going into it.  Further in the house, an evil monkey had us jumping multiple times!  A mad hatter had us literally walking in circles.  A little girl wanted to play dolls with us but never wanted us to leave.  We even had time to saddle up to the bar for a shot of...  well, I'm not sure what it was!  There's so much more, but why don't you go see for yourselves?  Oh...  and if you see an electric organ, feel free to play a few notes on it!

If you enjoy haunted houses, give Misery a shot.  You won't wait hours in line, you get more bang for your buck, and it's a great time!  

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The House of Bathory made me fear for my life.  I am not referring to the unexpected jump or shriek I make when something catches me off guard.  When I say that it caused me to "fear for my life", I mean that I actually feared for my life!  The haunted attraction industry has become far too commercialized and the focus has led astray from the main goal of actually making you afraid.  Unlike most haunted attractions, the House of Bathory isn't consumed with entertaining  attendee's by adding donut stands and rooms full of miscellaneous ghouls that grunt and growl.  In all honestly, not many of us over the age of 13 really get scared at Haunted Houses anymore.  I would highly recommend NOT attending the House of Bathory if you are under 13!  The House of Bathory also does not spend hours and tons of money working on marketing their attraction.  In fact, I think that they could care less if 2 or 200,000 people attend.  The only thing the House of Bathory cares about, is that you are truly frightened.  Imagine your worst fear, or a time in your life when you were so scared, that death seemed like a far better alternative compared to your current situation.  That, is the feeling you will experience during your time inside the House of Bathory. 

Finding the House of Bathory is difficult, primarily due to the one way street it is located on in downtown Manitowoc.    You will not find HUGE signs or spotlights that light the way, you will need the address.  There are no people standing outside waiting in a long line (similar to past years).  The wait for the House of Bathory has been moved inside, which is a huge relief on a cold or rainy evening such as the night we attended.  During your wait, you can expect to sit down, relax and watch an old fashioned scary movie on a large theater like screen.  It is warm and cozy while you wait, so enjoy the show and catch up with friends.  They wait until each group has completed the entire haunt before sending another through in order to make certain that the actors are prepared for their next victims.  The haunt also plays out like a real horror movie, so it is imperative that there is no overcrowding that might give away the ending.

I do not want to share too many details about the House of Bathory, as I fear it would take away from the plot.  I can tell you, that if you have been to the House of Bathory in the past, or any Dead by Dawn attraction ... this year is even better!  The House of Bathory is a FULL CONTACT haunted attraction.  That means the rule of "they can't touch me" does NOT apply and reminding yourself that they can't hurt you is OUT THE DOOR!  Humans may be harmed during this attraction.  I do not think that referring to the individuals inside as "actors" is fair, because I don't think they are "acting". They are truly twisted individuals, that live year round to divulge and release on you during the Month of October. 

In summary, if you are tired of being disappointed by haunted attractions that entertain more than they frighten you, then go to the House of Bathory.   The House of Bathory is unlike any other typical Haunted House and rephrasing the words of those who attended with me ... "HOLY CRAP (not exactly the word they used) I don't think I could do that again"! Thank you Dead by Dawn for bringing fear back to haunted attractions!

For the first time in years, I made the trip up to Green Bay Fear located in (of course) Green Bay, WI. What I hadn't recalled was how large the event is. I made  the trek expecting to find the typical Haunted House setup of a ticket booth, queue line and haunted house. This wasn't at all what I found at Green Bay Fear; theres a stage for live music, hot cocoa, lots of food/drink options, zombie paintball, a fire pit, haunted woods and of course the main haunt.

Upon arriving to the haunt, I was immediately  drawn to the various character actors walking around. If you've read any of my other reviews, you'll recall that I'm big on this since it helps build up a visitors momentum/anxiety before a haunt. The entire haunt reminds me of a circus/carnival from hell including the freaky clowns walking around.  Of course, he was just one of the many other various ghouls parading around the area.

I was impressed with all the black light enhanced neon colors. In my opinion, this really helped to bring the event alive and make sections (that would otherwise go unnoticed) stand out. This was also carried out through many elements within the haunt which helped keep things themed similarly.

My first stop was at zombie paintball since that seemed to have the shortest line. I love paintballing and therefore used up my 10 shots pretty fast.

My second stop was the haunted woods. It was really well done and I had a lot of fun heading through it. Be prepared for actors to jump out of nowhere and scare you. There were a bunch of them too!  All in all, it took about 9 or 10 minutes.

Finally I headed over to the main haunt where I began my wait to enter. Once I finally got in, I was impressed with how intense the haunt was. There's constantly something going on. The actors were spot on in their performance and knew just who to target in my group to get the best reaction. Each room we entered was well made and unique. All in all, the haunt itself lasted about 30 minutes.

Above all, Green Bay Fear was a lot of fun. Although I'm from Milwaukee, the drive up to Green Bay was well worth it - especially since this isn't just a single haunted house event. You could spend a lot of time just wandering around BEFORE even heading into the main haunt. Also feel free to visit on an empty stomach, there was plenty of food and drink available for purchase (and it seemed reasonable).

Mars Haunted House boasts that they are the, "#1 Haunted House in the Milwaukee Area." Having annually visited Mars Haunted House for the past seven years, I'm always impressed with the new setups their team can come up with. This year proved no different...

It was a chilly Friday evening when my wife and I headed down Historic Mitchell Street on our way to Mars Haunted House. While the building itself doesn't stand out much (although there is a sign attached to it), you cannot miss the hearse and queue line setup along the sidewalk. We waited for about 25 minutes in the queue line before we were allowed to proceed up the stairs to enter the haunt. Fortunately we didn't encounter any rain or else we may have gotten a bit wet since the entire queue line sits outside.  While we waited, there were a couple of actors wandering up and down the line interacting with the patrons. I always appreciate that since it is a great way to built up a persons anxiety before they enter a haunt. My only criticism is that one of the actors and a security guard stopped to smoke  a cigarette for a bit. Also the girl working the front of the line was also chatting away on her cell phone.  Not big problems, but something I noticed.

After the 25 minute wait we headed up the stairs to start the haunt. Be prepared for lots of darkness, fog, tight spaces and disorientating areas. There's also plenty of sudden scares and in your face action.  We had a lot of fun trying to navigate our way through the haunt and I really appreciated all the effort that went into making the various scenes.

The haunt itself took around 20 minutes or so to get through (although it felt like seconds). The special effects were great and each room has something unique and special to offer.

Bottom line, Mars Haunted House has done it again. They've managed to put together a haunt that is a lot of fun yet very scary. If you haven't visited Mars yet this year, try to add it to your list.

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The Mars Haunted House has become my traditional first haunt of the year. The anticipation and energy outside Mars helps set the tone to
this haunt, and the Halloween season. Located on historic Mitchell you wait outside next to old buildings and hear about how what makes this haunt special; is it’s actually in a haunted building. The line entertainment is some of the best you can find. You’ll see a few creepy people, seeking out the meek and giving a good scare. Sometimes making them cringe or even run away. Which makes the entertaining wait go by fast.

Entering the old building really gives you the perfect uneasy feeling of entering a place inhabited by bad spirits. Mars starts you off in a dark room where you hear the story of the souls who haunt the building, continuing to set the tone. You’re sent down dark hallways and corridors making you feel lost and at the hands of the haunt. You come across some goulish scenes that are wonderfully created. The actors, for the most part jump out, yell or scream to give you a fright for the majority of the haunt. The actors gain intensity as you go through and interact more with dialog. The last few frights we encountered were amazingly acted. One girl was perfectly made up, energetic and pulled some ability that rivaled any actor I’ve encountered before. Her appearance came at a perfect time in a dizzying display of flashing lights and a maze of white bloody stained sheets. Leaving you with a pounding heart as you exit. Overall I once again enjoyed my Mars visit. It’s a unique setting, feel and a perfect way to kick off your Halloween season.

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The Burial Chamber is one of the largest haunts in Wisconsin, and hands down one of the best. It's great to see how this haunt has evolved over the years. These people are passionate about scaring the crap out of you! The Burial Chamber is comprised of 4 separate attractions and you can pick and choose which ones you want to go through. If you’re like me, you’ll want to go through all of them!

Adrenaline

Adrenaline is where the Burial Chamber all started, so it has a soft spot in my heart. It’s like a bad dream, where zombies take over and the military try to control the situation. They make great use out of air cannons and sound effects to get you jumping even when no actors are near you! Scares do not just happen in front of you either. Some will be from behind, others from above, and some even down by your feet!

Insanity

There were several things in Insanity that I instantly recognized from the previous year; making your way through narrow halls, the vortex, the uneven ground and the tight inflatable tunnel that you have to push your way through. I'm personally OK with some repetition from year to year as long as it’s not too much. There were several times where we hit a dead end and had to back-track to get through the dark and winding maze.

Phobia

This, for me, was the scariest part of the Burial Chamber. A walk in the woods at night can be creepy just by itself. With the moon-light providing eerie mood lighting and the natural noises of a woods... a twig snapping or leaves rustling can be enough to put you on edge. Phobia takes all the woods has to offer, and adds to it by appearances of their talented actors. Some of the noises coming out of these performers were NOT human! You really got the sense that there were people that lived in these woods, and they were not right in the head. They were creepy, and several were even humorous! One red-neck spook had me giggling as he yelled repeatedly 'GET UR HANDS OFF MA JUNK!' There was a point where an actor waited until we were actually past him, then quietly came up behind me and made a ghastly clicking noise in my ear. I screamed like a little girl. Then I laughed. Then I got the heck out of there. The rest of the walk, which was about 15 minutes long, had me looking over my shoulder the entire time.Phobia, a perfect name for a great haunt.

Although I did not try any of the four Burial Simulators, I have in the past. It’s a fun, yet claustrophobic trip to the grave that will have you thankful you were never buried alive.

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Misery loves company and this haunted attraction is no exception.  Misery Haunted House combines two of my favorite things: a GREAT haunted house and a GREAT cause!  Don’t just go to Misery to be frightened, but go because you are also supporting a great cause at a very reasonable price.  Most haunted attractions in the Fox Valley area are far too swamped and over commercialized.  Misery Haunted House is new enough that they focus on what works and they remain very original.  Don’t wait in ridiculously long lines to see something you may have seen numerous times before.  The ghouls at Misery make certain no one goes “unnoticed” and be prepared to go “solo” at times. 

Getting to Misery can be difficult if you are not familiar with the area, but parking is a breeze once you arrive.  There is a covered waiting area, so you do not need to be concerned with rainy weather ruining your evening.  At $12 a ticket (plus a $2 off coupon if you visit their website) this is one of the most affordable haunted attractions with plenty of fear to offer.  Our wait in line was very brief and there were goodies for those who like a snack while you wait.  The beginning of the haunt forces you to build on your anticipation.  As you wait to go one by one, you can feel the hair on the back of your neck begin to rise.  The screams from your friends who have now left you can be heard in the distance.  Have no fear as you will rejoin again, if you survive without having to run.  Even the smartest haunt attendee can expect to make incorrect decisions and lead your group back into horrors embrace numerous times.  If you do manage to make it to the end, you better run. The total time for this haunt was 19 minutes. 

I have always said in the past, that Green Bay Fear was the “black horse” of all haunted attractions with the potential to be one of the best.  This year, Green Bay Fear is no longer the “black horse”.  Green Bay Fear is the best haunted attraction in Green Bay and one of the best in the entire state of Wisconsin. If you are an avid haunted house attendee or if you are searching for the best haunted attraction in the Green Bay area, you must see what is in store for you at Green Bay Fear.  This is not your typical haunted attraction where you must stand in a boring line for hours only to be disappointed at how brief the actual entertainment portion is.  Green Bay Fear is similar to a haunted “carnival” with the added bonus of an amazing main attraction. 

The location of Green Bay Fear is rather easy.  It is right off of Highway 41, but beware of road construction if you are not from the area.  Parking was fairly easy and well guided, but I did attend early in the evening.  If you have attended Green Bay Fear in the past, expect major changes this year.  Ticket prices are very reasonable at $15, but I always say if you can afford it … go for the added RIP bonus! 

When you enter the “Fear grounds” your senses will be overwhelmed by the amount of things to do.  The feeling I experienced when I first walked in, was that same feeling of excitement and anxiety I would get when I was younger and first arrived at a theme park.  You just don’t know where to start, it is all so exciting and there is so much to see and do.  There is a live band EVERY NIGHT and even if you do not have an RIP pass you can still enjoy the music and see the stage! 

We first made our way to the Zombie paintball.  I have never had the opportunity to shoot paintball before, and I LOVE the idea of being able to waste a real “zombie”.  The set up was great and the zombie was clever, but never the less I nailed him!  After that, we headed straight for some hot cocoa, a cozy bonfire and the live music.  The band was phenomenal and we could have sat there all night listening to them.  There are so many different food and beverage options, I wish I hadn’t eaten supper before I came.  We then moved on to the head toss.  I’m not bragging, but I managed to get each head in (unlike my guest) and won a very cool prize!  We had already spent an hour at Green Bay Fear and hadn’t even began to explore all there is to offer. 

We decided to head for the haunted woods.  You would never know you were in the city because when you are walking through the woods, your senses are so heightened that you must be cautious of all your immediate surroundings.  The ghouls are everywhere and you never have a moment to catch your breath before the next one is chasing you.  We managed to come upon “Psycho” the psychic and opted for a real tarot card reading.  It is an additional charge so make sure to bring cash.  It is a great opportunity to catch your breath and have your fortune read.  I am very skeptical when it comes to psychics, but I must admit this one was so good it was scary!  We were soon out and back into the woods for what seemed an eternity.  Total time through the wood minus the reading was 23 minutes!

Finally, we made our way to the MAIN event.  There are no long, dark hallways used as fillers to increase the length of the haunt.  You literally go from one scene to the next without a moments rest.  The Haunted House is so full of ghouls, creatures and monsters that you must remain attentive at all times.  If you cannot handle being frightened, I recommend burying your head in your friend’s sweatshirt and just pray it will end.  The actors don’t just scream, they contort and move in ways that are clearly not human.   The main attraction was significant in length and took an amazing 28 minutes to complete.  

When you arrive at the Burial Chamber Haunted Complex, it doesn’t take long to realize that this attraction is clearly the most popular haunted attraction in North Eastern Wisconsin.  If you are looking for a guaranteed good time with lots of scares, then you must go to the Burial Chamber Haunted Complex. 

Parking was difficult as the lots were full of fellow “victims” and we were forced to park 4 blocks away.  The overfull lots may be seen as a negative, but in reality, they are just THAT GOOD.  The Burial Chamber Haunted Complex is the largest haunted attraction in Wisconsin and is home to over 125 of the best hand selected actors.  Aside from the main attractions, the Burial Chamber offers a large venue of meals, drinks and souvenirs.  You will have a selection that ranges from “boxers” (for those unlucky ones that may soil theirs) to amazing warm sugar coated donuts.  They wait is outside, so be cautious of rain and expect very long lines due to the popularity.  If you can afford it, I highly recommend a fast pass, it is only $2 more at $30 for three of four attractions and you can skip the long wait. 

There are 4 attractions at the Burial Chamber Haunted Complex and I will go over each separately as they are so different that they require separate reviews.  

Insanity was the first attraction that we entered.  The outside is very professionally done and the ghouls in line make you contemplate if it is possible that what you are about to experience could get any more frightening.  Crowd control inside of the house is very well maintained and you never have to worry about running into another group (unless of course someone from the group ahead of you is running back trying to get out, which did happen in this house).  Insanity is meant to make you doubt yourself and your surroundings.  The actors have no fear and they are certain to put the fear in you.  Hallways will shrink, floors will become unstable, ceilings may drop and your senses will be put to the test.  There is not an inch of this haunt that goes without a single intricate detail.  There are very few animatronics and the house is loaded with some of the best actors.  The animatronics that are in place will have you grasping the wall in order to escape.  The total time through this house was 24 minutes, but it felt more like a mind twisting hour!  If you prefer a haunt that is distinctively mind blowing, then Insanity is the haunt you must visit.

Phobia was the second haunted attraction that we visited.  Phobia is a haunted walk through a very dimly lit woods with several scenes and props professionally placed along the trail.  You must hold tight to those you are with or one of the actors will cease any moment they have to attack.  Phobia is loaded with great actors and has some of the very best of all four attractions.  You can smell the gas from chainsaws as they just barely graze past your limbs.  Phobia this year reminded me of a mix between the classic horror movie “Deliverance” and “Fargo”.  The total trail time was 19 minutes.  I am typically not a fan of haunted woods, but Phobia was so professionally done that I would recommend it as one of the best attractions at the Burial Chamber Haunted Complex.

Adrenaline was the last attraction at the Burial Chamber that we experienced.  After the mind blowing and heart thumping abuse we took from Phobia and Insanity, it is amazing none of us ended up in the ER after facing Adrenaline.  From start to finish, Adrenaline is in your face (literally) nonstop.  You must be certain to wear good shoes as you are guaranteed to jump several times.  I have won many bets taking individuals through Adrenaline as everyone is guaranteed to jump or shriek.  Even your toughest Army vets are sure to gasp and dodge.  The actors do not say much, but they don’t have to because their only jobs are to make sure you are fearing for your life and that you are still alive.  By the time you make it to the end, you will need to stop and use the facilities immediately.  The total haunt took 25 minutes, but at a heart racing pace it can feel like hours.  Imagine skydiving without a parachute … I would imagine that the feeling you have 10 seconds before you hit the ground is similar to what you will experience in Adrenaline.  If you prefer a haunt that offers surprises and in your face scares, then do not miss Adrenaline and make sure to bring friends as it is funny if you make it out ok. 

We did not experience the burial simulator this year, but I have tackled it in the past.  It is a once in a lifetime experience, and it is the only time in your life that you will make it out of a coffin alive. 

Nicely Done! I’ll admit, after completing my tour of this haunt I had a lot of mixed thoughts in my head.  But after reflecting upon my experience and questioning what just happened I now have to tip my hat to the not so apparent but totally ingenious game plan of this haunt!  While I’m not going to give up any secrets here I must say this haunt provided me with a unique sense of fear! 

First and foremost, this is a very fun haunt…especially for younger haunt goers.  While the scares here are definitely kid appropriate, adults will definitely enjoy the clever room layouts and polished performances of the ghouls.  From what I’ve read Neenah’s Most Haunted has been around for 28 years. While I’m guessing many of the actors are less than half the age of this haunt I was pleasantly surprised with the superb job the young actors did portraying their roles. The years of experience are definitely evident in the creative room and hallway layouts, the elaborate detail found in many of the rooms and the articulately dressed and skillfully positioned ghouls.  Perhaps the most noteworthy aspect of this haunt for adult haunt goers is the maze that awaits.  While dark and at times frustrating pay particular attention to any younger haunt goers that may accompany you…their reactions may actually provide the unhinged bone chilling experience other haunts dream of providing!

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Sensationally Scary!!  If you’ve never been to the Burial Chamber complex prepare yourself!  The sheer size of this complex is quite impressive and what lurks inside will take your breath away.   2013 was my actually my 4th visit to Burial Chamber in the past 5 seasons.  (I do believe this is Burial Chambers 6th season…) Over the past 5 years as a Review Crew Member I’ve been to many of the haunts in Wisconsin and I’ve yet to find one as massive as Burial Chamber.

Of course for all you Haunt Connoisseurs out there I don’t have to tell you that it’s not always the size of the haunt that matters.  When it comes to Burial Chamber, not only is this complex well endowed, it employs an amazing arsenal of creeped out corridors, crazy creatures and good ole’ fashioned in your face scares to maximize your ghoulish gratification.

Burial Chamber features two indoor haunts (Adrenalin and Insanity) that reside side by side and one (Phobia) that’s outside.  The layout of Adrenalin and Insanity are similar in that they are both comprised of a seemingly endless maze of cleverly crafted corridors consisting of a variety of themes.  The journey through both Adrenalin and Insanity progresses continuously without stoppages for elaborate skits.  Rooms here are more like themed corridors than rooms and your pace through these haunts is determined more by how quickly you walk than it is by the creatures lurking in the shadows. 

The pace of Insanity this year was fast and furious as the ghouls were unrelenting in their quest to scare each and every visitor regardless of their position within a group.  The ghastly ghoul encounters in Insanity this year were noticeably higher than in prior years.  Compared to Adrenalin, Insanity leaves little to the imagination.  Sets were lit effectively…dim enough to encourage you to keep your scare guard up but light enough so that you could appreciate the amazing attention to detail with the sets and costumed actors.  Gore and special effects were plentiful with several visual abominations that will torment your mind long after your exit.  Lazer lighting, black lit rooms, a vortex, strobe lights were just a few of the visual stimuli Insanity offered up.  For these reasons Insanity was my pick as top hell hound at Burial Chamber this year.

The lighting of Adrenalin was noticeably darker than Insanity but there was always just enough light for you to find your way without the worry of walking into a wall.  The maze of dimly lit hallways of Adrenalin did an exceptional job of building my anticipation of the scares that await but unfortunately made it challenging for the true haunt connoisseur in me to appreciate how elaborate the sets and creatures were.   Nonetheless, the seemingly endless tour of cleverly crafted corridors did an exceptional job of not only creeping me out but also included a few mind benders to totally screw with my head. 
While there may have been fewer creatures lurking in the shadows of Adrenalin than insanity there are still more than enough ghouls and techno-surprises to ensure that you get your scare on. 

While I did not tour Phobia last year I am told that this year’s edition contained 5-6 new structures.  Unlike Adrenalin and Insanity, Phobia resides completely outside and features a terrifying tour through the woods along with occasional petrifying passages through the eerie dwellings found along the way.  Rustling brush and sinister sounds in the distance heightened my anticipation of what was to come as I proceeded along the path.  Menacing, highly motivated and acrobatic ghouls did an exceptional job of appearing out of nowhere to scare the members of my tour group.  In fact, the scare at one point was so intense for a member of my tour group that I actually got stampeded!  Not surprisingly, this tour group member declared Phobia as Burial Chambers most terrifying experience. 

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All I can say is WOW!  Terror on Rural Street is one of those haunts that I have been to so many times, I wasn't sure how impressed I was going to be.  I'll admit it now, I was dead wrong!  We arrived at Terror on Rural Street to find a very busy parking lot.  Don't be deceived though, it is a shared lot, you won't have to wait two hours to enter the haunt!  After we got our tickets, we entered the waiting area where benches are ample, and concessions are a plenty.  It's a nice waiting area, where you can relax, and grab a snack, or a beverage (adult beverages are available! {none for me though, I had work to do!}).  This area would have been better if there was any entertainment.  No ghosts or ghouls roamed, instead, you just sit and wait.  Guests are called by the number on their ticket stub to enter the haunt, and away you go...  to another waiting area.  Truth be told, this one goes fast, it just lines you up and gets you into groups for the haunt.  And now you're ready to enter!

Terror on Rural Street is a wonderful tour of fantastic sets and scenes.  Since Terror on Rural Street has over a decade of experience, their ability to set a scene is far and away their strong suit.  In Terror on Rural Street, you'll travel through many rooms, all intricately decorated with different nightmarish themes, the most memorable for me was a maze of inflated walls (we got separated from our group in this maze!). 

The most fascinating part of Terror on Rural Street was how much fun we had!  When you've been to a haunt several times, they tend to get stale, but somehow Terror on Rural Street has remained new, and relevant.  In my case, I tend to look at haunts from an artistic standpoint, and don't expect to jump, or be frightened.  Terror on Rural Street did both of those things, I definitely jumped, and my heart got pumping!  All of that, plus a detail oriented haunt makes Terror on Rural Street my surprise haunt of the season.  Hats off to the staff at Terror on Rural Street for keeping it new and fresh every year.  Great job Terror on Rural Street!

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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! 

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Terror on Rural Street was at the top of my list of haunts to review this year so when I arrived on Saturday night I was extremely excited.  Terror on Rural Street is a haunt that I try to attend each year and there is a simple reason.  Each year this haunt delivers true scares, laughs, and fun, and it manages to do so while continuously mixing things up which makes each year uniquely frightening.  My visit this year is quite possibly my favorite of any that I have made to Terror on Rural Street.

Upon arriving at the haunt, the parking lot seemed pretty full, but we managed to find a spot fairly quickly.  We later found out that this is due to the parking lot being a shared lot, but there is plenty of additional parking across the street and on a main street located near the haunt.  As we walked up to the haunt the ambiance quickly becomes spooky.  We walked right up and got our tickets.  There was no line for tickets!  After we received our tickets, we headed into a large waiting area that is warm and dry.  This was a literal warm welcome on Saturday night because the weather was doing its own part to create a creepy setting for our haunt visits.  There is a concession area that that can provide you with a variety of drinks and treats while you enjoy your warm wait with plenty of seating!  Another plus, it is not very often that while you wait in line at a haunt you get to sit down.  I waited for my three digit number to be called, and after a short wait of approximately fifteen minutes, it was. 

We were escorted past a wonderfully decorated outside area and into a dark creepy building with very low lighting.  This is where we waited to enter the haunt.  In this area, our wait
was only about seven minutes during which time we handed in our tickets and learned the rules of the haunt.  Then a door opened and the group was on our way in.  This haunt works on your senses on so many levels.  The sound effects and lighting are spectacular.  There are so many unique areas decorated with clever and realistic props.  The actors at this haunt made me jump several times, as was the case with most of our group, as we passed through the many rooms, passages and mazes that seemed to swallow me in darkness. 

This haunt brought me in contact with a myriad of characters in an impressive number of areas.  These actors were really working us and we were consistently being startled by someone or something.  I was also assaulted by ear-piercing noises, chills, moving and uneven ground, in addition to an array of completely disorientating light shows.  Then quickly the darkness returned again.  This grouping of special effects had an incredibly successful influence on our group, since as we traveled through the house our group went the wrong way several times.  Our terrifying acquaintances actually
suggested that we change leaders on multiple occasions because we kept getting lost. 

Terror on Rural Street also delivers on every level so there is something for everyone.  The variety of scenes and special effects are too high to count when you are experiencing it.  Stylized areas vary widely from an attack of the insect variety to cannibals with imprisoned victims screaming for anyone to help you.  There were also some amazing special effects that create a brand new way to experience a twisted maze.  I also was lucky enough to experience a great deal of laughs delivered by a group of great actors in the haunt.  The interaction they provided with us as the visitors was amazing.  They teased and followed us, mocked and surprised us and delivered quite a few witty lines.  I felt infected by the atmosphere and the haunt seemed to last and last.     

Eventually we manipulated our way through an amazing spinning vortex and a maze that confused and befuddled us so much that we lost part of our group.  We ended our journey on a scare and with a scream.  My time inside the haunt lasted about twenty minutes and was amazing.  This haunt pulled me in, and during those twenty minutes  I was filled with fright, excitement, confusion, and delight. 

Terror on Rural Street offers an amazing experience that is well worth the price of admission with a very professional mood.  The area is well lit, clean, and the people who work there are courteous and professional. I enjoyed Terror on Rural Street tremendously and am ready to go visit again.  I highly recommend a visit to Terror on Rural Street this year so you can experience this thrillingly fun haunt firsthand.                         

Signage / Visibility / Location

Wait Area / Line Entertainment

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

Scare-tacular!  Once again, if you’re looking to get seriously scared this Halloween look no further than the Mars Haunted House!  This haunt has been in the business for over 20 years and it shows.  Elaborately detailed sets and corridors tempt you to stroll slowly to enjoy the visual treats along the way while strategically placed ghouls and special effect scares lurk in the shadows to incite your natural instincts to flee.  Despite being prepared for the surprises that traditionally freak me out at Mars it always succeeds in making me jump. 

Traditionally I have declared this attraction to be Milwaukee's Scariest haunt.  Even though Mars was the first haunt I toured this year I would definitely recommend this haunt to be on your must see list.

Keeping with tradition, this year’s Mars Haunted House features a full spectrum of scares.  Creepy corridors, mind boggling mazes, rancid rooms, frequent frightful encounters with elaborately dressed and fiendish ghouls…this haunt had a little bit of everything.  The lighting of Mars was dark and creepy but always just enough for you to enjoy the incredible attention to detail this haunt showcases.  Also noteworthy, many of the rooms and hallways featured robust sound systems to really heighten the haunted experience.  I’ve been told that this haunt actually is never disassembled so that improvements can be made year round…it definitely shows!

“Intense!” was how one tour mate described this year’s Mars experience.  The frequent encounters with the ghouls that appeared out of nowhere and always appeared to be lurking in the shadows behind and in front of us definitely put a frightful charge into my tour mate.  Once inside the Mars Haunted House there’s certainly no place that’s safe from the scares that await at every turn. 

If you're into evaluating haunts with your senses you might find this helpful:
* Sight: Elaborate sets with great attention to detail. Lighting and special effects were frequently used to surprise me even though I was expecting it.

*Sound: Superb! The sound experience allowed me to become totally immersed in many of the rooms…especially immediately upon entering this haunt!
* Smell: Past Mars Haunts included unique smells to heighten the experience.  Didn’t notice any this year.

* Touch:  Yes…Some of the scares are so intense you’ll actually feel them!

Signage / Visibility / Location

Wait Area / Line Entertainment

Actors' Performance

Sets Scenes / Props / FX

Length

Crowd Control

Most Memorable Moment

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.