Gilly's Haunted House Review by HocusPocus (Review Crew)

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

Gilly's Haunted House

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

Submitted: Friday, October 9, 2009

Fun Factor: High Fear Factor: Low

Review

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Signage / Visibility / Location

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

Wait Area / Line Entertainment

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

Actors' Performance

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

Sets Scenes / Props / FX

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

Length

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

Crowd Control

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

Most Memorable Moment

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

Summary

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

View all Gilly's Haunted House reviews

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