Legends of the Fog 2019

On October 26th the Haunt Review Crew visited Maryland's longest running haunted attraction; Legends of the Fog!

Upon arrival we scoped out the changes made to their large midway. Additional games and vendors have been added. Highly recommend the pit sandwiches! You know we like to sample the eats when we visit places!

The midway features a pay to scare booth where you can fire an air cannon into locations around the attractions! They have camera set up so you can watch your victims jump! The way they lay this out is you wait in line to begin and each attraction ends where the next picks up. Highly recommend fast passes. The closer to Halloween we get the busier the haunts become. The first attraction we encountered was the manor. We were greeted by none other than Garlic Mike. He's hard to miss in line... we could smell him approaching. Upon entering the manor we were welcomed by a frightfully dead bellhop. This actor set the tone of the show. As we went into their hellevator the actor inside played into the dialogue of the group to a T. He was funny, creepy and very in character. Its a quick little ride but the manor wouldn't be the same without it. The rooms in the manor seemed to have been changed and added to since our last visit. There were so mant details and scene props that we truly wished we had seen it in the day time free of actors. The scenes have gone from looking like props in dark rooms to total submersion in a haunted manor. The lighting and fog were perfection. We faced several fears along the way of spiders and darkness and things that go "Boo!" In the night! The manor leveled up and we loved it. It ends with us walking the corn maze. The Legends of the Fog corn maze was our favorite corn maze this season. The actors were so well hidden that they never appeared in places we expected. Every time someone came out it was a surprise. One scarecrow managed to get us way more times than anyone else in there. It was so much fun. Nothing with advanced technology or fancy sounds. This was good old fashioned gotchas in a dark tricky corn maze. We really had a blast in there getting lost. The 3rd attraction was their hayride. Absolute work has been done since we last took a ride! The sets have become more cohesive and laid out. The actors play into their environment and you can tell they're enhoying making people scream....and scream they did! There is one new scene in particular that made us react to a chainsaw. We see so many of those that it is rare for us to be phased. The scene itself is an original all built there onsite.

We love their use of all the senses for this show. The unexpected animatronics were awesome too, well placed and relevant to their scene. Lastly we walked through the Sinister Circus. There are very neat scenes out of a freakshow. We had a few times we stopped to stare at a prop to see if it would move. There were a few missed opportunities to scare us but the circus was entertaining nonetheless.

We truly enjoyed our visit overall and highly recommend you visit them during their lights out show during the 1st weekend in November!

Reaper’s Revenge 2019

On 10/19/19 the HRC returned to Reaper’s Revenge in Scranton, PA. Reaper’s has been an HRC favorite since our first visit back in 2015. Reaper’s has 4 great attractions; the haunted hayride, the Lost Carnival, Pitch Black, and Sector 13. Once’s again they blew us away!

Reaper’s has set high standards in line/crowd management, security, customer and actor accommodations, and security/first aid. First, Reaper’s maintains great crowd control with their linear entrance and heavy security presence. They start all customers at the hayride, with 6 corrals and 13 tractors running every 3.5 minutes. Each wagon can accommodate 25-28 customers, so they definitely keep things moving. While this is an excellent organized flow, on busy nights there can be up to a 4 hour wait. We highly recommend the VIP tickets, or getting there as soon as they open.

Keep in mind, this is an interactive haunted adventure. Pregnant customers and customers who chose, can wear a “hands off” glow necklace. That being said, if you are physically able, opt for the full experience.

The haunted hayride uses laser lights, a hard wired Hollywood quality sound system, very detailed scenes well spaced on the trail, TV monitors, animatronics, and live actors. There were so many great scenes; some of our favorites were Alice in Wonderland, the Ring, the Jack-O-Lanterns, and the zombies. We must give a shout out to the girl in the Ring scene. Let’s just say, she is so good she makes you feel it!

We absolutely love what Reaper’s has done with the Lost Carnival. It is staged near the end of the hayride, but not the very end. This is the only place we have seen a second attraction set within the hayride. About 3/4 of the way through the hayride, all wagon riders are escorted off the hayride and sent through the Lost Carnival. But this isn’t just a Carnival. It’s filled with old Carnival rides and attractions, some well-placed creepy things, as well as warped clowns and other strange characters. The great thing about this trail walk is the timing. The actors keep customer groups purposefully spaced so the scares and surprises stay just that. Keep in mind, this is a trail walk through the woods. There are tree roots & branches, rocks, and uneven terrain, so wear good walking shoes/boots.

At the end of the Lost Carnival customers get back on the wagon for a short finish to the ride. Then they are dropped off at the entrance to Pitch Black. Pitch Black is just that........a completely pitch black maze. You will be asked to remove glasses and hats before you enter Pitch Black after the elevator ride. Who needs hats and glasses when you can’t see a thing!?!? Pitch Black plays with your senses. When sight is taken away all your other senses are now on overload and hyperactive. You will be touched and grabbed. You might run into things. You might feel things on you. Sensory overload! They have had folks get lost in there; but no worry, as they have staff strategically placed near emergency exits and cameras in the attraction. If you get lost for too long, someone will help you get out.

When you finally escape Pitch Black, you head to Sector 13. Sector 13 is a post-apocalyptic themed attraction. There are mutants, lab workers, and military characters throughout the attraction. Again, you will be immersed in the experience. Some of us were thrown on the exam table and “injected” with an antidote. Others were put in the freezer and “bagged & tagged.” Yet others were “caged” and shaken up. This attraction has expanded to include a partial second level, a huge 30’ flame, lasers, ALOT of fog, and many other props. Sector 13 has been well planned. They start with 24 customers in the debriefing room for a 3.5 min video. They then break the customers up into groups of 6 for the holding area and decontamination room. From there the actors stagger customers, and some get completely separated from their group. They will reunite, eventually.

Once you exit Sector 13 you can head down to the food and entertainment midway. On the way to the midway, make sure you stop and vote for your favorite attractions. In the midway, make sure you get some yummy food and treats, and enjoy the entertainment. The night we were there, a local high school dance team was performing and they were really good. They even dressed up as zombies, so they fit right in. Also, we must mention Joe the Reaper’s roaming magician. Joe was awesome. Think David Blaine level street magic. We were absolutely blown away by his illusions. I mean hands on, in your face illusions, that leave your jaw dropped.

There was a variety of food options in the midway. From delicious cheese steaks and fries, to pizza, to caramel apples, and funnel cake. And, the food prices were very reasonable.

Of course we couldn’t leave Reaper’s without stopping in the merch store. They have long sleeve T’s, short sleeve T’s, sweat pants, hoodies, gloves, hats, and other souvenirs to choose from.

Reaper’s goes through about 400 gallons of fog, and several gallons of propane and diesel fuel each season. Their soundtrack is 80% original and unique. They choreograph Sector 13. There are over 180 actors, at least 15 are scripted. They give out actors awards and have various team building activities. Reaper’s has a Military discount night, and their Customers can also bring donations for the animal shelter, in lieu of the $3 parking cost.

We cannot begin to say enough about Reaper’s commitment to their actors, staff, and customers. They work to accommodate actors and customers with special needs or disabilities. They have actors with various special needs and they will find the right spot for them. They also have entire families working there; the kids may be actors, while the parents serve food, work security, or work on the first aid team. Reaper’s has made accommodations for customers in wheelchairs, customers with epilepsy, as well as senior customers. Imagine a 79 year old grandma going through Sector 13. Well, she did, thanks to a staff member accompanying her for stability! WOW, now that’s caring about your customers.

HRC has a whole new level of respect and admiration for Reaper’s Revenge. Not only are they a Hollywood level haunted attraction, but they care and give back. We highly recommend Reaper’s Revenge in Scranton, PA. Make the trip. You won’t regret it. Tell them the HRC sent you.

The Nevermore Haunt in Baltimore, MD 2019

The Nevermore Haunt takes a different spin on haunted attractions. They take a step back in time. The Haunt uses the history of Baltimore; from the landmark building, built in the late 1800’s, to the long shore industry of old world Baltimore. Nevermore scenes and actors were all based in the late 1800’s era, sticking with their overall theme. It’s not your typical ‘jump out and say boo’ haunted attraction. It’s much more theatrical and thrives on subtlety and darkness. Sometimes all it takes is a subtle stare or subtle noise to distract guests. Then bam!! The animatronics, and even the set, come to life. The creators have done a wonderful job giving inanimate objects a personality all their own. Standout performances by Jomomma, the coffin room twins,and the beautiful creepy voiced dead girl that entertained the guests in line.

The setting just outside the haunt provides a wonderful feel of community and friendliness. Located in an old popular strip mall that can play the role of an arts and crafts Festival area by day, then convert to The Nevermore Haunt by night. It’s a perfect venue for street performers and extra actors to spook customers while they wait in line. They even serve local craft beers at an on-site bar just outside the haunt.

Their current use of available space is efficient, but most of all considerate. They are currently only using the first floor of a 4-story building. There’s a plan for expansion into the second level of the building, but want to ensure it remains handicap accessible. This kind of deeper consideration is the kind of extra work that earns extra points in the haunt community.

Go to The Nevermore Haunt for the nostalgia, entertainment, and a slice of awesome sweet potato pie at Big Mama’s Heart & Soul food stand.

Markoffs Haunted Forest 2019

The HRC took a trip to Dickerson MD for Markoffs Haunted Forest! The night we went was very, very busy. There were lines labelled "Fast pass" but we were told they werent available for purchase on site. If you plan attending we highly recommend looking on their website for details on obtaining a fast pass. We were however, able to do all 3 attractions. The line for the Town was crazy. You wait for a tractor to take you to its location. For over an hour only 1 tractor was running. They added a few more when the line for the town started to flow into the midway. We totally understand some nights are more busy than others and as it gets closer to Halloween it gets worse but it felt like they were not prepared for the masses that night. The town added a trail of fears on the way to meet the sheriff. It was pretty good. The actors in the town we encountered were great with interacting and creating a dialogue with the guests. The scenes were well designed and flowed well. Compared to our visit last year it felt as though there were less actors in the town. This definitely felt like there were some holes and missed opportunities for scares. Next we did trail #2. It was awesome. Very dark, very steep and narrow at times as well. We loved the pumpkin patch scene the best. So detailed. The actors were incredible in there and took time waiting for their scares. We finished with trail #1. Amazing viking scene and the space shuttle was absolutely incredible. This trail also was very dark. The terrain changes in there are sudden. Be aware of your step and wear hiking/walking shoes. Both trails merge during a heavy metal scene. That scene is also very cool. Loud music, lots of banging on fences and crazy made up actors..they dont say anything and the one was just hitting the fence with a bat. There was one near the bus who spooked us the 2nd time around. He wasnt there when we did trail #2 first. They also converge and share a doll scene. Creepiest of the creepy. Another HRC fave.

Overall Markoffs is fun and some of the best scenes outdoors we have ever seen. They have a number system for the trails where they give you a bracelet with the number on it and when your number appears on the screen you can get in line for the trail you chose. Its a great system as it allows you to enjoy the food, DJ and games in the midway. If you plan on making it out in the 2019 season definitely get the fast pass option. Let us know what you think when you go!

Hotel of Horror Saylorsburg PA 9/29/19

Well, we decided to hit up the creepiest hotel again this year. Hotel of Horror is just that; a hotel full of vile creatures, morbid scenes, and bone chilling creeps. Hotel has yet to disappoint. They have Hollywood level makeup and scenes that draw you in, then scare the crap out of you. Sometimes less is more. The scenes in Hotel leave your mind wondering what’s real and what’s not; and sometimes nothing at all is real, leaving you on edge the whole time. When you exit the Hotel side, you can now go straight into Altered Nightmares (if you’re doing both attractions).

Altered Nightmares is just that; a mind bending trip into your nightmares. Let’s just be real; this attraction is not for the faint of heart. It is intense, terrifying, and downright insane. Think, The Shining meets The Munsters meets Dr. Hannibal Lechter. Yea, crazy!

The actors stay in character, but also feed off the guests fears, reactions, and even conversations. They give you deathly stares, intense screams, and blood curdling sounds. Shout out to Zipper Face and the screeching nun.

As far as indoor attractions, Hotel of Horror is at the top of the list for many reasons. Great use of space, strategic actor placement, unique characters, and the maze that allows actors to re-appear and make you think you’re seeing doubles. The use of this old lake house hotel building, in and of itself, sets the ambiance right from the beginning.

Hotel of Horror is worth the trip. Tell them HRC sent you, and wear your Depends.

Fright Factory PA 2019

What is in a name? Quite a bit. Fright Factory is definitely living up to their name! We entered the old warehouse and immediately embraced all of the eerie atmosphere! This haunt uses old school props, with high level makeup and strong actors to execute the best in Halloween entertainment. We've never had a haunt blind us with light and then leave us confused in pitch black spaces. Their swamp scene is absolutely awesome. The use of crawling, hidden walls and openings etc were the best. One thing this attraction does that we wish others would is to stop us a few times within the show and have us wait until the next group has moved a long. Its a great feature for crowd control and increases your chances of really getting the full experience. They are open rain or moonshine, which is a bonus bc October weather is unpredictable! We had a surprise rain storm the night we went! This place was very well organized in their scenes and felt like a real haunted factory. We loved our time there. Please go check it out, grab a cheesesteak nearby and tell them Haunt Review crew sent you.

Valley of Fear in Feasterville PA 2019

Valley of Fear in Feasterville PA welcomed us for their opening weekend! This year they are celebrating 30 years of scares! When you arrive there is quite a walk to the 1st part, the hayride attraction. It is dark so be prepared! They have a unique approach to how they do their experience. This hayride leaves you with legs vulnerable and dangling off the wagon! The hayride while providing a bit of scares was mostly impressive for the theatrical performance. There is a jack in the box scene that really wowed us! The main actor was amazing. He was perfectly in character and timing as was his accomplices! Throughout the ride we experienced smells that were awful, and some very well built scenes. We moved on to the manor from the hayride. The manor was a lot of fun. We found this to be the most scary of the attractions. There was a chef we referred to as the "Jersey chef" he was creepy and dedicated to scaring us all! There was also a terrifying clown which lets remember, we see a lot of those in haunts. This one in particular really stood out! There was also a clown with a chainsaw that gave us a nice surprise. The actors in the manor are ready for this season! We finished up with Scary Tales. Their twisted version of fairytales we know and love. The scenes are very well designed and flow. The trail itself is very dark. The new mad hatter is definitely up to the challenge of this season. The entire scene from the Mad tea party was amazing. We really enjoyed that in particular!

As a whole Valley of Fear was a lot of fun, we recommend checking them out if you have love and appreciation for strong theatrics and scares. They have a great little dance area and snack bar too so come hungry and hang out!

Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride 2019

Year after year Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride keeps enthusiasts coming back. The three main attractions are the Bates Motel, the haunted hayride, and Revenge of the Scarecrow Haunted Trail. Each year they add or tweak things within the scenes, or even add whole new scenes. We love the details they put into their scenes. It really shows the heart and passion they have for what they do. Some of the tweaking they do isn’t just in the design of the scenes, but in the placement of the actors. The actors are often in different spots, so you never know where they are coming from year after year. Some actors are camouflaged so well you just think they are inanimate parts of a scene; then, BAM, it’s too late and they got ya! The actors make it a habit to time the scares so they don’t always get the first 1-2 folks in a group. They frequently got the last person in our group. You start to let your guard down, thinking there are no actors and that’s when they get you. And boy, do they get you good!There are actors in the midway area as well. They interact with the patrons while they wait in line, get food, or watch a performer. Bubba will give you a great shock. You never know where a scare is going to come from.

Standouts this year include the mineshaft, dinosaur scene, the octopus guy, and many rooms in the motel. Of course, we don’t want to give anything away, but can’t say enough about the detail that goes into all their attractions.

This year they also added to the midway. They have had the food stand, gift shop, and coffin rides for many years. Last year they added a mobile escape room and a donut stand. We were very happy to see that the yummy donut stand was back. It’s a good thing we don’t live closer because We’d be tempted to go by every weekend just to pick up some freshly made donuts. This year they also have a mobile ax throwing cage and laser tag. They now have 4 escape rooms. We tried our luck at ax throwing while we were there. You do have to sign a waiver, but at only $5 it was worth it. The guy in charge of the ax throwing was very helpful and gave tips on how to hold the ax to help it to stick in the target. We each got 6 throws. One of us got it to stick (on the 4th try), and it was a partial bullseye. Another of us got it to stick 4 times, but not hard enough to stay. It was a ton of fun. If you have the time while you are there, We recommend trying out one or all of the other activities in the midway.

And this year, Bates has something for the entire family. The Arasapha Farms Harvest Hayride. Kids 12 and under are $20 and parents are free!! They have at least 20 activities for family fun; some have a small fee for adults. Check it out 9/21/19-10/27/19, Sat & Sun 10am-5pm.

All in all, Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride is a great haunt to go to for some scares mixed with some fun. It’s worth the drive. And, don’t forget to get the donuts!!

Field of Screams PA 2019

Ladies and gentlemen, it is 2019 and Field of Screams PA is ready for you! The HRC started our review with the Den of Darkness. The Den never disappoints. There were actors everywhere. We were even made to crawl through the fireplace! Carnage was an actor who stood out among the many talents in the den. He is dedicated to his scenes via his voice work and timing in scares. The den has twists and turns that most people cannot anticipate. That is one thing that helps them execute scares. You cant always anticipate where a haunter is hiding. Something else we wanted to mention that we really liked about the den was the actors with chainsaws aren't just standing there visible and waiting to chase you. There was 1 who was obvious, but the others lingered in hidden places making them way more effective. When you go to 10 or more haunts in a season, chainsaws wear out their luster. We appreciated the added element of surprise in there. The Asylum was our next stop of the evening. Out of all 4 attractions this one provided us with the most scares and surprises. Yes, asylum scenes at haunts are common. NO Field of Screams isn't just a typical "boo" gotcha type show. The asylum is 100% dedicated to really turning the atmosphere into an asylum, complete with a morgue. There is warped medical equipment, there are times we duck, times we scoot, or have to turn to get passed an object or ghoul. The actors do a tremendous job of maintaining and staying in character. An actress even went as far as licking the windows and chasing us down. There was a scene on a staircase that really caught us off guard, kudos to all contortionists. The doctors and patients in there are NOT ok. Go check on them, if you dare! 3rd attraction of the night was the hayride.

The hayride saw upgrades in the off season including a new scene with really neat technology. We were fortunate enough to be on a wagon with a group of people who are terrified of haunts. Watching them scream and hide among themselves was awesome. They have upgraded a few scenes on the hayride that make the scenes way more realistic. There are crazy rednecks, snakes, clowns, spiders, and all of your fears hiding out in the cornfield! The actors in the hayride have probably the most difficult job as far as scaring patrons go. You are safe and on a wagon, and they need to not only be theatrical and believable, they have to surprise you and catch you off guard to scare you. The actors at FoS attend a scare school every year, so it is not a surprise that they nail their scares on the hayride! To mention one that requires superior acting and always hits the mark, the guillotine scene! It is a classic and still a favorite scene for us. Nice job hayride! Lastly we went to Nocturnal wasteland. They have condensed the show as far as length to make a bigger impact. This got rid of the space on the trail where there were no actors or a lag time etc. The downside to this is, there is a higher likelihood you will run into another group. You cannot anticipate if a group of chickens are walking through. You send them in and they don't move through the show or they stop and then you have the next group right there behind them. The show itself was great! There was an actor on a bus whom we thought was a prop... moved a little and we jumped. The air cannons were an excellent touch placed where your focus is elsewhere so when the air hits you jump. They had a very innovative scene added to the end that has us still wobbly. Overall FOS delivered as usual! We had a great time and we are so excited to learn they will now be doing some shows in the off season. Check out our Facebook page for that info.