Bedlam in the Boro

The Haunt Review Crew took in Bedlam in the Boro on Saturday, October 21st. Bedlam is a fundraiser put on by the Lineboro Volunteer Fire Department in Lineboro MD. They have 2 attractions, the House of Horror and the Terrifying Haunted Hayride. The actors at Bedlam are mostly teenagers, but do a great job. It’s nice to see them helping out at the local fire dept fundraiser.
Along with the 2 attractions there are midway carnival style games, midway creeps, food, and even a mechanical bullride.

Bedlam is pretty family friendly. They have a 3 mile long Hayride, that takes you through the town, down dark roads, to remote scenes. The scenes are set up in private yards and driveways, because the community loves getting involved and helping out with this event. There are about 10 scenes spaced out on this ride, and each scene is mobile. So every year the fire dept takes them out to their temporary locations, then hauls them back to the fire dept at the end of the season.

The House of Horror is 3200 square feet of creepiness. Characters were well placed and lighting made it very difficult to figure out who was real and who wasn’t. There was even a great creepy crawly creatures room, that gave at least 1 of us the “creepy crawlies.” While we said family friendly, we will admit some younger kids (under 12) may not do well in the House.

Bedlam in the Boro has continued to grow over the years, and we were pleasantly surprised. Keep this fundraiser attraction in mind, for great family fun. And while there, make sure you get some food and baked goods in the firehouse (until 9pm), or pit beef & other yummy options over near the attraction entrances.
 

Valley of Fear

On October 14 the Haunt Review Crew ventured to The Valley of Fear located in Feasterville PA, just outside of Philly. Valley of Fear has an amazing haunted hayride called ‘The Original Haunted Hayride.’ They also have the Operation Z Lockdown Zombie Escape Adventure, The Facility, and the Scarytales Haunted Forest Walk. Four great attractions in one location. And keep in mind this place is pretty big, so wear your comfy walking shoes and plan to stay a while. We encourage the VIP pass on the busiest nights, and to avoid long lines.

While Valley of Fear has some great scare factors, they are also family friendly and want everyone to have a good time. On the hayride most of the customers sit on the edge with their legs dangling off. This gives the feel of being immersed in the adventure. The actors will not purposefully touch you, but they will get in your personal space and make an effort to make you as uncomfortable as possible. While we do love sitting on the edge of the hayride, it does sometimes make it a little more difficult to see the scenes on the opposite side from where you’re sitting. That being said, the middle of the hayride may be your best location to enjoy the full affect of all the scenes. The hayride is filled with crazy clowns, hungry zombies, freakish circus characters, and many more. One of our favorite scenes was the twisted toybox; The toys have come out to play!

The Facility (Biohazard) Extreme Zombie Maze is filled with genetically engineered super zombies. There are some intensely dark areas so if you’re afraid of the dark be forewarned. Zombies were all over the facility, lurking to devour your brains. We were lucky to escape intact, but will you be so lucky?

Scarytales Haunted Forest Walk was our unanimous favorite, of the four attractions. At the beginning of Scarytales Rumplstiltskin riddles you and sends you on your way through various doorways. But where will these doorways lead, and who will you find on the other side? Let’s just say your favorite childhood fairytales and movies have gone mad! You might find a witch, a voodoo doctor, the Madd Hatter, The Tweedles, and so many others. Although it is a dimly lit trail through the woods, take some time to notice the details of these characters. Many of them have Hollywood quality make up and costumes that make them stand out; not to mention their great character voices. You will truly feel as if you are in some of your favorite stories; although you may question if you will ever view those stories the same again.

This year Operation Z was a great combination of escape rooms and zombie paintball. Before you get to the zombie paintball shooting stations your team has to unlock the clues in several rooms. Each group is broken down into two special forces teams (Team Alpha & Team Delta).These teams race against one another to make it to the paintball stations first. We found this to be a totally unique spin on zombie paintball. It was really fun working to figure out the clues in the rooms and then racing to man our paintball guns. We’re pretty sure our team killed our zombie first!

While we did not partake of the yummy treats this year, we do want to mention that Valley of Fear has always had some of the best food and sweet treats around. Yummy thick cheeseburgers, funnel cake, hotdogs, & Smore’s making kits (and a bonfire to make them over). Make sure you work up your appetite as you venture through all four heart pounding attractions.

There’s also live music and a caricature artist. So grab your food, sit and enjoy the music, then get a caricature portrait done!

 

Pennhurst 2017 Review

Pennhurst has truly outdone itself.  With the new ownership that has had a year to implement its ideas (as well as money), it has paid off.  There were many high points regarding this night, but the two that stick out like a severed head on a pole are the ACTORS and CONTAINMENT.  

 Containment is the revamped tunnel that runs underground from one side of the courtyard to the other.  It’s barely recognizable compared to last year and it will leave patrons screaming out and wanting to go back in for more.  The new concept is mind blowing with improved set design.  The geniuses at Pennhurst designed the sets so well that we caught ourselves staring at the details long enough for one of the well hidden creepers to jump out and grab us while distracted.  Well played, young lady.  I won’t give away the theme for Containment but it’s very different in a wonderfully twisted way and continues through the whole tunnel; the tunnel that has been extended to get more bang for the buck. 

Some haunts have people jumping out to scare patrons.  Other haunts have actors.  My hats off to the cast at Pennhurst.  It’s easy to tell which haunts have people who are passionate about their roles and the Pennhurst crew nailed it.  Their hours of training before and constant refinement of their skills shows and it pays off.  People who are treated like family will work harder.  

Thank you Pennhurst for an unforgettable night. Thank you to Jim and the owners for the work hat was put in over the off season.  Keep it freaky!

The Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride in Glen Mills, PA

The Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride in Glen Mills, PA (just outside of Philadelphia, PA).......what else do we need to say!?!? This place is an HRC favorite, so we checked them out on Saturday, 10/7/17. Bates is a top haunted attraction, as rated by many reviewers, haunt industry publications, and television shows. And we totally see why! Bates has 3 main attractions; the Bates Motel, the Haunted Hayride, and Revenge of the Scarecrows Haunted Trail. In addition, there are coffin rides, escape rooms, great food, and awesome merchandise.

The Haunted Hayride is an amazing experience. From the entrance, through a dragon’s mouth, through the mineshaft, snake pit, insane asylum, and many other scenes, you will wonder when it ends; at least 25 scenes! We’ve done tons of hayrides, but none have given us such a feeling of being transformed to different places. The scenes engulfed us, making us forget we were actually on a Hayride through a farm. Their actors seemed to come out of nowhere, at times. Look out they come at you from above, below, and behind! You will be scared! They have the perfect recipe of animatronics, detailed sets, pyrotechnics, and live actors. And a huge applause for the return of the Headless Horseman; indeed an all-time favorite character.

Revenge of the Scarecrow Haunted Trail is a great long walking trail that combines scenes, buildings, and corn trails. We love the perfect distance between scenes. We were enjoying the ambiance of the corn field when actors, ideally positioned, startled us several times. Their corn is just thick enough to allow for optimal hiding spots. Some of our favorite scenes were the human-devouring Venus flytrap, the mausoleum, the hillbilly house, and the swamp. Don’t rush through the Trail; take in the detail of their scenes and the strategic actor placement.

The Bates Motel combines crazy in-your-face actors, sensory overload, and mind boggling rooms. This place really makes you wonder ‘who comes up with this stuff?’ Rooms that move, props that seem to come to life, and stellar actors. This haunted house has everything the true haunt enthusiast looks for, from the entrance to the exit. The details speak for themselves. The Bates Motel does not disappoint!!!!

Our overall experience was top notch, Hollywood quality attractions and actors. This is a true gem in the Northeast! Well worth a road trip to experience it. And please, take our advise, get there extra early or get the VIP tickets to skip the long lines. Bates has huge crowds, because they give you your money’s worth.......and some!!! Bates has been giving scares for 27 years; what a great asset to the haunt industry!
 

Screamland Farms

We have always had a good time at Screamland Farms and this year was no different!  It's been two seasons since we last visitedScreamland Farms and in those two years they have made some big changes... all for thebetter.  From the outside, the barn looks small so you think it's going to be a short walk through.  That is a complete facade.  As we went through we all started to wonder if it was ever going to end:-)  They will touch you at this haunt.  A few times they got us to jump and scream & it wasn't because they touched us but, because it was so dark and we couldn't see them. There were hands suddenly coming out of walls in a small area where you couldn't move to get away.  They had some very unique scenes in this haunt that we have never seen before.  The makeup job on some of the actors was just crazy.  We actually stopped because of (the nun) in the one scene and it's amazing to know that she did that makeup job herself.  By the time we were out of there we didn't know what to expect anymore.  Like most haunts they had the classic chainsaws at the end. We did see the chainsasaw clowns chase a girl all the way to the hayride!!! Yes, they WILL chase you.
 The hayride was a lot of fun too.  They have actual school bus seats on the wagon which we have never scene before.  It made for a very comfy ride and their hayride is long so it was nice.  The only not so good thing with the seats was that when there was a scene at ground level on the opposite side it was hard to see what was going on.  There was so much going on both in the wagon and on both sides of the wagon that usually it wasn't a problem.  The actors did a great job being in character.  We loved the circus scene and you knew the actors were enjoying what they were doing.  Seeing a Christmas themed scene during the hayride was new for us & we loved it. .  The details in the scene were awesome.  Their admission price is decent whether you go through one haunt or both and so worth it in our opinion.

They also had two other things you could do while there that have no actors coming out at you to scare you.  They have a five minute escape room where the goal is to find all 9 large puzzle pieces hidden in the room and to get the puzzle put together before time runs out.  That room was no joke!  With the three of us in there we got six of the pieces put together.  We were pretty sure we knew where the other pieces were but couldn't figure out how to get to them in time.  We still had a blast though.  Then there was the zombie paintball.  Who doesn't like to shoot zombies...  Some of the actors were having a lot of fun out there even though they were there to be shot at.  They made it even more entertaining.

Overall it was a great time and everyone should go check it out for themselves.

Halls of Horror in Palmerton, PA

On September 30th the HRC ventured to a new place for us; Halls of Horror in Palmerton, PA. We decided to check out their ‘Blood Option’ attraction, and of course, we opted for.......the Blood Option. We changed into our white Blood Option t-shirts (included in the price of admission) and donned our goggles; ready for anything and it started in the line! They had this crazy clown that somehow got inside the claw game machine and began shooting us with a water gun.

Upon entering, we knew we were in for some crazy stuff. That’s an understatement!!! This place is next level, and we mean NEXT level! It was like being trapped inside a freaky nightmare. From the very first scene, one of our members was pinned against the wall and ‘caressed.’ The actors were great at just coming out of nowhere. They seemed to be having as much fun, or more, than we were. The characters were unique; there was Pigman, Mr. Touchy Feely, Dr. Zero and many more!

Then there was sensory overload, from visual to sounds to smells and then there was touch.......eeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwweeeeeee!!!
They made sure the smells and feels were totally gross. At some points we couldn’t imagine smells that bad, being fake. They had to be real! We knew they were fake, but in the moment our brains had trouble believing they were actually fake.

Without giving away the scenes, Blood is not the only interactive option here. We were basted, shaved, sundaed, and much much more. This is a hardcore, messy, adult attraction! Bring your fears, sense of humor, old clothes, and baby wipes. Leave your feelings, good clothes, and kids at home! You will sign a waiver and there is mature/offensive language. If you are not a hardcore haunt/Halloween fan, then do NOT go to the Halls. If you start counting down for the next haunt season the day after Halloween, then this is for you!!!!
 

Laurel’s House of Horror Review 2017

On Saturday, 9/23, the HRC returned to Laurel’s House of Horror (LHOH). This haunt is in an actual old movie theater, and uses that setting to their advantage. As you walk up, it seems unassuming; an almost friendly looking movie theater that time forgot. But as you walk up and look up at the marquee, it becomes clear; this going to get serious, as a 10’ tall demon stares down at the crowd. Entering the lobby, the old movie theater decor remains up, adding to the ambiance of the gory macabre decorations. It’s as if evil has taken over a place of family fun.

From the outside it is so deceiving. You think, oh this will be a quick haunt.......wrong!!! This place keeps going like the Energizer Bunny. They use the space very well. You start to wonder, when is this going to end. Even though you never go up or down any significant stairs, somehow you end up exiting the haunt on a lower level than the entrance. And in the dark creepiness, you never realize how you got to the lower level.

LHOH gives you lots of great scenes and actors strategically placed. The scenes allowed for use of less actors. Many of the scenes were so well done we were sure someone was going to jump out, but no need......they still creeped us out. Then when we let our guard down.....GOTCHA!! The dimly lit scenes confuse you, as you struggle to figure out what is real and what is not. Too many actors would have ruined the effect.

The super talented creative team has poured their blood and sweat into the details that make each scene distinct and identifiable. Bloody body parts, a sickeningly disgusting kitchen sink, an actual movie theater scene, a gruesome funeral, a creepy swamp, and so much more.

Although it was so much longer than expected, at the end we didn’t want it to be over. That’s when you know a haunt is good, though. It leaves you wanting more.

Keep in mind LHOH also has some fantastic escape rooms, too. If you’re going, make it a double feature, and we hope you can escape!! The same creative team has also done a phenomenal job with the escape rooms and puzzles in each scene. You won’t be disappointed!! We suggest you make escape room reservations and buy you haunt tickets online at the same time.

Once again, the HRC had a fantastic time at Laurel’s House of Horror

Field of Screams PA 2017

The HRC started our season with an annual tradition......Field of Screams (FOS) in Mountville PA. FOS is celebrating a quarter century of scares and cares this year! Wow, 25 years in the industry is a huge accomplishment, and well deserved for this great place. FOS continues this year with their 4 terrifying attractions; Den of Darkness, Frightmare Asylum, Haunted Hayride, and Nocturnal Wasteland. And don’t forget the midway games, food, music, and actors. Shoutout to Bonjo, Breezy, Momma, and all the midway actors that will chase down the scaredy-cats. They make the midway a 5th attraction.

For their 25th year FOS really stepped up the ‘in your face’ factor. You’re forced to interact, physically; you have to squeeze past things, crawl over things, move things, and sometimes things will invade your personal space. This year they have added a huge amount to the Nocturnal Wasteland. We love how it is geared towards physical fears like height, touch, texture, falling, and even claustrophobia. They made this walkthrough attraction standout with atmosphere; in this case fewer actors made the attraction a hit. Although the junior of all 4 attractions, the Wasteland now stands toe-to-toe with its big brothers, the Den, Asylum, & Hayride. And, Nocturnal took top prize as the best attraction at FOS this year!!!

As always, FOS finds ways, year after year, to change up all of their attractions. This is part of their longevity. Each year we think we know what to expect in each attraction, but each year we are surprised. This reflects the true passion of the owners and, over 450, volunteer actors.

The Haunted Hayride is intense, from start to finish. They have every weirdo, zombie, giant creature, and demented character you can think of. If it’s a fear, you will find it here. FOS has their own extra large Hayride wagons, specially made to give tons of customers scares and keep the crowd moving, without making them feel rushed.

Of course the Den and Asylum always hold their own. Creepy darkness, actors lurking in strategic locations, and visual illusions that make you wonder what’s real & what’s not. If you don’t like it, we guarantee you’ll find it in the Den or the Asylum......or both!!!

This year take notice of the unique, in-house laser cut metal work, immortalizing characters like Bonjo and creating ‘FOS’ symbols used throughout the attractions. Huge shoutout to their craftsman, Stacks!! His work makes FOS pop with character.

Keep in mind it’s their 25th year, so they have a special treat for the true haunt connoisseur. The Behind the Screams Limited Edition 25 Year Anniversary Package. Not only do you get the VIP scream pass upgrade, but a behind the Screams tour, opportunities to scare other customers, and several 25th anniversary commemorative items. Trust us, it’s so worth it!!! It gives you another level of appreciation and respect for what goes into running a large, incredibly successful haunted attraction.

And don’t forget, FOS is more. They will have nightly entertainment on the stage, including competitions like Battle of the Bands, a local high school dance team, and a Rap Battle. And if you have small children, go check out Corn Cob Acres. This is a great daytime field of fun with over 40 unique kid friendly activities. The young-at-heart will enjoy, as well.

If you dare, come back for FOS annual Extreme Blackout event. For 1 night only, experience FOS at its scariest. Sign a waiver and be prepared, because everything goes!!!! Make sure to wear your Depends!

Then FOS will host their 5th annual Zombie Fun Run 5k. You can be a runner, a zombie, run day, or run night. This is just 1 way FOS cares; the Zombie Fun Run benefits the PA Breast Cancer Coalition.

FOS stays at the top of lists of best haunted attractions, year after year. The passion and love for the art really shines in everyone that’s a part of FOS. Go find out why they are always crowded and what the hype is all about. Before you go, check their website for the events schedule, dates, hours, & prices. And definitely consider upgrading to the VIP to skip the long lines. Tickets can be purchased on their website. www.fieldofscreams.com

When you go, tell them the HRC sent you.