Haunt Review- Field of Screams

Haunt Review of Field of Screams

 Well, we'd been hearing good things about this Lancaster Area Haunted House for a long time but until this season we hadn't been able to make it out. Happily we were able to arrange enough time and finally got to check out and see if the rumors are true!

Field of Screams was different, in a fun way. We didn't know much of what to expect so when we arrived and saw a Haunted House meets Carnival, it was a pleasant surprise! Plenty of options for food and drink, bathrooms and various shopping. But.. how good are the haunts?!

Haunt: Field of Screams
Location: Mountville, Pennsylvania
Date:October 10th, 2014
Cost: $14-$33
Overall Rating: Good
Opinion: Worth a Visit
Website: Field of Screams

!Disclaimer!

We were invited again this season to visit Field of Screams. This has in no way effected our opinion or the haunts rating, they earned that entirely on their own!

Haunt Review- Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Williamsburg

 It's September! Which means Haunt Tour 2014 is ready to begin and following our normal patterns, we opened up the season with the Media Preview of Busch Gardens Williamsburg's Howl-O-Scream. Always a favorite for our Theme Park Reviews, we're always interested in seeing what they've pulled out of the bag for their Halloween Event.

Date: 9/12/14
Event: Howl-O-Scream 
Location: Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Williamsburg, Virginia.
Review Team: +Carrie H.C. and +Kitsune Hazard
Price: $75.00
Overall Event Rating: Good  (Please Visit Our Rating Scale for More Info)
Opinion: Visit if Nearby.

!Disclaimer!

Please note that we were invited to the Media Event for Busch Garden's Williamsburg's "Howl-O-Scream" event. This included the 'Igor's Fight Feast" meal. It was also opening night so not all scares or actors may have been in place. This has in no way swayed or altered our opinions.

Overview and Complete Ratings

Haunt Review- Hauntville

Haunt: Hauntville
Location: Elyria, Ohio
When: October 26th, 2013
Price: $16 (Zombie Hunt is an Extra Charge)
Rating: Good
Recommendation: Check it Out if your in the Area!
Website: Hauntville

!DISCLAIMER!

We were invited by Hauntville to review their haunted attraction. This has in no way swayed or altered our opinion of this or any haunt we visit.

 

 

 Hauntville was recommended to us by a friend who works for them. We hadn't heard of them before but since we planned to be in Ohio, we though it was worth a shot at contacting them.  We ended up with an invitation to check them out.

 However, I didn't know much about this haunt so I walked in blind. Having no idea of what to expect or what was offered in the attraction. I find when I do this I don't have any expectations and can enjoy what's being offered rather then viewing things with too critical an eye.

 Hauntville offers 4 themed haunted attractions in one location. Located in an old 'big box' store in a strip mall, they've got a lot of area to play with and they use it to good ends. Perhaps it's not the most visually amazing haunted attraction I've ever seen but it's the actors inside that really bring this place to life, making an otherwise unassuming building scary indeed.

(Keep Reading for the Full Review)

Haunt Review- The Fear Experience

Haunt: The Fear Experience
Location: Parma, Ohio
When: October 25th, 2013
Times: Closed for 2013
Price: $22-30
Rating: Good
Recommendation: Visit if Nearby
Website: The Fear Experience

!DISCLAIMER!

We were invited by Fear Experience to review their haunted attraction. This has in no way swayed or altered our opinion of this or any haunt we visit.

 

 

  Honestly, I knew nothing of this attraction as it was one Kitsune had picked for a review. Before our visit I hadn't even heard of them before so I had no idea what to expect. 

 Although I admit, I'm rather disappointed they aren't running for the final Halloween weekend. It's a pretty good haunt which could easily attract people for Halloween and the final weekend of Oct/Nov. Sadly though they mad the choice to close early, so you'll have to remember this for the next Halloween season.

Fear Experience offers 4 haunted attractions located in Parma, Ohio. Hidden in once abandoned body of a big-box store, we found a fun and rather long haunted attraction. Each of the three haunts has a unique theme, while it's not amazing it's petty good and worth a visit. 

(Keep Reading for the Full Review)

Haunt Review- Ghoul Mansion

Haunt: Ghoul Mansion
Location: Sharon, PA
When: October 25th, 2013
Times: Sunday and Thursday 7pm-10pm, Friday and Saturday 7pm-12am
Price: $15-30
Rating: Very Good
Recommendation:  Worth the Drive!
Website: Ghoul Mansion 

!DISCLAIMER!

We were invited by Ghoul Mansion to review their haunted attraction. This has in no way swayed or altered our opinion of this or any haunt we visit.

 We had planned to visit Ghoul Mansion much earlier during our Haunt Tour but plans kept falling through. It's really not much fun to try and review a haunted attraction when your sick!  Finally, things looked clear and we booked two hours north of our home to Sharon (or Scarin' PA) to visit this haunt.

 In the past we've heard a few people talk about them but really had no idea what to expect.  We knew they offered six unique themes in two buildings but other then that, I was walking in blind.  From the outside you may not be impressed but once you step inside, it's another world of crazy shit.  You wait in line and get a small pre-show, form here you enter a foyer to get your picture taken and a surprise ending before you enter your first haunt.

Keep Reading for the Full Review!

Haunt Review- Scarehouse

Haunt: The Scarehouse
Where: Etna, PA
When: October 19th, 2013
Times: Thursday and Sunday from 7pm-10pm, Friday and Saturday 7pm-12am.
Price: $19.99-$34.99
Rating: Very Good
Recommendation: Need to See!
Website: Scarehouse

!DISCLAIMER!

We were invited by Scarehouse to review their haunted attraction. This has in no way swayed or altered our opinion of this or any haunt we visit.

  Oh Scarehouse, You never fail to deliver a great haunted attraction and this year is no different.

 There is a reason Scarehouse is one of the top haunted attractions in the US. Not only does this place have awesome owners but they work their tails off to promote and better the place each season. Each year some new twist or theme pops up, which becomes the focus of a crazy media blitz. This season was no exception!

(Keep Reading for the Full Review!)

Haunt Review- Castle Blood

Haunt: Castle Blood
Where: Monessen, Pennsylvania
When: October 19th, 2013
Times: Friday and Saturday- 7pm-11pm, Sunday and Halloween 7pm-9pm
Price: $15-25
Rating: Very Good
Recommendation: Check it out, This is NOT your normal haunted house!
Website: Castle Blood

!DISCLAIMER!

We were invited by Castle Blood to review their haunted attraction at their new location. This has in no way swayed or altered our opinion of this or any haunt we visit.

  Castle Blood was a surprise. We knew they weren't your normal haunted house, but we really had no idea what we were walking into. 

 Let me tell you right now- Castle Blood is NOT your average "scream machine" haunt where people chase you with chainsaws into a gift shop. It's more like an interactive game of 'Clue'- Spooky Halloween Edition. It's a theatrical haunted attraction- in plain terms. To go there and expect the typical it will leave you disappointed. However, if you go looking for a fun time and the idea you will be interacting with people.. plus some scares- you'll have a blast.

(Keep Reading for Full Review!)

Haunt Review- Haunted Hillside

Haunt: Haunted Hillside
Where: Mount Pleasant, PA
When: October 18th, 2013
Price: $17
Dates/Times: Friday-Saturday 7pm-12am Sunday 7pm-10pm
Rating: Good (For a First Year Haunt)
Recommendation: Check it out if your in the area!
Website: Haunted Hillside 2013

 !Disclaimer!

We were invited by Haunted Hillside to review their first year haunted attraction. This has in no way swayed or altered our opinion of this or any haunt we visit.

 One thing you must know about Haunted Hillside is the fact they are new. Brand new. They just opened in 2013 with only six weeks total to put together their haunted walking trail.  For such a short timeline they've gone a great job but it does need some work (again, brand new any haunt needs work their very first season). This haunt is local and freshly home-grown which really lends it a properly spooky air.

 Honestly we didn't know exactly what we were walking into with this attraction simply because we didn't even notice it opened up in our own backyard until Kitsune found a flyer lurking in a local store. We both were surprised and pleased to see a new haunt show up! After speaking to their owners, we learned just how new they are. 

 Overall what they've done in such a short time period is amazing. We were very pleased to find this long, well thought out attraction, even if it was rather cold and wet by the time we arrived. I can't tell you anyone who could pull off something better with only six weeks of notice. For their first season I have to say, this haunt has a LOT of promise! I won't tell you it was amazing but it is good, you won't see some of their scares coming and they couldn't ask for a better setting.

Plus a good portion of their admission cost is being donated to chairty, haunting for a good cause!

Keep Reading for a Full Review!

Haunt Review- Haunted Hills Estate

Haunt: Haunted Hills Estate
Where: Uniontown, Pennsylvania
When: October 18th, 2013
Price: $14-$25
Dates/Times: Through November 2nd. Thursday-Sunday
*Please Check Website for your day of Visit*
Rating: Very Good
Recommendation:  Worth it, Get Going but be aware this is a different style of haunt.
Website Link: Haunted Hills Estate

!DISCLAIMER!

We where invited to visit Haunted Hills Estate as Media. This has in no way swayed or altered our opinion of this or any haunted attraction.

Haunted Hills Estate is a home-grown haunt that's still in touch with it's family roots. It feels down to earth and alive but it's the amazing actors which really bring this haunt to life. It's been several years since we last visited Haunted Hills Estates and they've improved!

 It really was a pleasure to visit this place and while it may be hard to find, it's worth your time to get out there. This is an interactive, story driven haunted attraction which is something often missing these days in the world of commercial haunts.  The actors expect answers when they ask a question, they will be in your face and in full character. It's the actors that make this haunt as great as it is and everyone should experience this kind of attraction, so get yourselves down there!

They offer three separate attractions and you can chose your ticket, visit one or all three, it's your choice. The offerings this season are- Legends, The Dead Chambers and The Challenge Trail. Although for $25 your get all three and they can take some time to get through, so plan to spend some time at this place.

(Keep Reading for the Full Review)

Haunt Review- Rich's Fright Farm

Haunt: Rich's Fright Farm
Where: Smithfield, PA
When: October 18th, 2013
Price: $25 (Student, Military and Senior Discounts on Weds)
Dates/Times: 7pm-12am Fri-Sat, 7pm-10pm Weds-Thurs-Sun. Running through November 2nd.
Rating: Good
Recommendation: Worth the Price, Visit if your in the area.
Website Link: Fright Farm

 !DISCLAIMER! 

We were invited to visit Rich's Fright Farm as Media. This has not swayed our opinion nor does it alter our views on haunted attractions.

 For their 24th year Rich's Fright Farm gives you a good show. Each year their show changes, altering massively and giving you a new show with new scares. It's been several years since we last visited and everything had changed, which was a pleasure to see since always seeing the 'same show' gets boring after a while! Thankfully, this isn't a concern with this haunt but be warned it takes a good bit of time to get through and even more on a busy night!

Overall, we found their haunts a good time and a good value. Since our last visit we found some large improvements to this haunted attraction including a new stage area with live music and an enlarged 'VIP Tent City' area, which you can rent for the night of your visit (it's a little pricy but nice). For the main event they offer three separate haunted houses- The Hayride, The Haunted Mansion and The Maze. Each has it's own unique theme and have clear barriers so you know your entering a new area.


(Keep Reading for the Full Review!)

Haunt Review- Howl-O-Scream 13 at Busch Gardens Tampa

Haunt: Howl-O-Scream 13
Where: Busch Gardens Tampa- Tampa, Florida.
When: September 27th, 2013
Price: Ranges from $30 to $80
Dates/Times: Thursday-Saturday (Visit Website for Details)
Rating: Very Good
Recommendation:  Worth the Price, Go if your in Florida.
Website Link:  Howl-O-Scream 13- Evil Comes Out to Play

!Disclaimer!

We where invited to Howl-O-Scream's Media Event, as part of this we where given a few perks in return such as front of the line passes and two free drinks. As such we where able to visit every house and scarezone to give you the best review possible.

Busch Gardens also asks that we remind you, this is not an event for small children. 

 Upon entering the park you get no break, no time to make your plans because your very first encounter with the "13 Evils" begins the moment your inside.  13 Doorways for 13 Evils, the scarezone is just as you enter the gates and the actors who portray each are absolutely excellent at their parts. They are high energy, in your face and just as fully twisted as their characters.  It's truly an excellent opening and sets the tone for a great event. 

At A Glance:  

 Howl-O-Scream 13 is a great event and the new theme for this year "13 Evils" works excellent for the park. The new theme and the re-design of some of the older houses just works, it's bumped the event up highly in my opinion from the last time we saw it 3 years ago.

 However, I have a few minor issue with the event which seems to be a problem with both Howl-O-Scream events in general.  While the houses in Tampa where all well done and excellently themed, the clowns just need to go. Nothing about that haunt is scary and most of it falls into the realm of just plain annoying. If your looking for a house to skip, make it the clowns because it's not worth waiting more then 15 minutes maxium for.

 My second issue was the scarezones, which desperately need more actors in them.  Now, I can't tell you if this was "first night" problem or not but these areas are well themed and they should be staffed by far more people. If that happens, I'd rate them as excellent and bump the park's rating up to Excellent. However, as I saw it.. their grossly understaffed.

 Below I'm breaking out the event into two categories: The Houses and The Scarezones.  

 This is to not only keep things straight in my own mind but to allow the reader an easier time.  Each "House" will be giving a rating and description along with letting you know which of the "13 Evils" can be found there. In an effort to keep the scares a secret for your future enjoyment, I will be rather vague but shall attempt to explain as much as possible.

Read on for a FULL breakdown!