Paige (PaigeBerrier)

I visited Scare USA in a group of 4 on a Saturday night at 9:30. They had very visible signs and a lot of open parking with someone directing traffic. This haunt is cash only, but is located right next to a bar with an ATM. This was also the first haunt where I was asked to remove my bag (a bag I use specially for haunts or festivals, as it hugs very close to the body). However, once I was inside, I immediately understood why, at this was one of the most narrow haunts I have been to!

Although it definitely added to feelings of anxiety (and therefore, it’s scariness) I would not advise Scare USA for anyone with extreme claustrophobia or those who are a bit heavier – I myself am a plus-sized woman and I was squeezing through some areas. For those who don’t mind, though, the tight corridors and corners will only add to the feeling of apprehension that Scare USA created. With great timing and a willingness to be close, their actors also gave it their all, and even those just standing in the way had to be edged around, sometimes covering or guiding us to hidden exits and doors. They definitely took advantage of all of their space, using the halls and lights to truly disorientate. They also covered all the senses with their scares – there were a lot of vivid, gross smells and elements that almost “fell” onto us.

It was also a fairly long haunt; about 30 minutes or so. We had almost no wait on a Saturday night and it was very reasonably priced. We also enjoyed visiting the bar/restaurant located next door to the haunt afterwards!

Signage / Visibility / Location

Wait Area / Line Entertainment

Actors' Performance

Sets Scenes / Props / FX

Length

Crowd Control

Most Memorable Moment

I visited the Dominion of Terror around 7:30 on a Saturday night during their “throwback” (only $10!) weekend. We had no trouble finding it – they have lots of signs visible from the roads and the haunt itself has a very distinct, three-story façade. After parking in a lot next door, we bought our tickets (using a card) and only had to wait about 15 minutes or so before entering. During our very short wait we were entertained by monsters and were given an opportunity to buy some fun trinkets from their store, including glow-in-the-dark beads and flashing pendants. My boyfriend and I grouped up with some new friends in line and entered the haunt in a group of four.

This was a long (30 – 40 minute) haunt that encompassed 3 different floors, climbing up and down stairs as we went. We began our journey on the first floor funeral home, and ended up traveling through scares including an autopsy scene, several scary churches, creepy kids’ rooms, and a maze-like greenhouse. Without giving away too many specific areas, I can say they were several rooms that made me very uneasy, from both their setting and the amazing acting. In addition to climbing and descending stairs, we had to crawl several times and find our way out of rooms. The actors were fantastic and fully committed to their performances. They used their voices, their close proximity, and at times, their silence to really create anticipation and fear. Jump scares came often and were well-timed, and I felt like they varied who in the line they were scaring. There were so many amazing elements to this haunt – the intricate, varied rooms, the twisting path they set around each scene, the strange smells, and the use of a lot of different types of lighting (including strobe lights and sometimes none at all).

Additionally, I can honestly stay there was a moment in this haunt that frightened me more than any other I’ve been to! The ideas and concepts are very creative and also very scary, and the acting just set it over the edge. It was a great experience – very inexpensive (a steal, honestly), very long, and with a very short wait! Awesome haunt!

Signage / Visibility / Location

Wait Area / Line Entertainment

Actors' Performance

Sets Scenes / Props / FX

Length

Crowd Control

Most Memorable Moment

Let me start by saying that I was blown away by this haunt. This is a great experience for those looking for something more interactive, but there were some truly scary moments as well.

I went to Twisted Realms on a Sunday night, right as they were opening. Although a little hard to find initially, the Elkhorn Flea Market grounds offers a lot of area to work with and clean, working bathrooms (yes!). The waiting area for this haunt is a separate room with bleachers, so no waiting in line! They also have scary carnival games available to play ($1) for prizes and a photoshoot area with a creepy throne, as well as actors to entertain. Each group is called in using a ticket number.

Within the haunt, we were first told the rules gathered around a fire, being "read tales" from a creepy witch. I thought this was not only unique but it made sure people understood what they could and could not do. After that, our haunt began! As we made our way through the haunt, we encountered some tight areas, but mostly it is larger rooms, giving everyone a chance to see and, in this case, touch! You have to find your way through the haunt looking for hidden doors, crawling through areas, and pulling on elements to reveal passages. We were offered (not at all obvious) advice by actors when needed. There were several truly scary concepts for these rooms, and all of the actors gave an amazing performance - they never broke character, screams were LOUD, and all of their warnings and musing told a cohesive story of a cult gone way, way bad.

This is a must visit. As their story continues year to year, I can only imagine this haunt will continue to improve! I was EXTREMELY impressed with every element - handling the crowds, the creative themes of the room, all of the ways we had to exit different areas, the costumes and acting of the performers, and the length and visuals. Amazing!

Signage / Visibility / Location

Wait Area / Line Entertainment

Actors' Performance

Sets Scenes / Props / FX

Length

Crowd Control

Most Memorable Moment

We went to the Hill Has Eyes on a Sunday night around 9:30. Timing was a bit of a question within our visit: according to their website, their box office closes at 10pm, but when looking at their Facebook, they had 11pm listed. Their official closing time is stated, with their website stating they close approximately one hour after the box office closes. This is just something to be aware of when planning your trip – get there early to avoid both crowds and the box office closing times. We bought our tickets online ahead of time, which allowed us to bypass the box office.

Although this haunt is very long with a lot of different areas, they didn’t seem like they had their full staff that evening, probably due to the fact that it was a Sunday night. Fewer actors meant a lot of moments for scares were missed and we spent a lot of time walking alone. As a primarily outdoor haunt, there is a less of a sense of anticipation for what's to come (as you can see it in front of you), and less control of lighting, sound, etc. I also felt they utilized props in areas that actors could have performed better. There were also missing some key elements that could have really improved our experience. For example it had rained the day before, and the ground was still extremely muddy and slippery – some hay on the trail could have helped improve safety. Another thing to note would be the restrooms, which even on a slow night, didn’t seem to be receiving a lot of attention from the staff, so make sure you bring hand sanitizer along with you.

CONTAINMENT: A HOODED EXPERIENCE
This was shorter than I remembered from my last visit in 2014; a brief walk through some halls with a dark hood. In previous years, they had a string or a handrail to hold on but there didn’t seem to be one this year – just a feature I would approach with caution. Nothing popped out on while we were hooded, and soon we were removing the hoods. From this point on we walked through semi-indoor halls with a few medical scares until entering into the first waiting area. Unfortunately I felt this was the first example of a continuing theme – presenting areas with a lot of anticipation that didn’t meet expectations.

FAILED ESCAPE
This area has some great moments, including scary makeup and amazing animal masks. The story was a bit muddy, but we enjoyed walking through the salvage yard (particularly the bus) and the actors we encountered along the way. This area and the next one were a little blurry in their themes, although they had a stop in between of them.

HUNGER HOLLOW
I found this area to be the most confusing. I enjoyed the "mutant" makeup, but there were several moments of religious-type scares that didn't really make sense to the story. This area definitely seemed the most "random" in terms of the people and sets they had to scare people. In either this section or the one before it (hard to remember because these two did blend together), we received an electric shock. I remember this situation from 2 years ago when I last attended, but I was shocked (literally!) at how strong the feeling was! This is definitely something to be prepared for when coming into this haunt; as we were feeling it still several minutes later.

SCARE LIFT
I found this area to be the biggest disappointment. It is an amazing feature of this Complex, a real ski lift that is really long and goes over an amazing creepy hill. However, on our night, the laser tag that goes on underneath it didn't seem to be going on at all (whether from lack of interest or not operating, I don't know), so it was simply a ski lift ride. I definitely think adding some actors or props to the ski lift itself, as well as the event below would add significantly to this element. This element is especially frustrating to me because it is so unique and has so much potential for scare.

CARNIVORE
Some great actors in this area, but once again, a lot of opportunities missed, particularly in the maze portion of the haunt. We experienced 1 or 2 jump scares when going through the entire house, but it does include a spinning room. We realized after that we were the last people coming through the haunt for the night (of the maybe 15 other people we saw), and I felt like the actors were a bit checked out. Right after we exited (this is the last area) they started coming out and going down the hill to go home, which I felt was a bit unprofessional. Some of them kept acting and taking photos and things with us, but most of them were taking off elements of their costume and walking to their cars.

Signage / Visibility / Location

Wait Area / Line Entertainment

Actors' Performance

Sets Scenes / Props / FX

Length

Crowd Control

Most Memorable Moment