Newbie Review Crew Member

Amy K. (lazysmurf97)

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2011 Reviews

Please note: this review is for the 2011 season rather than the current season.

Wisconsin Feargrounds

by lazysmurf97 (Newbie Review Crew Member) after attending on Saturday, October 22, 2011 at about 4 p.m.

Fun Factor: High Fear Factor: Medium

Review

I went to the Wisconsin Fear Grounds with 5 friends on a Saturday night. We were excited for a scary and good time and we were not disappointed! Everyone was really friendly and went out of their way to help us.  Unfortunately, due to time constraints in our group, we were only able to visit 1 haunted house, Morgan's Manor.  I would recommend going to all 3 to get the full experience.  We got the fast passes, which were amazing. I highly recommend getting them. We basically had no wait time once we got our wrist bands. They gave us an awesome coin to enter the haunt, which we all wanted to keep but couldn't.  Once we entered the haunt, time seemed to fly. We were not disappointed with the sets or the actors. 

Signage / Visibility / Location


It was very easy to find. We used a GPS and it took us right there. We did see a large sign on the road to help us. We were coming from Madison, so every bit of signage helped!

Wait Area / Line Entertainment


Luckily we were able to get fast passes otherwise the wait would have been about 90 minutes. I would recommend getting one. The ticket line was intimidating  but it moved really fast so don't worry.  We didn't really have any line entertainment until we reached the front.

Actors' Performance


The actor's did a good job. The gentleman at  the front of the line stayed in character very well.  I wish there were more actor's but the ones who were there were enjoyable.

Sets Scenes / Props / FX


This was very well decorated haunt. Not too much blood and gore, but lots to look at.  Each room had a theme and it was decorated accordingly.

Length


As I mentioned, we were only able to do 1 of the 3 haunted houses. It took us about 15 minutes to do the whole thing once we were inside. 

Crowd Control


Very good crowd control! There were lines and ropes directing you where to go. There were several ticket windows available to make the line go faster. You are able to purchase advance tickets online if you don't want to wait in the ticket line. We saw lots of people taking advantage of this option.

Most Memorable Moment


For us, there were really two memorable moments.  When you first walk into haunt there are some figures that you assume are animatronics. That is, until they try to chase you!  The second moment is along the same lines. There is a chair. That is all I will say so I don't ruin the surprise!

Summary

I would definitely recommend going to the Wisconsin Feargounds. It is worth the wait and the drive.  There is food and drink available if you are hungry.  Everyone is really friendly and helpful to guide you on your way to enjoyment.  Once inside, expect to be frightened!

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Please note: this review is for the 2011 season rather than the current season.

Terror on Rural Street

by lazysmurf97 (Newbie Review Crew Member) after attending on Saturday, October 8, 2011 at about 2 p.m.

Fun Factor: Very High Fear Factor: High

Review


Terror on Rural street is a fantastic haunt.  Everyone was super friendly and organized.  The haunt was well thought out and produced.  It was very high tech. There were plenty of actors and animatronics everywhere. We never experienced a dull moment or lull in activity.  The gore and costume effects were fantastic.  Just when you think the haunt is over, there is even more beyond the next turn!

Signage / Visibility / Location


It was very easy to find this haunt. We used a GPS and it took us straight to the location. There were signs off the main road that pointed the way.  Once we were in the parking lot, there were even more signs.  There was plenty of free parking available as well.

Wait Area / Line Entertainment


There was a heated wait area with benches. This haunt serves concessions that includes food and beer.  Also, they have a designated smokers area and port-a-pottys available. They have a nice graveyard scene that is lit up with Halloween lights.

Actors' Performance


I thought the actors did a great job.  The man who lines you up to enter the haunt stayed in character the whole time. The makeup was very well done. I especially enjoyed the dental victim's face makeup. The very first room was an old time bar scene with a bartender offering deadly bloody Marys.  It was very well done.

Sets Scenes / Props / FX


The sets were fantastic. You went through lots of different rooms and each one was done completely different.  You couldn't tell in some of them if it was a real actor or something 'else.'  Many of the rooms played tricks on your senses and that made the haunt even more frightening.  Everything was perfectly decorated to match the theme of the room. The special effects were great too. There was plenty of blood and gore to go around. We enjoyed the claustrophobia maze the best!

Length


It took us about 20 minutes to go through the entire haunt.  There were three people in our group. Toward the very end, the group behind us did catch up to us.

Crowd Control


Each ticket to the haunt had a number on it. They would call  numbers up to enter the haunt so that everyone was spaced evenly.  I think this was very well done. The security officers were very friendly. At one point, a group of children needed to be helped out because they were too frightened. The security guards did a good job of helping them. Also, they have cameras throughout the haunt so if you need assistance, they can help you right away.

Most Memorable Moment


The most memorable moment for me came in the monster room.  I am not going to say more because I don't want to ruin the surprise, but it was great.

Summary

I would highly recommend going to this haunt. It is appropriate for everyone 10 and older.  There are some dark, tight places to go through and also some stairs so make sure you are able to maneuver through that sort of thing.

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Please note: this review is for the 2011 season rather than the current season.

The Haunted Barn Stoughton (PERMANENTLY CLOSED)

by lazysmurf97 (Newbie Review Crew Member) after attending on Saturday, October 1, 2011 at about 4 p.m.

Fun Factor: High Fear Factor: High

Review

The Haunted Barn is a must see haunted attraction in Dane County!  The atmosphere was perfect for a haunted house and you never knew what to expect.  I really enjoyed the mixture of indoor and outdoor entertainment. At times, we felt like we were in a horror movie, especially while walking through the haunted forest.

I would highly recommend wearing good walking shoes and a jacket if you go on a cold evening.  There are many steps and bits of uneven ground to go through. Most of the steps are well lit, but we did stumble on a few that were not, so use caution. There is also a point where you have to crawl and a point where you have to walk hunched over, so if you are unable to do so, be aware. I appreciated that they did point this out prior to entering.

Signage / Visibility / Location


This haunt had the perfect location. It was easy to see off the highway. They had a large red light on the barn that could be seen from a distance and a large sign by the driveway.  It was located close enough to the city to be accessible but not so close as to lose the country atmosphere.

Wait Area / Line Entertainment


There was not a line when we went so we were able to just walk up and go in. They did have several actors in the area to get you in the mood for the haunt. 

Actors' Performance


Overall, the actors did a good job.  A lot of the scaring came in the form of loud screaming.  The costumes were very nice and thought out. There was a lot of attention to detail with the makeup including creepy contact lenses. We enjoyed the twin clowns that escorted us to the entrance of the haunt. They were just the right amount of creepy!

Sets Scenes / Props / FX


This haunt had wonderful scenery. You  go through a barn, a haunted forest and then yet another barn. You never know what to expect ahead of you or behind you for that matter! It seemed like each area was well thought out and planned.  The barn itself added a spooky feel and smell to the whole place. The props also had a great deal of detail and the gore effects were phenomenal, with lots of drippy blood in some scenes. There were lots of different 'rooms', each one varying from easy to get through, to wall touching adventure.

Length


It took us about 30 minutes to go through everything. We were moving rather quickly, so expect to spend longer if there is a larger crowd. 

Crowd Control


We did see a security officier on the premises, but there wasn't much of a crowd when we were there. Unfortunately, when we saw him, he was coming out through a door with a light on and it kind of ruined the scariness of that section of the barn for us. He did apologize though. I think we scared him!

Most Memorable Moment


The most memorable moment for me came in the form of a man chasing us with a chainsaw.  He really frightened me and my friend just laughed at my reaction. It was great!

Summary

Overall, I had a great time at The Haunted Barn. I would highly recommend it to everyone.  As long as you dress appropriately and are aware of the physical requirements, you should have a great time.

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March 29th, 2024 10:56 a.m. CDT 24.01