Fear Overload…A Night at the Abusement Park

Fear Overload…A Night at the Abusement Park

Happy Halloween! Today is the day when we come together to celebrate all things creepy and terrifying. Wrapping up our list is a haunt that offers a unique premise, horrifying effects, and enough torment to give you nightmares until the haunting season returns next year.

Words like "high shock" and "extreme" always draw us in when it comes to describing a haunt. Fear Overload promises to be California promises to be the most horrifying experience you can have in the state, offering two unique haunted houses in one terrifying scream park. In a year when many of the haunts seem to have fallen into the same theme patterns, Fear Overload set itself apart with two brand new experiences. Venture into the unseen darkness of California to find your way through the twisting, blood-curdling labyrinths of the Abusement Park and Ward 9.

A day in a theme park should create beautiful memories. These memories were shattered for the Baker family when their young daughter Sally was discovered hanged in the bathroom of the Baylor Amusement Park. Her death marked a curse that befell the park. Days passed, each bringing another employee found dangling. Brace yourself for the least happy place on earth and pray you get through the labyrinth before the rope finds its way to you. If you can get out of the Abusement Park, you will find yourself creeping past the government barriers of Ward 9. This asylum was set aside for only the most heinous and twisted of the criminally insane. These psychopaths were cast into the darkness of Ward 9 and left the wallow. In 1989 a violent earthquake hit San Leandro. The electricity short circuited and the rows of cells were suddenly unlocked. Criminals who had been in isolation for years spewed out and infected the building. Right before the security cameras cut off they caught footage of a woman, her face concealed by her long black hair, hacking one of the doctors to pieces. Explore the halls of the lost asylum…but don't let her look you in the face.

This victims' choice for scariest haunt in California elevates the art of the haunted house through truly innovative thinking and a stand-alone approach. Both haunted houses have hints of the classic and trendy in their theming but separate themselves by pushing the boundaries of both creativity and terror. Exceptional sets, dedicated actors, and consistent scares make this one of the best haunts out there.

Atrox Factory…Enter the Cage

Atrox Factory…Enter the Cage

With a name like Atrox Factory we had high hopes for this haunted house. After all, the name of the haunt itself means "horror factory". As a 50,000 square foot haunt, it is also a tremendous amount of space to fill—which means that much more opportunity for terror and twisted creativity. This Alabama horror landmark is the offspring of the "Slain House" haunt from a few years back. Transforming the massive space into Atrox Factory was a major feat, especially considering how small the original haunt was, but they more than stepped up to the challenge.

When you first enter Atrox you are ushered into the Arena. This area features a gift shop, concession areas, horror movies, and even meet and greets with big names in the horror industry. Don't forget to go up to the token booth to buy your dismembered body part that will claim your spot in line. This means you aren't standing around in the line waiting. When it is your turn, you are called upon to "enter the cage". If you are brave enough, enter the chain link cage that holds you before your turn in the haunt. You and 99 other victims file into the queue at a time. Don't feel comfort in numbers, however. As soon as you step inside the haunt you are swallowed by the size and at the mercy of the creatures and monsters that wait inside.

Find your strength and enter the study where the horrors that await you will be revealed—but not so much that you are truly prepared for the torment. When the secret door opens, you are thrown inside a world of nightmares that begin with the catacombs and do not end until you have finally escaped. You leave behind walls dripping with blood, the maniacal laughter of hidden clowns, and a maze where the walls move and you are never completely sure where you are. Classic scenes of horror and real paranormal activity, claustrophobia tunnels, and the mind-warping tricks will remain in your mind long after you try to close your eyes to sleep.

This massive haunted house is something you must experience to truly comprehend. The monsters and physical challenges of the haunt combined with the Hollywood-quality sets create an unforgettable experience. Many people may worry that the tremendous size and complexity of the haunt could mean confusion and chaos. The incredible organization and structure of the haunt, however, make it a smooth and brilliantly terrifying experience.

 

 

Nightmare at Beaver Lake…Camp Counselors Wanted

Nightmare at Beaver Lake…Camp Counselors Wanted

There is something wonderful about a haunted house designed to bring the entire family together in their terror. It is even better when this is done for a good cause. Nightmare at Beaver Lake offers plenty of chills and thrills, but with two different shows to make sure everyone can get their fill of Halloween fright whether they are just starting out on their pursuit of terror or have been riding the adrenaline train for decades. We love that this haunt combines the isolating fear of a haunted trail and the torment of a classic haunted house for a progressive night everyone can enjoy.

Every October something strange falls over the peaceful grounds of Beaver Lake. Creatures drift across the ground like fog and bring with them the eeriness that marks the season. As evening comes, families are welcomed to explore the classic-themed horrors that mark the haunted trail and inhabit the haunted house that waits at the end of their creepy stroll through the monster-infested woods. Hold your little ones close, however. When the clock strikes 8 o'clock, the Full Scare begins and the nightmares only grow. When the families have left and all that is left is the true thrill-seekers, the darkest creatures come out of hiding and the quaint lake seems to blacken in the moonlight.

Nightmare at Beaver Lake is unique in several ways. While many haunts have taken up the trend of donating proceeds to a charity of choice, it is much rarer to find one that also offers experiences appropriate for the entire family. We would hesitate to say the youngest members of the family would be happy at this haunt, but the trail and finale haunted house make for ghoulish fun for patrons 9 and up. The haunt is also special in that the haunted trail is actually dotted with a series of smaller haunted houses and mazes. There are far fewer startle scares and gore at this haunt than others. Rather, victims get their fill of fear from the artistry and pure, classic creepiness.

Salt Lake Fear Factory...Your Shift is Up

Salt Lake Fear Factory...Your Shift is Up

Be still our horror-loving hearts. This haunt is another of those delightful spots where the true tortured history of the haunt rivals the twisted tales woven by the actors. The Salt Lake Fear Factory is a glimpse of the abhorrent conditions of the early industrial era. The cold floors of the sprawling former cement factory hold the blood, screams, and lingering energy of the workers who lost their lives in the monstrous machinery that crafted the factory's wares. This haunted house takes its cues from the gruesome loss of life within the factory, but that is only the beginning of what awaits you if you are courageous enough to clock in for a shift.

In the days of the Industrial Revolution, factories were the epitome of advancement and technology. Overwhelming machines filled massive buildings and workers spent grueling days ensuring everything ran smoothly. Unfortunately, this didn't always happen. Portland Cement Works was a gleaming example of the advancements that had happened in manufacturing in the 1800s. Inside its impressive walls, however, was a workplace rift with danger and fear. This is where workers were slowly crushed to death as they were drawn into the massive gears of the machinery or melted away in the molten metal. The factory was abandoned after years of death and mayhem, but soon it was taken over by the monsters who now call on you to step into the emptied worker stalls. Find your way through the darkened mazes, but be wary of the machinery. There are those who say those gears are still hungry for blood.

The experience of the Salt Lake Fear Factory haunted house begins as soon as you climb out of your vehicle. If you can't find a spot in the factory lot or want to extend the party, take a ride on the Zombie Bus. As you wait you can listen to a variety of bands and take in the foreboding feeling of death around you. If the haunt itself isn't enough of an adrenaline rush for you, hop on the Last Ride for a zip line unlike any other. For those with more academic tastes, the haunt also offers paranormal tours of the truly haunted building without the thrill of the actors and sets.  

Land of Illusion…The Master Scream Park

Land of Illusion…The Master Scream Park

There are trends in haunts. Sometimes it seems like once you've seen one haunted house, you've seen all of them. That can get really tedious if you crave the terror and mind-bending torment of a good haunt. We'll admit to getting a little nervous when we saw the line-up of attractions at the Land of Illusion Scream Park in Ohio. The park promises 5 haunts, including 4 haunted houses and a haunted trail. The themes, however, sounded eerily similar to other haunts we've seen this year. The incredible sets and brilliant actors, however, proved to us that you can't judge a haunt by its theming.

The laughter of the circus may lure you to the dilapidated big top, but as you work your way through the dizzying 3D maze, the Killer Klowns may just turn your giggles into pleas for mercy. There are no hopes for laughs when you descend into the Temple of Terror. Find your way along the darkened corridors of the Temple where the unleashed ghouls and animated corpses of a long-forgotten curse try to transform you into one of their number. These torments are scarcely a preparation for what awaits you in Dr. Psycho's Sick Revenge. Here you must face the horror of a man driven mad by the tortured spirits of the criminally insane that were buried on the land where he built his home. A particular virulent spirit, that of young Agatha, possessed him and caused him to kill his pregnant wife, pushing him over the edge to murderous insanity. Step into his home to encounter the disgusting carnage that he left behind when he strung himself from the rafters and left himself for the rats to consume.

Have you ever visited the bayou in the dead of a Louisiana summer? No worries. Land of Illusion brought the darkest, bloodiest shanty out of the bayou and reassembled it right in the scream park. Here you can visit the horrifying Dubois family and learn why they call their old neighborhood Voodoo Bayou. If you have had your fill of haunted houses, let the family give you directions to their friendly neighborhood terror trail. The Middletown Haunted Trail is teeming with creatures, bloodthirsty killers, and the dark unknown. Nothing is between you and the forest floor but your own feet, so pray they don't let you down before you make it through.

We love that there is a bit of payback available for those who want to add to their night of horror. Climb aboard the army vehicle and brace yourself for a fight to save humanity. The undead are rising from their slumber and the guns on the vehicle are the only hope for the living. Man your battle station and take aim. Getting your nervous energy out has never been so important---or so much fun. The Zombie Sniper Patrol requires a separate admission ticket, but your regular admission into the scream park gives you unlimited admission to the other five attractions all night.

Hotel of Horror/ Altered Nightmares…Bed and Breakfast of the Damned

Hotel of Horror/ Altered Nightmares…Bed and Breakfast of the Damned

Pennsylvania offers some of the best unexpected haunted houses, and this is certainly among the best. Falling in line with the haunts that hold that special dark place in our hearts—that is, those with truly haunted and bloody history—the Hotel of Horror and Altered Nightmares haunts offer both professional actors and legitimate creepiness.

The Lake House Hotel has had a storied reputation since it was built in the late 1800s. It was here that the workers of the nearby mines spent their nights washing away their troubles and relaxing after the long day in the arms of one of the "ladies" who lingered there. The whispers say that many miners died there, succumbing to injuries from the mines and other mysterious causes. Some say their bodies were devoid of blood. The hotel has served as many things since, including offices and retail space. Soon it fell into disrepair and now stands empty, save for the whispering spirits and creeping creatures that have claimed its halls. Unfinished business tortures souls. If you are brave enough to face the darkness, you too may find yourself a part of the history of the Lake House.

The tormenting scenes of the Hotel of Horror and Altered Nightmares are not all this haunt offers. These two haunted houses are complemented by the Museum Macabre. This self-proclaimed "creepy ass" museum is filled with authentic remnants of the gruesome pasts of the medical field, prisons, asylums, and funerals. Tucked lovingly in the front parlor of the hotel, the museum offers a glimpse of antiques, artifacts, and even actual human remains. A visit with these exhibits alone bring chills and grisly nightmares.

Trail of Fear…The Experiment Awaits

Trail of Fear…The Experiment Awaits

Scream parks are the hot trend in entertaining terror. These haunts let you visit several haunted houses in the same area for the maximum mind-bending horror packed into your evening. The Trail of Fear took the idea of a scream park and blended it with the time-honored concept of a haunted trail. Rather than just walking your way through dark woods and waiting for creepers and monsters to jump out at you at each turn, you are finding your way down a trail where several haunts await you. Victims are invited to brave the trail and meet with the chilling inhabitants of the individual haunted houses they stumble upon along the way.

 

Trail of Fear features six separate areas for you to enjoy. We have to give some respect to the Pumpkin Junction, which offers free, non-scary Halloween fun for the little ones that come along for the evening. While their parents experience their worst nightmares, the children have the chance to trick-or-treat, do crafts, or roam through the Tunnel of Light. When the young ones are safely tucked away in Pumpkin Junction, it's time to venture down the Trail. Tour a series of excavation sites, buildings, and trails that were once used by the disturbed Dr. Michael Kultra and his team who utilized horrific surgical practices and mysterious archaeological discoveries. Escape the doctor and find yourself in Voodoo Bayou where a tormented family, the Voodoo Witch and her pet, the shape-shifting Loupe Garou, hunt you down. If you get out of the Bayou alive, take a break at the Cirque de Morte. A circus is all about fun, right? You may not have the same idea anymore once you have visited this 3D debacle of a circus. Don't let yourself get sucked into the show as you try to get through the maze. The final two attractions, Lord Bennington's Unusual Experiment and the Haunted Midway offer a more fun environment, including souvenir shops and an unusual spot where you can get your own coffin built for you.

 

Victims get drawn into a true nightmare at the Trail of Fear. More than just haunted houses, these attractions are fueled by Hollywood-quality special effects, dedicated actors, and detailed storylines that bring the horror to life. We love that there is a special space just for the little ones where they are protected from the blood and torment that awaits the older crowd.