Admittedly, this isn’t a site that usually promotes things such as haunted houses. However, due to Halloween and recent experiences I wanted to share with all of The House of Horror viewers.

Haunted Houses. We all love them. After all, what’s not to like? Blood, gore, scares? Sounds good to me! This year I was fortunate enough to visit three haunted houses in my area. In the spirit of Halloween, I decided to share a bit about each in the event you’re curious about where to go and what places give you the ultimate bang for your buck if you visit my neck of the woods.

 

#1: Arx Mortis (formerly Graystone Manor — now new and improved) in Killen, Alabama.

**To Preface: This haunted house experience was my best this year. Upon entering I learned cameras and video recording were not allowed. I approached an actress (the wonderful FruFru AKA Marissa) who directed me to the main man in charge, Vinny. They graciously allowed me to record my experience which I’ve uploaded on my YouTube channel. I will include a link below.)

Arx Mortis a 50,000 square foot indoor haunted house paradise. After you park and get into line, which runs the length of the parking lot, you’re immediately greeted by costumed deviants hell-bent on scaring you out of your wits. On busy nights you can expect to wait an hour or more, but with the entertainment (and the screams of those terrified around you) time passes quickly. Believe me when I say it’s worth the wait when you get a glimpse of what awaits you inside. After purchasing your tickets (which come in the form of tickets and colored wrist bands) at a cost of $15 for Covington Clinic, $15 for Miner’s Hill, or $25 for both attractions (as well as the new attraction Chaos, which is $7 per person and allows you to shoot paintballs at the ghouls of your choice), you are guided to a waiting space that features ghastly decorations, a concession stand and a live band. Brilliantly costumed actors mingle with the crowd, providing a gloomy atmosphere that adds to the overall experience.

As for the attractions:

Miner’s Hill is a half mile long thrill of horrific delights. The darkly wooded area adds to the experience, as do the carefully constructed buildings and scenes that will have hard-core horror freaks giggling in delight. Take your time and walk through slowly. There is a lot to see, including maniac clowns that kick things up a notch. I was thrilled with this addition to Arx Mortis and can’t wait to return to see what is in store.

As for the main course: Covington Clinic is the reason, hands down, to visit Arx Mortis. Gloomy, dark, and terrifying, the clinic pushes personal phobias to the max. Scared of the dark? Check. Horrified of things jumping out at you? Check. Terrified of what you can’t see looming around the corner? Check, check, and check. The effects in this gem of a haunted house are amazing and the actors don’t pull any punches. The costumes and make-up are some of the best I’ve ever seen. There are also amazing animatronic creations along the way (the werewolves being a personal favorite) and, as if that’s not enough, you are also taken outdoors into a swampy area that will have you peering over your shoulder to see who’s stalking you in the distance. Not for the faint of heart but most certainly a treat for those who enjoy a rip-roaring good scare, Covington Clinic is not to be missed.

Learn more about Arx Mortis at: http://www.arxmortis.com

YouTube video of Arx Mortis.

 

#2: Disturbia Haunted Attraction in Huntsville, Alabama.

As a new haunted house in our area, I was extremely excited to visit Disturbia. The location was once an enormous grocery store, which means there is plenty of room to create several scenes for haunted house enthusiasts to enjoy. Upon entering the building, you’ll notice the stage set for a live band, the ticket booth, and the concession stand (with awesome booths) situated near the entrance to the haunted house. We arrived early, paid for our tickets ($20 per person), and waited in the concession area until it was time to enter. Although there were no costumed actors mingling with the crowd, this could have been due to the time we arrived and how early it was in the season (we went the first week of October). Once it was time to get in line, we were quickly ushered into Disturbia.

The effects were fantastic, with the make-up and props adding to the feel of gritty and horrific scenes. Some areas were open, allowing a full on visual of gore and carnage, while smaller spaces ensured you never knew what was waiting just around the corner. I am eagerly anticipating next year as I fully intend to return to this haunted attraction. I would make one small suggestion: If you prefer to take your time and enjoy the effects, stay at the back of the line. Otherwise the hard working actors will make sure the people behind you are rushing to make it to the end sooner rather than later. Due to being in the front of the line, our trip through the haunted house lasted about twenty minutes. I’ll be better prepared next time so I can see everything and absorb the atmosphere around me.

Learn more about Disturbia at: www.disturbiahauntedhouse.com

 

#3: Atrox Factory (AKA Slain Manor) in Leeds, Alabama.

This year marked my third visit to Atrox Factory. Touted as one of the best haunted houses in Alabama, I had to see what the fuss was about. The first trip didn’t do much for me, which is why I waited a couple of years before I returned. Last year, however, rocked my socks. Despite the fact I had to travel to the Region’s Bank down the road to get the necessary cash to enter (which I take the blame for — they do not accept credit or debit cards and I went in without the proper research), I was thrilled with the level of work put into the attraction. The special effects were amazing (mainly the opening room, which included a screen the size of a door revealing a victim crawling toward the crowd with a maniac following closely behind her), and the scenes were some of the bloodiest and most realistic I’d ever seen. The actors do touch you as you walk through, adding to the richness of the experience. I decided then and there I’d be back this year.

Sadly, my experience at Atrox wasn’t what I hoped it would be in 2011. First and foremost, the prices have risen. The website states that tickets are $15. Not bad for a haunted attraction. However, there is a very long wait and if you’re like me and drive over an hour and a half to the location, it’s necessary to purchase a VIP pass in order to make it home at a decent hour. To my dismay, I learned VIP passes (which will take you into the group waiting to enter) were $20.  Compounding matters was the fact a celebrity was present, meaning there was a cover charge at the door ($5 per person). That put the running total for the event to $80, a bit rich for my blood.

Despite the daunting financial aspects, I went into the attraction with an open mind. The first thing I noticed was the change in the opening sequence. Not a bad thing as it’s always good to keep things fresh. Unfortunately as I made my way through the factory, it became apparent that the level of attention to detail had shifted substantially. While I did take my time walking through, I didn’t see nearly as many scenes that appealed to me and ended up finishing in a very short thirty minute (perhaps less) timeframe. When I weighed the cost versus the experience, I concluded that perhaps it would be best to visit another haunted house next year. This isn’t to say I’ll never revisit Atrox Factory. Perhaps my expectations were high after such a fantastic experience the year before. If I return, I’ll know for certain. Only time will tell.

Learn more about Atrox Factory at: www.atroxfactory.com

A few tips for visiting haunted houses.

If you hate a long wait, go on a weekday. Most crowds amass on the weekend.

Always bring cash. Although some places do have ATMs sometimes glitches happen and you could find yourself without the funds to do what you’d like at an attraction.

Don’t wear loose clothing, hats, or dangling earrings that come out easily. It’s very easy to lose these things if bursts of air are used throughout an attraction and overzealous attendees don’t want to stop to help you search for what you’ve lost.

If you’re visiting solely to see the effects and gore, stay at the back of the line. This will ensure you can take your time, study things at your leisure, and make sure you get the full monty.

Although I’ve visited my quota of haunted houses this year, I can’t wait to return to a few in 2012. I’m already marking my calendar and planning ahead. If you’ve never visited a haunted house, I highly recommend them. For those who are scared they won’t “make it through” fear not. Most attractions now have exit signs if you can’t handle it and want a fast way out. Knowing that, what have you got to lose?

Happy Halloween!

Jaime