Atlanta Zombie Apocalypse: Dead End, Grant Park, GA 2015

                Atlanta Zombie Apocalypse: Dead End was held in the Grant Park/Glenwood Park area of Atlanta and was a benefit for the Maynard Jackson High School PTSA.  This two night event was a bit of a rebirth for the popular AZA, which held its final year in 2014.  Shane Morton, and his amazing crew, built and delivered this attraction in the remarkably short time frame of under a week. There was more time than that put into the development of the concept, however the location was not available until right before opening night and everything had to be temporary so that it could be removed just as quickly.

                In spite of the limitations which a space that is essentially an access road or alleyway presents this haunt is always capable of delivering an environment filled with thrills.  They prove once again that the setting can be less than desirable and the actors can save you.  Their crew trained high school students and brought in some of their own workers to scare guests, and delivered the unique zombie experience which we have come to count on them for.  There were multiple encounters during which we found it hard to believe some of the zombies were students from the high school helping out. 

                We are proud of the effort and what they achieved, yet still saddened to wish AZA a farewell once again.  It is always our hope that they will return in a permanent location some day and bring back their level of scare that never fails to entertain.  Once you've seen people who obviously don't exercise running from zombies in an attraction, you know that they are doing something right.

                We rated this limited engagement with 3.25 severed heads out of a possible five and hope that they were successful in raising a great deal of money for the PTSA at Maynard Jackson High School.  Perhaps we will all get lucky and they will have been so successful that we see a repeat next year. 

Phobia Plantation, Jackson, GA 2015

                Phobia Plantation is located in Jackson, Georgia near one of the major truck stops.  It is not the easiest place to locate when you get into the area.  When we did find it the building was nondescript and we would not have recognized it as a haunt if we had not been looking for one.

                When you purchase your tickets at the window you will sign a waiver.  Though they express to you some of the reasons why you are signing it, they are not entirely forthcoming about it.  They state that animals are some of the reasons, however that would not be our opinion on why you need a waiver there.  They do have a few snakes, and those are not having a waiver level impact upon you.  What we found that the waiver kept us from being able to do anything about was the section where you crawl over a hard surface, covered with food and gel filled gummy toys.  This particular segment made it impossible for us to move on to any other events that night as the food and gelatinous materials were ground into our clothes, especially the knees of our pants. After that particular section we were so into fight mode instead of flight mode that we did not enjoy anything else.  Let us clarify what that means.  The goal of a haunted house is to take advantage of your fight or flight response to stress and adrenaline.  They want to make you fearful so that your body initiates the flight response which makes you want to run or avoid your fear, the counterpoint to that is that they really do not want your fight response to come into play too much because it has results which can include punching, kicking, fighting, and disconnection from the experience.

                Another of our pet peeves is the frequent inclusion and misuse of black plastic.  We understand when individuals who do backyard haunts use black plastic to create walls, but if you have a building and are covering the walls with black plastic it makes no sense.  It is possible to have black plastic used well, however it is rare in our opinions.  This particular haunt had a lot of black plastic within a building and we could not understand why.

                Their final element was meant to be a claustrophobia room, however we were so into fight mode and therefore distrusting of them at that point that we refused to enter it because of how sketchy it appeared. We found an opening in the hanging walls and just walked out at that point.

                Due to our ruined clothing and the sketchy nature of portions of the event, combined with the cost of the attraction in relation to what we experienced, we rated Phobia Plantation with 1 severed head out of a possible five.  We did not feel that the attraction was a good use of our time or money for the experience that we had.  We're sure that there are people out there who probably had good experiences with this location and we would love to hear all sides of the story.  If you have a haunt experience anywhere that you would like to share please contact us either through the comments section of a post or through the messaging feature on our Facebook Page for Haunt Review.

Sinister Suites, Griffin, GA 2015

                Sinister Suites is located in Griffin, Georgia in a very old building.  We have frequently heard people asking others if the story behind it is true, and then hearing that it is not.  We have nothing to base our verification on other than the memories of locals who are over eighty years old, and those memories at that age can either be accurate or not, so take it with a grain of salt. 

                We were pleased to notice that they had opened up one of the larger downstairs spaces as a que line area.  The detail work from  the original life of the building is still there in many ways, and that it something to occupy your mind while you wait.  We are also glad to see that more things which we thought were dangers in the past have been addressed.  The floors feel a bit more stable and the stairs have been repaired or replaced.

                The greatest strength which Sinister Suites has going for them is their sets.  The scenes, taking advantage of the original life of the location in most cases, are interesting to look at.  They appear to be well designed.  The greatest weakness of Sinister Suites is that everyone in the group we went through with (there were six of us, three couples who did not know one another) said the same thing about their actors: why don't they do more than scream?  After one or two screams even the people with us, who we found out don't go to a lot of haunts and had no idea that we write reviews, were expecting the screams and no longer concerned with them in any way.  The screaming loses its impact after it becomes predictable.  We took a moment after the haunt to ask a staff member who appeared to be in charge in some capacity about why their actors only seemed to know how to do three things: scream, yell come in, and yell get out. The response was, "That's how we do it here."  Well, that shows a lack of concern about it, even when a customer concern is brought to them about it.  This could be based on them recognizing us if they did, but we don't know if they did and would hope that this wouldn't be the answer if they did know we review.

                We have seen a lot of online posts that people say they are great, but we haven't specifically talked to people about why they liked them.  One thing that we can comment on from our experiences over multiple years attending without reviewing them is that we have never seen anyone leave who was running, screaming, or laughing as they exited.  To us that says something, but feel free to draw your own conclusions.

                Please note that you should be physically fit to attend Sinister Suites.  There are many flights up stairs that you must climb, going up and coming back down.  If you have anything which inhibits you from climbing stairs do not go as there is no other choice for you there.

                We rated Sinister Suites with 2.5 severed heads out of a possible five.  We feel that the sets are a plus, but the inability of the actors to be versatile when a situation is thrown at them detracts from the experience.  We also felt that having two staff members behind our group using radios and saying into them "clear (and the name of the room we were entering or leaving)" at full volume definitely was a distraction for us and others.  Please let us know what you did or did not enjoy if you have been to Sinister Suites in the past so that we can share a variety of views on this attraction.

                The best way to reach us is to either comment on this post or to message us on our Facebook Page for Haunt Review.

Folklore Haunted House, Acworth, GA 2015

               Folklore Haunted House is located in Acworth, Georgia and is an easy ride from most places in the metro Atlanta area.  Though it is a bit off the beaten path with the new location the move has been highly worthwhile for them.  This facility is expected to be able to expand to house a third haunt on site within the next two years and is still providing enough space to grow their existing haunts.  They have been around for a while now, but have had to move more than once due to temporary building rentals that did not work out.  We would love to know for sure that this new location was a purchase and will be their permanent haunting home (although we could do without the mud that can occur in the parking area from rain). 

               One of the greatest things about Folklore is their sets.  The scenes are detailed and often extravagant in nature.  Though there are some places where the walls are bare it only serves to add to the contrast which ebbs and flows throughout the haunt.  We also know that they will fully dress every space within the haunt given the money and time within a location.  The old factory which they are set in is historically beautiful and made us want to spend tire staring at tiny details from the original structure, which only serves to enhance the haunt itself.

               There are two haunts involved and they share one exit. We thought that this sounded a bit strange until we went through and realized that they have it worked out really well and it does not detract from the experience.  The main haunt is in the front of the structure with the secondary haunt entrance being around on the side of the building.  The talk of a third haunt includes a downstairs space which they have already begun to brainstorm ideas for.

               The greatest challenge for Folklore is having enough staff and characters to fill the space which they have.  They have worked on this in some very creative ways, which we won’t spoil for you here.  Needless to say, even when you don’t think that there is someone around in a room you can easily be surprised to find that there is someone right there by you that you knew nothing about.

               We love visiting Folklore and find it to be another reliable favorite over the years.  They are ready to perform on opening night with a show that will mesmerize most audiences.  We rate them with 4 severed heads out of 5 and feel that it could only rise from there with the acquisition of a permanent location allowing them to work on the attraction throughout the year.

The Haunted Theatre on Hill Street, Griffin, GA 2015

               The Haunted Theatre on Hill Street is located in the small town of Griffin, Georgia.  This event is limited to approximately six nights each haunt season and is held to benefit the Griffin Ballet Theatre.  The group responsible for this haunt is a tightknit group of people who are passionate about the arts an about haunting.  They love what they do and are all volunteers, even the management.  Each year they choose two of their nights to break from whatever theme that they have chosen to present and do special events.  One night will have a unique theme change.  In the past that particular night has been zombie night, vampire night, and carnival night.  Each of those takes its own special twist upon whatever they are already presenting.  Their other special event night is a tradition for them and still manages to use their yearly theme.  They present one night in which all of the lights within the haunt are turned out.  On this particular night you traverse the basement haunt in complete darkness…well, maybe not complete, they might give you a glow stick or the world’s worst flashlight if they have any available.  This year we have learned of an upcharge choice that you could also make.  The regular admission is $7, but if you want to pay $10 you can go in alone and leave your friends behind to fend for themselves.

               The location of the haunt is a wonder in and of itself.  The event is held in the basement of Studio D Dance on Hill Street in downtown Griffin.  The aged location adds a lot of character to the event itself, but them you add to it the ideas which are created within the space and it can become quite spooky.  The space is normally used as costume and prop storage for the ballet, however for a short time each year the haunt team is permitted to move things around and get creative.  They have constructed walls and sets to make the environment as different from its normal life as possible, though it is not entirely able to hide what lies beyond.  In some cases, what you may see past their sets might be creepier than what you would expect to find there, and this could be a good thing.

               Many years they have guests who pay for their tickets and still can’t quite seem to make it to the actual haunt.  This could be owed to the long and narrow hallway which you must walk down before opening the basement door to the stairs.  When you see the stairs you can understand why others may have backed out and forfeited the cost of their admission.  The walls are pealing and crumbling, the ceiling is sloping down, and the stairs make an abrupt left turn which prevents you from knowing anything at all about what you are going to walk into.   The unknown is often a huge fear for guests, and this alone can be enough to stop them in their tracks.  If you go, don’t be surprised to find people exiting through the entrance who can’t bring themselves to make that one turn.

               The actual haunt is very short, but for $7 and for charity you really can’t expect more.  Their space is limited and provided to them freely, so again, beggars can’t be choosers.  There are usually anywhere from six to ten rooms or unique spaces within the event, and they encompass a variety of scenes are scares.

               This year their theme was Bayou in the Basement.  With this concept they attempted to bring the swamp and its inhabitants to Griffin for a visit.  In doing so you may encounter fiercely protective Cajun families, swamp monsters, voodoo priestesses, mausoleum maniacs, and redneck friends.  The characters are often well planned and thought out.  The gentlemen who greeted us when we entered what appeared to be his bayou home did so with a rifle and a little attitude.  He maintained his character and was so good at his acting that we might easily have been convinced that he would use that gun on us if we had been the general public.  At some points we questioned whether the gun was there to scare us out or to protect him from what else lay beyond his home.

               Within the swamp there are trees, creatures, and people who will interact with you.  The floor beneath your feet even changes as you enter and exit the swamp, so be aware that things are not always as they appear.  You will need to able to handle at least two sets of stairs and a long alley which may hold your doom if you choose to enter this haunt, so be forewarned about what physical expectations are made upon you when you enter.  Nothing is dangerous about it, but it certainly helps to know that stairs are involved and there is no way to avoid them.

               When you meet the country man’s daughters please feel free to get to know them if you dare.  They are highly interactive and will try to keep you around if they can persuade you to stay.  They may have a little something they want to sell you, but sometimes you just have to make the best out of a crappy situation (and they are sure trying to). 

               There are a lot of great things which can be said about this haunt and we encourage everyone to visit (we saw that Leonard Pickel recently visited!).   Every cent that they raise through this event is for a good cause and their actors are well aware of the need to scare or entertain so that you get your money’s worth out of the experience.  We rate The Haunted Theatre on Hill Street 3.25 severed heads out of a possible five and wish them much luck in their fundraising this year and in the future.

The Haunted Theatre on Hill Street, Griffin, GA 2015

               The Haunted Theatre on Hill Street is located in the small town of Griffin, Georgia.  This event is limited to approximately six nights each haunt season and is held to benefit the Griffin Ballet Theatre.  The group responsible for this haunt is a tightknit group of people who are passionate about the arts an about haunting.  They love what they do and are all volunteers, even the management.  Each year they choose two of their nights to break from whatever theme that they have chosen to present and do special events.  One night will have a unique theme change.  In the past that particular night has been zombie night, vampire night, and carnival night.  Each of those takes its own special twist upon whatever they are already presenting.  Their other special event night is a tradition for them and still manages to use their yearly theme.  They present one night in which all of the lights within the haunt are turned out.  On this particular night you traverse the basement haunt in complete darkness…well, maybe not complete, they might give you a glow stick or the world’s worst flashlight if they have any available.  This year we have learned of an upcharge choice that you could also make.  The regular admission is $7, but if you want to pay $10 you can go in alone and leave your friends behind to fend for themselves.

               The location of the haunt is a wonder in and of itself.  The event is held in the basement of Studio D Dance on Hill Street in downtown Griffin.  The aged location adds a lot of character to the event itself, but them you add to it the ideas which are created within the space and it can become quite spooky.  The space is normally used as costume and prop storage for the ballet, however for a short time each year the haunt team is permitted to move things around and get creative.  They have constructed walls and sets to make the environment as different from its normal life as possible, though it is not entirely able to hide what lies beyond.  In some cases, what you may see past their sets might be creepier than what you would expect to find there, and this could be a good thing.

               Many years they have guests who pay for their tickets and still can’t quite seem to make it to the actual haunt.  This could be owed to the long and narrow hallway which you must walk down before opening the basement door to the stairs.  When you see the stairs you can understand why others may have backed out and forfeited the cost of their admission.  The walls are pealing and crumbling, the ceiling is sloping down, and the stairs make an abrupt left turn which prevents you from knowing anything at all about what you are going to walk into.   The unknown is often a huge fear for guests, and this alone can be enough to stop them in their tracks.  If you go, don’t be surprised to find people exiting through the entrance who can’t bring themselves to make that one turn.

               The actual haunt is very short, but for $7 and for charity you really can’t expect more.  Their space is limited and provided to them freely, so again, beggars can’t be choosers.  There are usually anywhere from six to ten rooms or unique spaces within the event, and they encompass a variety of scenes are scares.

               This year their theme was Bayou in the Basement.  With this concept they attempted to bring the swamp and its inhabitants to Griffin for a visit.  In doing so you may encounter fiercely protective Cajun families, swamp monsters, voodoo priestesses, mausoleum maniacs, and redneck friends.  The characters are often well planned and thought out.  The gentlemen who greeted us when we entered what appeared to be his bayou home did so with a rifle and a little attitude.  He maintained his character and was so good at his acting that we might easily have been convinced that he would use that gun on us if we had been the general public.  At some points we questioned whether the gun was there to scare us out or to protect him from what else lay beyond his home.

               Within the swamp there are trees, creatures, and people who will interact with you.  The floor beneath your feet even changes as you enter and exit the swamp, so be aware that things are not always as they appear.  You will need to able to handle at least two sets of stairs and a long alley which may hold your doom if you choose to enter this haunt, so be forewarned about what physical expectations are made upon you when you enter.  Nothing is dangerous about it, but it certainly helps to know that stairs are involved and there is no way to avoid them.

               When you meet the country man’s daughters please feel free to get to know them if you dare.  They are highly interactive and will try to keep you around if they can persuade you to stay.  They may have a little something they want to sell you, but sometimes you just have to make the best out of a crappy situation (and they are sure trying to). 

               There are a lot of great things which can be said about this haunt and we encourage everyone to visit (we saw that Leonard Pickel recently visited!).   Every cent that they raise through this event is for a good cause and their actors are well aware of the need to scare or entertain so that you get your money’s worth out of the experience.  We rate The Haunted Theatre on Hill Street 3.25 severed heads out of a possible five and wish them much luck in their fundraising this year and in the future.

Plantation Blood, Augusta, GA 2015

               Plantation Blood in Augusta, Georgia is an old favorite.  Going there for us is like coming home.  The staff provides amazing customer service and truly listens to what their guests want.  One case which clearly points this out is that they planned to remove an entire zombie section and their fans complained that they loved the zombies, so they found a way to keep that well-loved element with a twist.  Haunters such as this have a passion for what they are doing and long to see satisfied customers either running or smiling as they exit the fence after a night of mischief.

               Plantation Blood has a long history rooted in the Augusta area, and when we visited some haunts in North Carolina which disappointed us we needed something that was reliable and enjoyable to end our weekend.  It was a long drive down from Charlotte, North Carolina, but it was worth every mile of it.

               This particular haunted attraction is set up as a multi-layered event.  After purchasing your tickets, you will pass through a space which can either be benign or be used to scare.  Once you are beyond the fence you will see roaming characters, reasonably priced food, souvenirs, and other activities which you can choose to partake in.  One of the souvenirs this year is related to your own personal experience going through the haunt house.  As you pass through there are hidden cameras throughout and they are set to capture the scares.  These images are then able to be purchased in print or digitally.  What we found to be the best deal was a combo pack with one print of your choice and the remainder of your images emailed to you in a link for only $10.  When was the last time that you saw a souvenir of that quality for only $10? 

               For your haunted house experience, you may choose to stand in the general line or go for fast pass service.  On a busy night (they can have lengthy waits) you may find it more beneficial to get the fast pass, but if you don’t mind hanging out in line and chatting up others it can be fun to wait your turn like everyone else.

               The haunted house itself is a twisting and turning maze of motion and sound.  Frequently you will find that things are not always as they seem.  The walls around you, and even the floors beneath you, will leave you questioning your decision to traverse their course.  Objects which should not interact with you suddenly come to life with either motion or sound, and sometimes with both.  The environment which you have chosen to drop yourself into contains realms from houses, caves, cabin, creatures, and hordes of zombies.  Everything around you has been planned and implemented in order to bring the best possible experience to you.  The technology which they are running on has been created by one of their team members and is just beginning to make it out into the market for other haunts across the country.  They are able to program in a variety of sensory experiences based upon your interactions with the environment and their equipment.  This elevates the haunt experience to the next level.

               Sights, sounds, and smells engulf your senses and add to the realism of the world you are trekking through.  This haunt is not for wimps and small children, though you may take them with you for your own entertainment value.  We rate Plantation Blood with 4.5 severed heads of out 5 and can’t wait to return there with victims, um, friends, in the future.