City Blood’s annual Haunt Awards celebrate the best of the best for haunts in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. The haunt industry is a billion dollar business and for good reason. Haunts are a fun and entertaining part of the Halloween season and help people escape their stressful lives for the night. It doesn’t get much better than a haunted house, trail or hayride on a crisp fall night.
2010 was a very strange year for the haunt industry. The weather was warm early in the season and the crowds were large opening weekend for many haunts. There have been record numbers for haunts this year and some great haunts that unfortunately weren’t open for the 2010 season. This included Toxicity and Junction Nightmare. They will be missed. Many haunts have stepped up to the plate and for the first time ever, a haunted boat has been crowned Haunt of The Year. We also allowed people to vote this year for their favorite haunt and a “Visitors’ Choice Haunt” has been chosen.
We congratulate all of this year’s winners and thank all the haunts we visited for making us scream and for making the Halloween season what it is. All awards are given out to haunts that we tour in 2010. Haunts that are not in Ohio, Kentucky or Indiana cannot win an award. Please be aware that some award winners can change throughout the season, but it’s very unlikely. If a mistake is made in giving out an award, it will be corrected and the correct haunt will be given the award. This is very unlikely though. The award for “Most Professional Website” is based on what the website looked like during the haunt season, not the rest of the year.
Now sit back, relax and enjoy the 2010 Haunt Awards!
2010 Haunt of The Year:
#1 USS Nightmare (Newport, KY)
USS Nightmare was dark and sinister this year with a more intense cast, tighter paths, new rooms and more. This is the best year for USS Nightmare to date since everything is top notch and better than ever. You can’t beat the creepy setting of a steamboat on the Ohio River.
Click Here for the review.
Runners Up:
#2 The Dent Schoolhouse (Cincinnati, OH)
When it comes to Ohio haunts, it doesn’t get much better than this. Nearly every room is themed after a haunted schoolhouse and is full of old antiques and beautiful lighting. The actors are also some of the most dedicated in the industry.
Click Here for the review.
#3 Fear Fair (Seymour, IN)
Fear Fair has the best designed horror movie scenes in the haunt industry. Their actors are also relentless beyond belief. Fear Fair may be in a small town, but this is a big time haunt in every way from its incredible design to its actors who actually touch and grab customers.
Click Here for the review.
#4 Baxter Avenue Morgue (Louisville, KY)
Baxter Avenue Morgue is just a downright creepy haunt. The ceilings are low, the rooms are dark and its cast of characters is very unique. This is the one and only Baxter Avenue Morgue. Will you escape or become a cadaver in the morgue?
Click Here for the review.
#5 Ghostly Manor (Sandusky, OH)
Ghostly Manor has it all. Its dynamic castle facade will knock you off your feet and the sheer amount of animatronics in this place is amazing. If you’re not into haunted houses, you can skate, play arcade games and even enjoy their 3D Motion Theater.
Click Here for the review.
#6 Dead Acres (Pataskala, OH)
Dead Acres is the epitome of an intense haunt. The scenes are graphic and the actors are insane. This is a one of a kind haunt that is fast paced and doesn’t let up for a second.
Click Here for the review.
#7 Terror Town (Maumee, OH)
Terror Town has combined all its haunts into one big attraction this year and it has payed off. This is one of the most technologically advanced haunts in Ohio and one of the few that incorporates scent into their scenes.
Click Here for the review.
#8 The Haunted Schoolhouse (Akron, OH)
The Haunted Schoolhouse is legendary for a reason. Its sets are extremely detailed and the scenes and props are homemade. You won’t find most of their props in any other haunt. This is one of the oldest haunts in the United States and one of the best.
Click Here for the review.
#9 The Haunted Laboratory (Akron, OH)
The Haunted Laboratory has been scaring fright seekers for nearly 30 years and shows no sign of slowing down. Where else can you experience a massive Tesla coil and a 4 story vertical wind tunnel? This haunt has truly stood the test of time.
Click Here for the review.
#10 The Terror Fest (Columbus, OH)
This will be the second year for The Terror Fest, but it’s slowly become one of the best haunts in Ohio. New this year is their over the top 3D attraction called “Brewery Butcher 3D”. It’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen because instead of relying on 3D paintings, they use props to create a very dynamic experience.
Click Here for the review.
2010 Visitors’ Choice Award Goes To:
Wells Township Haunted House (Brilliant, OH)
Over 1,300 people voted for their favorite haunt out of almost 200 haunts in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana and the visitors of City Blood chose Wells Township Haunted House in Brilliant, OH. City Blood congratulates you for becoming our first ever Visitors’ Choice Haunt and receiving the Visitors’ Choice Award. Wells Township Haunted House has received a custom trophy recognizing them as City Blood’s first ever Visitors’ Choice Haunt.
Rest of The Awards:
Ohio’s Best
The Dent Schoolhouse (Cincinnati, OH)
Kentucky’s Best
USS Nightmare (Newport, KY)
Indiana’s Best
Fear Fair (Seymour, IN)
Best New Haunt (less than 3 years old)
The Terror Fest (Columbus, OH)
Best Charity Haunt
Mayhem Mansion (Morning View, KY)
Most Intense Haunt
Dead Acres (Pataskala, OH)
Most Improved
USS Nightmare (Newport, KY)
Biggest Bang For Your Buck
Kings Island Halloween Haunt (Mason, OH)
Scariest Haunted Trail
The Black Bog (Lebanon, OH)
Best Haunted Hayride
Spooky Ranch’s Famous Haunted Hayride (Columbia Station, OH)
Best Multi Haunt Attraction
The Factory of Terror (Canton, OH)
Most Mind Numbing 3D Attraction
Judgement Day in 3D (Factory of Terror)
Most Entertaining Side Attraction (not a haunt)
XD 3D Motion Theater at Ghostly Manor (Sandusky, OH)
Best Acting
The Dent Schoolhouse (Cincinnati, OH)
Favorite Actor
Rat Man at Extreme Nightmares (Columbia Station, OH)
Favorite Actress
USS Nightmare’s Anna (Newport, KY)
Favorite Child Actor (10 and under)
Billy as Jigsaw at Dungeons of Delhi (Cincinnati, OH)
Favorite Queue Line Actor
Book Slammer at Hauntville (Elyria, OH)
Favorite Haunt Mascot
Mortimer Sneed: Sandyland Acres Haunted Hayride (Petersburg, KY)
Most Unique Location/Setting
Haunted Cave at Lewisburg (Lewisburg, OH)
Best Design
The Dent Schoolhouse (Cincinnati, OH)
Best Props/Animatronics
The Haunted Laboratory (Akron, OH)
Best Prop Used
120 Foot Vortex Tunnel at Terror Town (Maumee, OH)
Best Lighting
The Dent Schoolhouse (Cincinnati, OH)
Best Sound
Industrial Nightmare at Factory of Terror (Canton, OH)
Most Creative Masks/Makeup/Costumes
USS Nightmare (Newport, KY)
Shock of The Year
Ball Pit Slide at Darkness Falls on Asylum (Louisville, KY)
Scariest Room/Scene
Fog Filled Elevator at Dementions (Jeffersonville, IN)
Most Hysterically Frightening Scene
Graveyard at Massacre on Mahoning (Canton, OH)
Most Authentic Horror Movie Scenes
Fear Fair (Seymour, IN)
Scariest Haunted Maze
The Abyss at ScreamPark (Lexington, KY)
Best Use of Chainsaws
The Haunted Hotel (Louisville, KY)
Best Use of Darkness
Haunted Cave at Lewisburg (Lewisburg, OH)
Most Frightful Family Event
Spooky Ranch (Columbia Station, OH)
Scariest Back Story
Trail of Fears (Hilliard, OH)
Most Professional Looking Website During Haunt Season
ScreamPark (Lexington, KY)
Web Commercial To Die For
Psychomania, The Theater of Terror (Clarksville, IN)
TV Commercial To Die For
Kings Island Halloween Haunt (Mason, OH)
The Best Parking Period (Most organized and safe)
Sandyland Acres Haunted Hayride (Petersburg, KY)
Best Variety of Concessions
The Chambers of Horror (Middletown, OH)
Most Spooktacular Queue Line
Psychomania, The Theater of Terror (Clarksville, IN)
Most Eye Catching Facade/Facades
Ghostly Manor (Sandusky, OH)
Most Impressive Entrance Sign
Ghostly Manor (Sandusky, OH)
Best Advertising Efforts
The Land of Illusion (Middletown, OH)
Best Apparel
Dead Acres (Pataskala, OH)