Grim Trails (Louisville, KY)
“Chills and Thrills From Beginning to End “
By Noah Wullkotte: jollypumpkin@aol.com
Grim Trails is the haunt of fairy-tales, myths and legends. This is a very unique experience unlike any other haunted trail you’ll tour. Pendle Forest in Lancashire, England is associated with the 1612 Pendle Witch Trials where 10 were found guilty and executed. These trials took place before Salem and influenced the Salem Witch Trials. Watch out for witches and more as you navigate this section of the haunt.
Grim Trails is a very theatrical haunt with detailed scenes and set design. Pinocchio wants his dolls to come alive and needs your soul. Peter Pan is evil and twisted. His shadow will follow you and suddenly attack. Captain Hook warns trespassers of the demon Peter Pan who looks like a child. Watch out for the killer crocodile that took Hook’s hand.
In 1765, France’s Gévaudan region was still in the grip of the Beast of Gévaudan, a mysterious creature that had begun terrorizing the area in 1764. This creature resembled a large wolf. The Little Red Riding Hood scene was pretty spooky. The Big Bad Wolf busts out of the wall to attack poor old grandma. You’ll eventually meet Little Red Riding Hood in a very unique way.
You’ll need to help Gretel hide Hansel’s body before entering the smoky oven. Sleepy Hollow is one of the legends you’ll survive. There are numerous lit jack-o’-lanterns that decorate the woods. Come face to face with the Headless Horseman who cuts off a woman’s head. It’s fun trying to figure out which scene is from your favorite fairy-tales. The Mad Hatter has a cup of poison. Wouldn’t it be refreshing to just take a sip?
There are many colorful characters at Grim Trails. Tweedledee torments customers who walk past him. The wrath is a creature that has an animal skull head with LED eyes and scythe like arms. He stands 10 feet tall. I almost jumped a mile after he emerged from the darkness. We loved the goblin on a bungee rig. There’s plenty of delicious eye candy at Grim Trails. A castle is home to 2 dragons, one small and one huge. They both blow smoke and have a loud roar. Killer insects have invaded this haunted trail. My favorite is the mutant fly.
You’ll explore different scenes such as a doll room, an evil ritual, the bamboo forest and more. The graveyard is massive. Don’t let the living dead take a bite out of you. An animated monk caught me off guard. The green glowing swamp was phenomenal. Grim Trails has unique lighting in some areas. You’ll notice realistic LED candles that illuminate paths and various scenes.
The lighting could be improved though. The dragon animatronics are barely lit and aren’t very visible. We couldn’t tell what type of insect one of the animatronics was because of the dim lighting. The Pinocchio scene was very dark and could benefit from some LED lights. The actors do a great job, but there were times when some resorted to grunting, growling or screaming. Most use meaningful dialogue and do a great job with their scenes.
Total tour time is 30 minutes and there aren’t any dead spots to speak of. It’s action packed from beginning to end and we really appreciate that. General admission is $30 and a Fast Pass to skip the regular line is $40. Parking is free at E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park. Grim Trails merchandise is available to purchase at the exit. There’s a booth that sells Tea from Kenya. It’s called Paradise Island Tea and we picked up a jug of Apple Peach Tea.
What we like most about Grim Trails is how different it is from every other haunted trails that we visit. It’s damn unique and one of those haunts that sticks with you. If you’re looking for a haunt that provides chills and thrills then look no further than Grim Trails.
Length-10 Design-9 Props-8 Acting-8 Scare Effect-8
Final Stab: 8.6
www.grimtrails.com