Land of Illusion Haunted Theme Park-“Demonic Disney World”
Genre: Haunted Theme Park
Location: 8762 Thomas Road
Middletown, OH 45042
Runtime: 1hr 30 min
Website: www.thelandofillusion.com
Land of Illusion returns for another year of fright and fun. This year there is only one ticket price that’ s only $30. The ticket includes all 5 haunts and the new Club Zombie. Additionally you are able to tour each haunt as many times as you would like. We visited Land of Illusion on their second night and we’re totally shocked at how packed it was. So if you are planning on going to Land of Illusion make sure to purchase a VIP ticket for five more dollars. You’ll thank me.
You’ll have a great time at Land of Illusion since there are a variety of haunts that will appeal to the masses. There are some new additions this year such as a brand new haunt named Voodoo Bayou Shanty and the haunted night club, Club Zombie. So if you’re looking to kill a couple of hours while having fun with friends and family, Land of Illusion is the place to be.
Please scroll down the page to read reviews of each haunt.
The Middletown Haunted Trail- “Terror on the Trail”
Genre: Haunted Trail
Location: 8762 Thomas Road
Middletown, OH 45042
Runtime: 25-30 Minutes
Website: www.thelandofillusion.com
What’s better than walking alone at night on a foggy trail scared of every little thing that makes a noise? Is that a cricket or is it a homicidle maniac who’s about to jump out from behind the bushes? The fear of the unknown is what scares people the most and the makers of the Middletown Haunted Trail capitalize on this. While I won’t give away every little detail of this classic haunt, I’ll let you in on what’s good and bad about the haunted trail.
This is the review of the Middletown Haunted Trail at The Land of Illusion Haunted Theme Park.
What’s Good About The Haunt?
Middletown Haunted Trail is simply one of the longest haunted trails in the state of Ohio. When you think it’s over, there’s another 10 minutes left to experience. While not much has changed since last year, there are enough additions to make it worth your wild. The biggest addition to this year’s haunt is what is simply known as “The Nest”. The Nest is a brand new section of the trail that resembles a cave that has been inhabited by blood thirsty vampires. The Nest doesn’t contain many scenes, but is a bit unnerving due to the heavy use of fog and darkness. What else would you expect from a creepy old cave?
Scene favorites return such as the spider’s lair, the haunted school bus, Cherry Hill, the Michael Myers confrontation and of course the now classic Area 49. Area 49 is something you would expect to see in a science fiction movie and is pretty impressive to say the least. It features life like aliens emerging from murky water while the bridge beneath you violently shakes and sirens echo throughout the building. It really is one of the major highlights of the Middletown Haunted trail due to its dynamic effects and realistic props.
There’s some quite impressive decor you’ll come across at the Middletown Haunted Trail. This includes a galloping Headless Horseman, vortex tunnel, realistic aliens and even a large bus vertically sticking out of the ground. I have no clue how the school bus was put on its ass end sticking straight up in the air, but it’s an impressive sight none the less. Middletown Haunted Trail has a little bit of everything for everyone. Even Michael Myers makes a guest appearance.
What’s Bad About The Haunt?
There are very few haunts that are near perfect in every aspect and this is the case with Middletown Haunted Trail. Its biggest downfall is its cast. This haunted trail has many characters scattered throughout scenes, but the majority of them lack any creative dialogue. Most resort to using lines such as help me, what are you doing here or even screaming in pain when they aren’t even playing a victim.
Some actors will even resort to intimidation when they think you aren’t scared or reacting in a way they feel is appropriate. A good actor is one that realizes that they can’t scare everyone and that some people react differently when they are scared. Some people run in fear while others laugh nervously. It’s just the way it is and the sooner an actor realizes this the sooner they’ll improve.
Customer Service:
The staff at The Land of Illusion is very friendly and are aware of everything that’s going on. Security guards can be seen at each haunt making sure everyone is safe. You’ll find that there’s a wide variety of concessions ranging from hot dogs to ice cold soda. After you’re done getting a bite to eat, don’t forget to get your dance on at Club Zombie or take a break at the warm and cozy bon fire.
General Admission is only $24.95 for 5 different haunts. On Sundays the ticket price is only $19.95. Visit Land of Illusion’s discount page for a $5 off discount. Please note that this coupon is not good towards group discounts.
Final Thoughts:
The Middletown Haunted Trail is the most popular haunt at Land of Illusion and for good reason. You are simply getting the best bang for your buck. 30 minutes of terror for only $6 ($30 a ticket for 5 haunts) is unheard of. Plus this haunt will please just about everyone since it has a variety of scenes from classic horror movies to over the top science fiction. You can’t go wrong with The Middletown Haunted Trail.
Note:Please be aware that this haunt can have a massive line the closer it gets to October. So if you show up late to Land of Illusion you may want to visit the haunted trail last so you have time for everything else.
Length-10 Design-7 Props/Animatronics-7 Acting-7 Scare Effect-7
Official Score – 7.6
Fun Facts:
*The Land of Illusion started 12 years ago in Brett Oakley’s backyard in Middletown, OH. It began as the Middletown Haunted Trail. It stayed there for about 6 seasons, adding the Temple of Terror on that site for the final year before moving to its current location.
Dr. Psycho’s Haunted Estate-“The Ultimate in Malpractice”
Genre: Haunted House
Location: 8762 Thomas Road
Middletown, OH45042
Runtime: 12-15 Minutes
Website: www.thelandofillusion.com
Have you ever wondered what was inside that creepy abadoned house on your street? Did you ever have the nerve to investigate the house late at night? Well, Dr. Psycho’s Haunted Estate is that creepy old house that haunts your nightmares and can only been seen at The Land of Illusion Haunted Theme Park. Are you ready to face your fears?
Dr. Psycho’s Haunted Estate is always a haunt we look forward to every year when visiting Land of Illusion. It’s just one of those special attractions that never gets old and brings something fresh and new to the table. It was the second haunt we would tour that night and to our surprise, the line was massive. In previous years this was a haunt that had only half the line of Middletown Haunted Trail, but this year it was at least double the size of their flagship haunt. It was obvious that the $30 all in one ticket was a huge success. But would Dr. Psycho’s Haunted Estate be a haunting success?
This is the review of Dr. Psycho’s Haunted Estate at Land of Illusion Haunted Theme Park.
What’s Good About The Haunt?
Dr. Psycho’s is notorious for having some of the most detailed and realistic sets at Land of Illusion and 2010 was no exception. Before even entering the large house, you’ll notice that their classic graveyard has been expanded and portions of it are indoors. This big addition adds length to the haunt and gives it more value. I won’t dare give away some of the surprises that await you in the new expanded graveyard. You’ll just have to visit Land of Illusion to find out.
Rooms at Dr. Psycho’s include a haunted dog pound, Exorcist posession scene, a greenhouse/forest full of venus fly traps, a haunted laboratory, spooky dining room and more. The rooms you’ll enter revolve around the theme of a delapidated haunted house that’s been taken over by ghouls, ghosts and beasts. But what are great scenes without great props? Dr. Psycho’s Haunted Estate has been called a prop warehouse over the years and rightfully so. This haunt is full of amazing animatronics every which way you turn. Posessed creatures, lunging zombies, monster plants and massive monsters only describe a little of what you’ll see at Dr. Psycho’s Haunted Estate.
What’s Bad About The Haunt?
There isn’t too much to complain about when it comes to Dr. Psycho’s Haunted Estate. But the area that needs the most work on is its cast. This haunt relies way too much on animated scares. After you’ve seen the same thrashing skeleton or zombie over and over, these expensive props start to lose their impact. Loud intense music may also drown out the loud sounds of air compressors running these animatronics.
The actors aren’t the worst you’ll come across, but they definitely need some work. There just aren’t many memorable characters since the high end props are the highlight of Dr. Psycho’s Haunted Estate. An acting coach could really help the actors get into character and help them improve their scenes. As of now, some scenes are a bit mediocre because of the poor performances from Land of Illusion’s cast.
Customer Service:
The staff at The Land of Illusion is very friendly and are aware of everything that’s going on. Security guards can be seen at each haunt making sure everyone is safe. You’ll find that there’s a wide variety of concessions ranging from hot dogs to ice cold soda. Please don’t forget to get your dance on at Club Zombie Night Club or take a break at the warm and cozy bon fire.
General Admission is only $24.95 for 5 different haunts. On Sundays the ticket price is only $19.95. Visit Land of Illusion’s discount page for a $5 off discount. Please note that this coupon is not good towards group discounts.
Final Thoughts:
Dr. Psycho’s Haunted Estate is always one of my favorite haunts to visit at Land of Illusion. The great sets, impressive decor and dedication to theme makes it a very memorable haunt. If you visit Land of Illusion make sure that Dr. Psycho’s Haunted Estate is at the top of your list. With small improvements this haunt could easily be a 9.
Length-8 Design-9 Props/Animatronics-9 Acting-6 Scare Effect-7
Official Score – 7.8
Fun Facts:
*Dr. Psycho’s Haunted Estate uses many props from the company Scarefactory. Scarefactory is located in Columbus, OH.
Temple of Terror: “Curse of the Ancient Tribes”
Genre: Haunted House
Location: 8762 Thomas Road
Middletown, OH45042
Runtime: 12-15 Minutes
Website: www.thelandofillusion.com
For years Temple of Terror had the smallest line out of all the haunts at Land of Illusion. This has always confused me since Temple of Terror has always been one of the better attractions at the park. This year is much different since you must purchase one ticket for all the haunts and you can enter as many times as you want to. Now the crowds for each haunt are pretty even since everyone is able to visit anything they wish. We were pretty excited about Temple of Terror since it’s always been a great haunt thoughout the years. For the most part we wern’t let down.
This is the review of Temple of Terror at Land of Illusion Haunted Theme park.
What’s Good About The Haunt?
Temple of Terror is one of the few Indiana Jones style haunts in the state of Ohio. So if you are wanting a unique experience you’ve come to the right place. The people behind Temple of Terror are trying to re-create the feeling of a cursed temple and I think they’ve achieved this. You’ll come across scenes such as a room with a falling ceiling, a murky swamp, a jungle inhabited by natives, various dark & spooky rooms and everything in between.
The main highlight of Temple of Terror is of course the animatronics. Nearly every room contains some form of an air compressed prop. You’ll see a native with his blow dart, a violent crashing ceiling, a skeleton wall that comes alive, a creature impaled by a spike, a massive Resident evil type beast and of course the world famous Impaler. Every other haunt you’ll visit this season will have Scare Factory’s Impaler in at least one of their scenes. The Impaler is a 13 foot monster that thrashes back and forth as he holds the body of its victim in his massive hand. The main focus of Temple of Terror is its props and surprisingly that’s ok.
What’s Bad About The Haunt?
In the last couple of years there haven’t been many noticeable changes made to Temple of Terror. There have been a couple new scenes added, but nothing you will really notice. This haunt has all of the potential in the world, but too much emphasis is put on high end animatronics instead of trying to create a realistic temple experience.
The biggest downfall of Temple of Terror is its lighting. There are quite a few detailed sets and startling animatronics, but much of it can be hardly seen because of the poor lighting conditions. Investing in cheap mini LED spot lights to illuminate scenes and props would help greatly. In previous years strobe lights have been used in many of the rooms, but this haunt seems to get darker and darker every season. Darkness can be great if a haunt is trying to create tension or has various dark mazes set up. But many of the rooms are in dyer need of LED candles or mini spotlights that use less energy than your standard lights. If a haunt has incredible detailing, then the haunt should showcase that.
Once you enter Temple of Terror, you will notice right off the bat, that the focus of this haunt isn’t its actors. It’s great to have eye catching scenes and props, but actors are what really brings a room to life. They are the soul of a haunt. Adding a few well trained actors with elaborate costumes and makeup would help quite a few scenes that soley rely on animatronics. This simple improvement would elevate Temple of Terror to new heights.
Customer Service:
The staff at The Land of Illusion is very friendly and are aware of everything that’s going on. Security guards can be seen at each haunt making sure everyone is safe. There’s also a wide variety of concessions ranging from hot dogs to ice cold soda. Please don’t forget to get your dance on at Club Zombie or take a break at the warm and cozy bon fire.
General Admission is only $24.95 for 5 different haunts. On Sundays the ticket price is only $19.95. Visit Land of Illusion’s discount page for a $5 off discount. Please note that this coupon is not good towards group discounts.
Final Thoughts:
While Middletown Haunted Trail is the most popular haunt at Land of Illusion, it’s not the best in my personal opinion. This award goes to the Temple of Terror and Dr. Psycho’s Haunted Estate. These haunts are similar in how they try to create a realistic atmosphere that helps you forget that the experience isn’t real. There are obviously some improvements that need to be made, but it still ends up being a quality attraction any way you look at it. Temple of Terror should be one of the first haunts on your list when visiting Land of Illusion.
Length-7 Design-8 Props/Animatronics-9 Acting-7 Scare Effect-7
Official Score – 7.6
Fun Facts:
*The Temple of Terror is one of the original haunts at Land of Illusion and was part of Middletown’s Triple Fright before it moved and changed its name to Land of Illusion.
3-D Killer Klowns-“Laugh Till You Bleed”
Genre: 3D Haunted House
Location: 8762 Thomas Road
Middletown, OH45042
Runtime: 12-15 Minutes
Website: www.thelandofillusion.com
In the fall of 2005 Killer Klowns was introduced to fear seekers at Land of Illusion. It was a fun haunt, but there was nothing really inovative that I haven’t seen before. In 2008 it became 3-D Killer Klowns and blew my socks off. Since then there haven’t been any real changes, but it’s still been consistently good every year.
This is City Blood’s review of 3-D Killer Klowns at The Land of Illusion Haunted Theme Park.
What’s Good About The Haunt?
Killer Klowns is one of the best 3-D haunts around. While it’s not innovative, there are many things it does right. First, the 3-D art is quite stunning and might even make you a little dizzy because of how lifelike it is. Second, most of the haunt follows the carnival theme to near perfection. 3rd, it’s simply a very entertaining haunt that is appropriate for all ages. You don’t have to worry about bringing your little ones to this.
Rooms in Killer Klowns inlcude an outdoor steel maze, a room full of clown dummies, various scenes with incredible fluorescent art and more. As far as the props go, everything is pretty typical of a 3-D haunt. You’ll come in contact with clown dummies, body bags, 3-D art and more. Killer Klowns is a well constructed haunt, but isn’t anything you haven’t seen before.
What’s Bad About The Haunt?
This is a good 3-D haunt, but it’s just not as scary as it could be. Many 3-D haunts are like this because they try to be creative, but fail in doing so. There are so many ways you can create a clown themed room, but after a while it all begins to look the same. I would love to see a clown themed haunt that is dark and gloomy or has an industrial steampunk feel to it, but the majority are very bright and cheerful. Most people don’t find 3-D haunts scary because clowns are only scary to a small group of people with Coulrophobia (fear of clowns).
I don’t have a fear clowns, so my experience is much different than someone who is petrified of the circus. Killer Klowns is fun as hell, but it’s more entertaining than it is scary. Unfortunately 90 percent of 3-D haunts are not very scary. This doesn’t mean that Killer Klowns isn’t a good haunt. It’s a very fun haunt that you should enjoy.
This year there have been a few changes. This includes a brand new area that includes some scenes you wouldn’t expect to see in a 3-D haunt. These new scenes are pretty good, but don’t belong in this type of attraction. Visit Killer Klowns this year and you will know exactly why.
Customer Service:
The staff at The Land of Illusion is very friendly and are aware of everything that’s going on. Security guards can be seen at each haunt making sure everyone is safe. You’ll find that there’s a wide variety of concessions ranging from hot dogs to ice cold soda. Please don’t forget to get your dance on at Club Zombie or take a break at the warm and cozy bon fire. Land of Illusion has it all!
General Admission is only $24.95 for 5 different haunts. On Sundays the ticket price is only $19.95. Visit Land of Illusion’s discount page for a $5 off discount. Please note that this coupon is not good towards group discounts.
Final Thoughts:
Killer Klowns is a good 3-D haunt, but it’s a little too cheerful for its own good. Most 3-D haunts attempt to be funny and scary, but it never quite works out. A good clown themed haunt has an edge to it and doesn’t rely on cliche rooms such as the typical freak show scene or the clown dummy room. As of now Killer Klowns is a decent haunt, but with a little more creativity it could be incredible.
Length-8 Design-7 Props/Animatronics-7 Acting-7 Scare Effect-7
Official Score – 7.2
Fun Facts:
*Stephen King’s It plays on the queue line televisions as you wait to enter Killer Klowns.
*Look for the sign that says Oakley Brothers Circus. Brett Oakley is the owner of Land of Illusion.
Voodoo Bayou Shanty-“This Aint No Mardi Gras.”
Genre: Haunted House
Location: 8762 Thomas Road
Middletown, OH 45042
Runtime: Under 10 minutes
Website: www.thelandofillusion.com
A shanty is defined as a crudely built hut, cabin, or house. Add some twisted freaks and crazy creatures and you’ve got a recipe for a fun attraction. The Voodoo Bayou Shanty is the newest attraction at Land of Illusion Haunted Theme Park. I like the concept of a haunted Louisiana Shack, but some things with this haunt go right and some things need improvement.
This is City Blood’s review of the Voodoo Bayou Shanty at Land of Illusion Haunted Theme Park. Boy that’s a mouth full.
What’s Good About The Haunt?
This new haunt has a great façade and looks like an authentic run down hut you would fine near a Louisiana swamp. Louisiana is the most haunted city in America with ghosts around every corner you take. The Voodoo Bayou Shanty tries to replicate the experience of stepping inside an abandoned shack and for the most part they are successful. Most of this haunt is a continuous path that has various scenes such as a voodoo séance, laundry room, moonshine bar and more. Imagine a run down shack that’s been taken over by the most twisted hillbillies around and you pretty much have an idea of what this new haunt is like.
What’s Bad About The Haunt?
A lot of time has been spent in making the outside look as authentic as possible, but the rooms inside are uninspired and are somewhat typical of what you’d see at a hillbilly theme park haunt. I’m not saying that the Voodoo Bayou Shanty can’t be a great haunt. It can, but it first needs quite a bit of work to become a haunt that’s as popular as the rest of the attractions at Land of Illusion.
The first issue it has is its sign. The sign for Voodoo Bayou Shanty is a dimly lit and is smaller than the signs for the bathrooms. To get customers attention you need a more visible sign that will attract people to the haunt. This is the main reason why the line was so small when I visited Land of Illusion. People were confused where the haunt was.
Another problem this haunt has is its name. Voodoo Bayou Shanty isn’t a name that is very easy to remember and isn’t very catchy. Changing the name to The Haunted Shanty or something similar would make a world of a difference. While “The Haunted Shanty” isn’t exactly a creative name, it easily rolls off the tongue.
The last area that needs to be fixed is the haunt’s length. This is a very short haunt (under 10 mintues) and when it’s over you are wanting much more. Having the haunt transition into a haunted trail would lengthen the experience without having to expand onto the building. But since this is a brand new haunt, I’m sure improvements will be made in the future or it will be themed differently for next year.
I can’t really say much about the actors since I don’t remember many of the characters I came across. This is a major problem and needs be addressed in the near future. Actors are what brings a seamlessly dull scene to life. Without them, you are left with a haunted fun house.
Customer Service:
The staff at The Land of Illusion is very friendly and are aware of everything that’s going on. Security guards can be seen at each haunt making sure everyone is safe. You’ll find that there’s a wide variety of concessions ranging from hot dogs to ice cold soda. After you’re done getting a bite to eat, don’t forget to get your dance on at Club Zombie or take a break at the warm and cozy bon fire.
General Admission is only $24.95 for 5 different haunts. On Sundays the ticket price is only $19.95. Visit Land of Illusion’s discount page for a $5 off discount. Please note that this coupon is not good towards group discounts.
Final Thoughts:
I’m not going to bash this haunt because I can see the potential it has. But as a stand alone attraction, it pales in comparison to the rest of the haunts at Land of Illusion. With time I think this is going to be pretty decent and if you head out to Land of Illusion, you should definitely check it out. It’s a frightfully good time.
Length-5 Design-6 Props/Animatronics-5 Acting-5 Scare Effect-5
Official Score – 5.2
Fun Facts:
*Post Town Haunt in Hamilton, OH moved to Land of Illusion and became Voodoo Bayou Shanty.