Haunted houses pop up every October with their usual jump scares and chainsaw clowns, but it’s time they turn the fear factor up.
Haunted houses are what give fall its spooky feeling — the dark, eerie hallways, creepy music, a slight chill in the air and the frightening sight of gory characters add to the atmosphere. Being scared is the appeal of a haunted house. If you are not willing to be scared, then go to a pumpkin patch.
Haunted houses shouldn’t hold back. They should be designed to scare people while telling a story. Without a story or theme, they are boring and full of people in makeup jumping at you. That can be scary, but it loses the immersive feeling that keeps people entertained.
I want to be grabbed and chased by a clown. I don’t want a small pathetic scare. There should be a fear of going inside. A good haunted house needs darkness, flashing lights, character interactions and an immersive story.
People enjoy being scared; it is a psychological effect. Fright triggers a release of adrenaline, and many people love the feeling of that rush. It kicks in the fight-or-flight response.
The Asylum and Hotel Fear in Las Vegas They are the best haunted houses I have been to. It gave me the perfect rush of fear that keeps me coming back. What made the house good was that it was unpredictable. I wasn’t able to guess when I would be scared, which made it exciting.
They are known as some of the city’s scariest attractions. The owners created a storyline that connects the two houses, and actors interact with guests while they wait in line, building anticipation before they go in. Ticket prices vary depending on the weekend and ticket type. A VIP fast-pass option costs about $15 more than the regular ticket and includes entry to both houses.
Price-wise, $30 to $50 for a ticket is the range. I understand charging $50 on Halloween for a VIP fast-pass since it’s one of their busiest days, but paying that much just for a shorter line doesn’t seem worth it. A $30 to $40 ticket is reasonable. For $50, the experience should include more interactions, like characters chasing or touching guests, to add to the scare factor.
If you are ever in Las Vegas for Halloween, I recommend visiting it.
Asylum 49 in Tooele is $37 for the full general admission experience, which allows characters to touch you, dump fake blood on you and even separate you from your group. It’s one of the best haunted houses around. The building itself is said to be haunted and it is open year-round for different holidays. Guests get character interactions, thrills and an immersive story. The house is worth the money and isn’t overpriced enough to make your pockets flinch.
The Staheli Family Farm in Washington has a maze that has potential. The majority of the maze is dark and empty, and it doesn’t get scary till the end. There needs to be more jump scares and character interaction. Mazes are hard to make scary because they are predictable. This maze gave nothing, and I was disappointed because the flyer gave the idea that it would be scary.
I understand that owners want to be family-friendly to attract a broader audience, but haunted houses are for older kids and adults who enjoy the thrill. Why hold back for people who are afraid of scary attractions when they already have other options?
Haunted houses are for horror lovers and people who crave fear and adrenaline. The houses make Halloween more than just costumes and candy.
Let’s keep the pumpkin patches for the kids and raise the bar for haunted houses.
