Location:
Thrillvania is located at 2330 Country Road 138 in Terrell, Texas. Traveling I-20 East (from Dallas/Ft. Worth), exit Wilson road and turn right (south). You can see an awesome view of Verdun Manor as you get closer to the entrance on your left.
Atmosphere: 10 out of 10
Anticipation builds as you drive past the grounds to the entrance. Once inside the park, plenty of actors roam the midway looking for a chance to catch you off guard. Word of advice – don’t let them see what really scares you… they will remember, and they will taunt you all evening just for kicks and giggles. The additional vendors, games, side shows, and concessions also provide a complete thrill park environment. Each haunt attraction holds a consistent mood throughout which keeps the atmosphere at a high score.
Scare Factor: 10 out of 10
Did we jump? Yes. Did we scream? Yes, did that too. We even saw a young traumatized teen in tears after her haunt experience. Crazy clowns and daunting wolves are just the beginning. There have been a few changes throughout Verdun, so if you think you already know what happens next, think again. There is a very good chance there is a surprise around the corner. Don’t get me wrong – Verdun is not the only one that will scare you. There are plenty more thrills and chills in Cassandra’s, Dr. Lycan's Trail of Torment, and Voodoo Bayou. Granny Lupus' Séance Theatre is a theatrical show rather than a haunt, but you still might jump.
Set design / Props / FX / Animatronics: 10 out of 10
Thrillvania is well known for impeccably detailed scenes, gut wrenching gore, creatively designed props, and an overall design that leaves people in awe year after year. Verdun and Cassandra’s in particular are worth the combo ticket alone, but then you get so much more than just these two great haunts… The Voodoo Bayou path must be survived to even get near the Verdun Manor. This twisting and turning path through swamps and graveyards is a perfect setting to prepare you for Verdun Manor. Also, Dr. Lycan's Trail of Torment has come a long way since last year. Large additions and improved scenes make this walking trail through the woods a creepy experience. There is still a lot more space along the path that still isn’t used, so it will be very exciting to watch it grow bigger and better each year.
Live Actors: 9 out of 10
Additional actors throughout the haunts effectively balance out the high numbers of animatronics in use. Everyone seemed to have great timing and natural instincts on when and how to move to create the best effect. The only reason why this category does not score a 10 is because some of the actors (not all) just screamed or yelled for a scare, or said nothing at all. This is also effective at times, but I would have liked to hear more character portrayal through creative lines, since yelling “RRAAAHHH” may not work if timing is not perfect. Overall they did a good job, but some room for improvement on improvisation.
Entertainment Value: 10 out of 10
Thrillvania is extremely affordable for how great the experience is. You get two haunted houses, two outdoor haunted walking trails (one being the path to Verdun Manor), and a Séance Theatre show. There is also a family friendly maze, petting zoo, concessions, midway games, vendors, and more.
Summary:
If you have been to Thrillvania before, then you know how good it is. You might feel that not much has changed, but the changes are there, and are subtle. The biggest most noticeable changes are to the Trail of Torment, and the additional actors in each haunt. Thrillvania is by far one of the best when you appreciate attention to detail. If you don’t mind the drive to get there, you should make this one of the top picks your list of haunts to see this year.
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Terrell, TX
Review Date: Friday, September 29, 2006
Length: Each attraction averages 10-15 minutes
Location:
Thrillvania is located at 2330 Country Road 138 in Terrell, Texas. Traveling I-20 East (from Dallas/Ft. Worth), exit Wilson road and turn right (south). You can see an awesome view of Verdun Manor as you get closer to the entrance on your left.
Atmosphere: 10 out of 10
Anticipation builds as you drive past the grounds to the entrance. Once inside the park, plenty of actors roam the midway looking for a chance to catch you off guard. Word of advice – don’t let them see what really scares you… they will remember, and they will taunt you all evening just for kicks and giggles. The additional vendors, games, side shows, and concessions also provide a complete thrill park environment. Each haunt attraction holds a consistent mood throughout which keeps the atmosphere at a high score.
Scare Factor: 10 out of 10
Did we jump? Yes. Did we scream? Yes, did that too. We even saw a young traumatized teen in tears after her haunt experience. Crazy clowns and daunting wolves are just the beginning. There have been a few changes throughout Verdun, so if you think you already know what happens next, think again. There is a very good chance there is a surprise around the corner. Don’t get me wrong – Verdun is not the only one that will scare you. There are plenty more thrills and chills in Cassandra’s, Dr. Lycan's Trail of Torment, and Voodoo Bayou. Granny Lupus' Séance Theatre is a theatrical show rather than a haunt, but you still might jump.
Set design / Props / FX / Animatronics: 10 out of 10
Thrillvania is well known for impeccably detailed scenes, gut wrenching gore, creatively designed props, and an overall design that leaves people in awe year after year. Verdun and Cassandra’s in particular are worth the combo ticket alone, but then you get so much more than just these two great haunts… The Voodoo Bayou path must be survived to even get near the Verdun Manor. This twisting and turning path through swamps and graveyards is a perfect setting to prepare you for Verdun Manor. Also, Dr. Lycan's Trail of Torment has come a long way since last year. Large additions and improved scenes make this walking trail through the woods a creepy experience. There is still a lot more space along the path that still isn’t used, so it will be very exciting to watch it grow bigger and better each year.
Live Actors: 9 out of 10
Additional actors throughout the haunts effectively balance out the high numbers of animatronics in use. Everyone seemed to have great timing and natural instincts on when and how to move to create the best effect. The only reason why this category does not score a 10 is because some of the actors (not all) just screamed or yelled for a scare, or said nothing at all. This is also effective at times, but I would have liked to hear more character portrayal through creative lines, since yelling “RRAAAHHH” may not work if timing is not perfect. Overall they did a good job, but some room for improvement on improvisation.
Entertainment Value: 10 out of 10
Thrillvania is extremely affordable for how great the experience is. You get two haunted houses, two outdoor haunted walking trails (one being the path to Verdun Manor), and a Séance Theatre show. There is also a family friendly maze, petting zoo, concessions, midway games, vendors, and more.
Summary:
If you have been to Thrillvania before, then you know how good it is. You might feel that not much has changed, but the changes are there, and are subtle. The biggest most noticeable changes are to the Trail of Torment, and the additional actors in each haunt. Thrillvania is by far one of the best when you appreciate attention to detail. If you don’t mind the drive to get there, you should make this one of the top picks your list of haunts to see this year.
OVERALL SCORE: 10
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See the 2005 Review ( http://www.dfwhauntedhouses.com/viewarticle.php?articleid=50)
See the 2004 Review ( http://www.dfwhauntedhouses.com/viewarticle.php?articleid=35)
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