Visibility/Location :
Located directly off Business 287/Mansfield Hwy south of I-20, the Texas Scaregrounds should be easy to see, just look for the search light.
Parking :
There is ample free parking in the grassy area behind the scare grounds including security personnel.
Atmosphere/Wait Entertainment : 5
The area outside the haunted attractions does not appear very spooky or themed, but bare and industrial. There are two large warehouses marked with the haunt’s signage, and the search light in the middle. There is also loud music and a concession area. You might see some of the haunt characters roaming around the area, and they will probably stop to entertain you for a moment, but you still don’t get the real haunt feeling until you go inside one of the metal buildings.
Set Design/Detail/Floor Plan : 7.5
The new building that Nightmares is located in allows for a much longer walkthrough than last year. This is a very welcome site for Nightmares haunt since last year’s haunt lasted about 4.5 to 5 minutes. Most of the scenes within Nightmares are fairly open and at times confusing in a couple of the rooms. This caused part of our group to become separated and didn’t have any idea of knowing which way to go in one of the rooms. That part of our group ended up coming out of the emergency exit while we were finally able to figure out where to go with the help of the actors. However, the actors let our other group members continue through the incorrect path way. Aside from this flaw Nightmares has one of our favorite aspects of Nightmares… doors! Doors add a little more interaction then simply opening a dark colored curtain. Trying to figure out if you have to push or pull a door can add to the excitement when you are trying to escape a scene quickly. Since Nightmares has come onto the professional scene we have seen several haunts pick up on this simple addition, but none do it as well as Nightmares (or Ripley’s Nightmare in the Palace of Wax). Another of our favorite scares from last year also made it into the new location… The hanging body bag room. Last year there was someone inside one of the body bags which we have never seen anywhere previously. This actually made for a great and unexpected scare…
Live Actors Performance/Enthusiasm/Costumes : 6.5
Last year Nightmares was remembered due to their massive number of actors… This year with the lengthening of Nightmares actors are more spread out so there does not appear to be near as many. Several of the actors that we come across were very convincing while others just stood in place and never moved or reacted. As stated above, one of our favorite scares from last year was the addition of a real person inside a hanging body bag, this year the person was there, but they never did anything like we were expecting… Last year that was such a simple scare, but the actor not doing anything removes the scare factor.
Additional Attractions : 8
With the Asylum Haunted House, Acres of Fear and Chaos all being located inside Texas Scaregrounds; it makes it really difficult to go see 1 haunt without seeing the others. While you are visiting Nightmares you might as well go check out the other haunts inside Texas Scaregrounds… Why would you not purchase a combo ticket?
Admission Price vs. Length Entertainment Value : 7
The new location for Nightmares has allowed them to increase the length from 4.5 to 5 minute walkthrough up to 15 minutes for a price of $15.00. While this isn’t a bad price for the length of the haunt, you can still pickup the combo ticket that includes Asylum, Acres of Fear Hayride and Chaos for only $28.00. On top of that you can also print the coupon from our site for an additional $3.00 off the combo ticket making all 4 haunts only $25.00 for an evening of fun.
Overall Experience/Summary :
Last year Nightmares was a first year professional haunt and located at the Arlington Skatium. This year they have teamed up with the Chaos crew to help establish the Texas Scaregrounds. They took our advice and picked up a place that allows for more atmosphere development, as well as a place that allows for a longer haunt. We believe that Nightmares has the ability, the dedication, and the talent, (even more so now with their new location) to become one of the better haunts in the area… but the wide open rooms with no real direction and actors that stand around doing nothing really hurts Nightmares score for this year.
See the 2006 Review ( http://www.dfwhauntedhouses.com/viewarticle.php?articleid=65)
Feel free to post your experiences and reviews in the Main Forum (http://www.dfwhauntedhouses.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=2)
Texas Scaregrounds - Kennedale, TX
OVERALL SCORE : 7
http://www.dfwhauntedhouses.com/images/stars/big/7.gif
Date : Friday, October 5th
Time : 9:30pm
Visibility/Location :
Located directly off Business 287/Mansfield Hwy south of I-20, the Texas Scaregrounds should be easy to see, just look for the search light.
Parking :
There is ample free parking in the grassy area behind the scare grounds including security personnel.
Atmosphere/Wait Entertainment : 5
The area outside the haunted attractions does not appear very spooky or themed, but bare and industrial. There are two large warehouses marked with the haunt’s signage, and the search light in the middle. There is also loud music and a concession area. You might see some of the haunt characters roaming around the area, and they will probably stop to entertain you for a moment, but you still don’t get the real haunt feeling until you go inside one of the metal buildings.
Set Design/Detail/Floor Plan : 7.5
The new building that Nightmares is located in allows for a much longer walkthrough than last year. This is a very welcome site for Nightmares haunt since last year’s haunt lasted about 4.5 to 5 minutes. Most of the scenes within Nightmares are fairly open and at times confusing in a couple of the rooms. This caused part of our group to become separated and didn’t have any idea of knowing which way to go in one of the rooms. That part of our group ended up coming out of the emergency exit while we were finally able to figure out where to go with the help of the actors. However, the actors let our other group members continue through the incorrect path way. Aside from this flaw Nightmares has one of our favorite aspects of Nightmares… doors! Doors add a little more interaction then simply opening a dark colored curtain. Trying to figure out if you have to push or pull a door can add to the excitement when you are trying to escape a scene quickly. Since Nightmares has come onto the professional scene we have seen several haunts pick up on this simple addition, but none do it as well as Nightmares (or Ripley’s Nightmare in the Palace of Wax). Another of our favorite scares from last year also made it into the new location… The hanging body bag room. Last year there was someone inside one of the body bags which we have never seen anywhere previously. This actually made for a great and unexpected scare…
Live Actors Performance/Enthusiasm/Costumes : 6.5
Last year Nightmares was remembered due to their massive number of actors… This year with the lengthening of Nightmares actors are more spread out so there does not appear to be near as many. Several of the actors that we come across were very convincing while others just stood in place and never moved or reacted. As stated above, one of our favorite scares from last year was the addition of a real person inside a hanging body bag, this year the person was there, but they never did anything like we were expecting… Last year that was such a simple scare, but the actor not doing anything removes the scare factor.
Additional Attractions : 8
With the Asylum Haunted House, Acres of Fear and Chaos all being located inside Texas Scaregrounds; it makes it really difficult to go see 1 haunt without seeing the others. While you are visiting Nightmares you might as well go check out the other haunts inside Texas Scaregrounds… Why would you not purchase a combo ticket?
Admission Price vs. Length Entertainment Value : 7
The new location for Nightmares has allowed them to increase the length from 4.5 to 5 minute walkthrough up to 15 minutes for a price of $15.00. While this isn’t a bad price for the length of the haunt, you can still pickup the combo ticket that includes Asylum, Acres of Fear Hayride and Chaos for only $28.00. On top of that you can also print the coupon from our site for an additional $3.00 off the combo ticket making all 4 haunts only $25.00 for an evening of fun.
Overall Experience/Summary :
Last year Nightmares was a first year professional haunt and located at the Arlington Skatium. This year they have teamed up with the Chaos crew to help establish the Texas Scaregrounds. They took our advice and picked up a place that allows for more atmosphere development, as well as a place that allows for a longer haunt. We believe that Nightmares has the ability, the dedication, and the talent, (even more so now with their new location) to become one of the better haunts in the area… but the wide open rooms with no real direction and actors that stand around doing nothing really hurts Nightmares score for this year.
See the 2006 Review ( http://www.dfwhauntedhouses.com/viewarticle.php?articleid=65)
Feel free to post your experiences and reviews in the Main Forum (http://www.dfwhauntedhouses.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=2)