Review Date: Saturday, October 10th 2009

Time: 11:00pm


General Overview

The Reindeer Manor grounds houses three completely different haunted attractions, each to entertain all tastes. The atmosphere is also one of the best in the DFW area. Secluded on private property, the dark dirt road to the parking area is spooky enough, and you have not even seen the midway yet. You ride a trailer from parking to the entrance, and you should catch a few (if not several) glances of fire blasting into the night sky.

Everything in the midway is themed for Halloween – games included – and the concessions offer a variety of carnival food and treats. You could easily spend your entire evening just soaking in the great environment. Roaming actors, vendors, screaming patrons, and relaxing rural night skies above – all provide the spirit that is haunted house season.

Admission Price vs. Length (Entertainment Value)

Each haunted attraction is very reasonably priced individually if you want to only visit one haunt. But we highly recommend the combo ticket for all three attractions, for only $30 with the $5 off coupon – which is an excellent deal for how much unique variety and entertainment available.

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Set Design/Detail/Floor Plan

We have seen more changes made at Reindeer Manor for 2009 than we have ever seen before. Several scenes have been completely redesigned, and the scripts have been revised to match. Visiting this year brought back the same excitement I felt the first time I saw Reindeer Manor. Of course, the house has not been re-built… so you should recognize the order of rooms, the same quality details, and permanent features remain. But small changes in some scenes, huge changes in other scenes, combined with new acts and scripting, made it feel like I was seeing it for the first time.

WARNING: If you have never seen Reindeer Manor before, please be aware that most of the haunt is composed of closed scene rooms - and rather than walking through, you stay inside each scene until the actors have completed their performance. This is the only haunt in DFW that offers this type of theatrical performance, so the unique aspect makes it stand apart from any other haunt experience available. If you do not like to see actors performing skits, then this might not be your cup of tea. Give it a chance though, unless you cannot stay quiet. Talking during the performance will only ruin the experience for others.

Live Actors (Performance/Enthusiasm/Costumes)

As stated before - since Reindeer Manor is a scripted performance, it would be best if you stay quiet and listen. The new script and casting this season provided one of the best Reindeer Manor shows I have seen in years. The upgrades should be obvious as soon as you see the first scene – and the new Nosferatu. Amazingly creepy and funny at the same time, Nosferatu controls the crowd immediately and commands attention. The level of improvisation and creativity amazes me. Your next scene in the library also has some new surprises in store, so listen carefully. The butcher has had a face lift too, although the scene features and startles are still available in full force. The pond, the scientists, and even the young girl with a chainsaw were exciting, even though I knew a little bit about what was coming. Trust me, there has been enough changes to keep you wondering what will happen next! Even the additional characters through the walking trail – as well as updated costuming – should be a pleasant change if you have visited before and thought you already knew what was in store.

Overall Experience/Summary/Misc. Information

Wow. Just, WOW. Just when you think you have already seen Reindeer Manor, and just when you THOUGHT they do not change very much from year to year, the cast and crew completely shocked and surprised us for 2009. What a huge improvement to script and scene organization! I was so impressed with the number of changes and improved performances, I could not control my expression – I had a constant goofy grin on my face through the whole thing.


Previous Reviews

See the 2008 Review

See the 2007 Review

See the 2006 Review

See the 2005 Review

See the 2004 Review

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Set Design/Detail/Floor Plan

The Dungeon of Doom had several rooms completely redesigned and improved this year. Although the layout and length is still the same, the changes and refreshed scenes made us feel like we were seeing a new haunt this year. The Dungeon of Doom is still a great display of artistic designs full of hand crafted props and details throughout. This haunt focuses more toward the traditional spook house walk through, fully interactive scene by scene thrills, and classic haunt startles.

Live Actors (Performance/Enthusiasm/Costumes)

We are starting to feel the excitement and enthusiasm come back to life in the Dungeon that used to live in Arlington. Wonderfully timed startles and carefully hidden spooks are sure to 'grab' your attention several times. The stir and attitude alone brings back fond memories of the DoD essence. Granted, we greatly miss some key characters from seasons past, but we are feeling the vibration in classic tradition expanding.

Overall Experience/Summary/Misc. Information

Being media, we sometimes get a little more attention and time with the haunt owners. Knowing the true and honest family of haunters here (over the years) we want to see everything the owners have envisioned for the future of Dungeon of Doom. This is a solid home to grow and develop, and we love watching the haunt transitions every year. Nostalgia happened to me, so I find it hard to have any other opinion.

Previous Reviews

See the 2008 Review

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Set Design/Detail/Floor Plan

Authenticity, consistency, and thorough details through this haunt keeps an undeniable theme accomplished. 13th Street Morgue never fails to deliver. We did not see many changes in the morgue, as far as new additions, length (not talking about the kilt), or drastic redirects. We saw mostly some fine tuning, repairs, adjustments, and preparations for more visitors. Check out that new signage and queue line! No one has to ask where the line of the morgue starts!

13th Street Morgue has gained popularity over the years when they first moved into the Reindeer Manor vacant barn – said to be where James Sharp hung himself. The actual position where the self-hanging took place hovers about the theatre in the middle of the morgue. More recently, this theatre has been closed more often than not… And in my experience there, it is not a place I ever want to sit alone in. Even if happy cartoons and funny videos were on that screen, by myself I would still get too uncomfortable to stay. This whole building is unbelievably creepy.

13th Street Morgue uses the natural features of their building to blend a story and home. Take your time and look around. Everything you see IS a morgue and funeral home with haunting corpse hiding places.

Live Actors (Performance/Enthusiasm/Costumes)

The actors can touch you softly, so you may never know if you had a true haunted experience or an effective actor performance. You could feel, hear, or wonder in every scene. Spoken scripts can dazzle, like the gazebo girl… giggles from the grave… or cold stares can give you chills, like the boogey man… The actors live the role in the theme. Key characters return every year to provide the same hard core thrills and twists each turn. If you want the type of haunt that provides creepy, supernatural type thrills and chills, the morgue will certainly take donations from their victims. Is it real, or is it just a haunted house? Depends what you pay attention to or not!

Overall Experience/Summary/Misc. Information

Roadkill and I are suckers for highly detailed decor, theme consistency, and experienced actor performances. 13th Street Morgue delivers all of this within the creepy ghost story style, which practically defines a great Halloween experience.


Previous Reviews

See the 2008 Review

See the 2007 Review

See the 2006 Review

See the 2005 Review

See the 2004 Review

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Feel free to post your experiences and reviews, (or see what other members have said about Reindeer Manor, Dungeon of Doom, and 13th Street Morgue) in the DFWHH Member Reviews Forum

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