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Scare Index
Salem’s Plot
This haunted house is located west of Kenosha at 24129 Wilmot Road (Highway C) in Salem, one block west of Highway 83, at Happ’s Pumpkin Patch. Hours: The pumpkin patch is open Wednesday-Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Oct. 28. The haunted house opens at 6 p.m., running until 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and until 10 p.m. Sundays. Cost: $8.50 for the haunted house, $3.50 for the haunted train ride, $1.50 to go through the Ghoul Bus and $3 for a hayride. Other attractions: A country store, farm animals, a pumpkin patch, a 5-acre corn maze and “Dracula’s Diner,” which serves food Saturdays and Sundays until 6 p.m. New this year: Six portapotties (plus fl ashlights!). Information: (262) 862-6515. As a warm-up to the superscary Salem’s Plot, we took the Haunted Train ride through two barns. This is moderately scary, with a few good jolts as you pass by haunted scenes in the barn. The Haunted Train has just a few “live” actors, so kids shouldn’t be too frightened. It’s also a good alternative to those seeking something less scary than a haunted house. The haunted house tour starts with a guide relating the story of Salem’s Plot, something about it being built on an ancient Indian burial ground. Then, a “guide” takes your group through the haunted house, stopping to narrate at the various rooms — and look out, some of the “things” inside those rooms don’t stay put! It takes 15-20 minutes to walk (and run) through. New this year: a “Biohazard Clown Area” and “The M. Utilator Butcher Shop,” plus real skeletons, real coffins and real chainsaws. Our comments: Mark: “This was very scary — mainly because of the strobe lights and the ‘bodies’ hanging in one room and bumping into us. Also, a spider came down from the ceiling and landed right on my shoulder! The guide’s narration, though, at times was too long and could be distracting.” Raechel: “I buried my head into Brian’s back for most of this tour. The chainsaws scare me to death!” Brian: “This was my fi rst time at Salem’s Plot. The dark maze was good — and is very, very dark. The narration at times was good, but sometimes it was too much and slowed us down.” Liz: “This is very scary — especially since it features my worst nightmare — a room filled with killer clowns! It’s a good mix of scary props and live actors, and the music helps set the scene, too. My advice: When you hear a chainsaw (and you will) run for it!” Family call: This is not suitable for children, but teens would have a good time screamin’ and laughing in there. Younger kids who want something scary should take the Haunted Train ride.
The Wrixton family, who operate the haunted house, said they’ll start working on next year’s haunted house as soon as this one is done. They’ve been using this once-empty barn as a haunted house for four years now and try to improve and change it each season. Farmer Brown’s Fall Fest
This Haunted Barn is located west of Kenosha on Highway 50 in Bristol, just west of Highway 45. Hours: The Haunted Barn is open daily at 10 a.m., with “Night Haunting Hours” starting at 6 p.m. and going until 10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and until 8:30 p.m. Sundays. Haunted Hayrides operate Friday-Sunday, with the last ride out at 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 7 p.m. Sundays. Everything runs through Oct. 28. Cost: $9 for the Haunted Barn, $10 for the Haunted Hayride, or $17 for both attractions. For kids 6 and younger, the Haunted Barn is $6, Haunted Hayride is $6, and $10 for both. Group rates are available by reservation. Other attractions: A country store, “Kids Kingdom” picnic sites and a DJ Fridays and Saturdays spinning tunes under the big tent as you wait for the hayride. Information: (800) 642-9743. Farmer Brown’s, an institution in the county, offers Haunted Hayrides on the weekends and its Haunted Barn daily through October. The Haunted Hayride is a 30-minute tractor-pulled ride in a covered wagon, through dark fields. As you ride, you pass different displays and, when you’re not looking, assorted nasty characters pop up alongside the wagon.
Our comments: Brian: “They do a good job on some of the bonfi res and other displays that you pass, and especially, the flaming car.” Liz: “We did this ride last year, too, and it was a lot more fun then — because we weren’t trapped in a wagon with obnoxious kids! Our fellow passengers (who had ridden earlier the same night as part of a D.A.R.E. promotion at Farmer Browns’s) were scarier than any of the ghouls on the route. Unfortunately, the kids thought they were being funny by telling everyone what was coming up and ruining the ride for newcomers. They also yelled rude comments throughout the ride. “Bottom line: If you get in a wagon and there are a lot of tweens in it, you might want to wait for the next ride. Or trade in your ticket and go through the Haunted Barn.”
The Haunted Barn is a dark, twisty maze where the walls seem like they are always closing in on you. It took about 12 minutes to walk through it, at a slow shuffle as we felt our way and tried to avoid lurking ghouls. Our comments: Mark: “It’s pretty scary (especially because we made him go first). The darkness and unexpected noises are frightening, and I think there were more ‘live’ people in there this year. The atmosphere is great.” Raechel: “It’s really dark in there, and the ground is uneven. It messes up your senses. Overall, it’s just creepy.” Brian: “The sounds — sirens, fog horns, alarms, bells — really give you a jolt. Also, don’t be an idiot like me and bang your head into a wall!” Liz: “It’s a dark, dark maze. I think we entered another dimension in there. No way would I go through alone — or even go first. You have to feel your way through, so you get the added benefi t of groping friends, strangers — and the undead.” Family call: Take the little ones through the Haunted Barn in the daytime, before 6 p.m., when the ghouls come out. At night, this is not suitable for children, but teens have a good time screamin’ and laughing in there. Older kids who want something scary should take the Haunted Hayride. Haunted Forest The Haunted Forest is located at Jerry Smith’s Pumpkin Farm, 7150 18th St. (Highway L) in Somers. Hours: The Haunted Forest is open daily, starting at noon weekdays and at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Dr. Destruction and his crew of ghouls are there until 8 each night through Oct. 31 — and stay open Friday-Sunday until 9 p.m. or longer if there are still customers. Cost: $3 for the Haunted Forest; free admission to the pumpkin farm. Other attractions: The pumpkin farm features handpainted pumpkins arranged in different scenes, plus a country store, hayrides and farm animals. Information: (262) 859-2645. Jerry Smith and Dr. Destruction are big names in Halloween fun in Kenosha. Destruction (also known as Dale Wamboldt) started scaring folks in his Haunted Bus at the pumpkin farm centuries ago and has now expanded that attraction into a spooky corn maze that features dead-ends, animated scenes and two buses filled with more creepy stuff. This year, the Haunted Forest — which Destruction updates each year — has a medieval castle, along with pirates, a graveyard and those buses. Look out for “live” ghouls, too. It took about 15 minutes to walk through. Our comments: Mark: “It’s exhilarating fun. You never know when a character will jump out at you. It’s kind of short, but oh so sweet, and they make creative use of a small space.” Raechel: “They have a lot of people, and they use them well. It’s also fun that it’s mostly outside; you get a false sense of being safe because you can see the sky — but you’re not safe.” Brian: “The corn maze is a good effect — the corn is solid; you can’t see over it or through it. And the ghouls do a good job of getting from one spot to another quickly.” Liz: “It’s fun working your way through the corn maze, plus you get the thrill of being scared by Dr. Destruction himself. What could be better? And, for three dollars, it’s the best boo for your buck.” Family call: Take the kids during the daytime, and they’ll have a blast. After dark, it’s strictly for teens and older folks.
Kemper Center Haunted House
The Kemper Center Haunted House is located at 6501 Third Ave. in Kenosha, at the lakefront.
Hours: 7 to 11 p.m. Fridays; 6 to 11 p.m. Saturdays, through Oct. 27. “Kiddie hour” with the lights on inside the haunted house is 6 to 7 p.m. Saturdays. Cost: $7, with $2-off coupons available around town or, during the week, at the Kemper Center office.
Information: (262) 657-6005. New this year: The haunted house has a “freak show” theme, with a tophat wearing guide who leads your party through the various rooms. Note: There are several stairs during this tour. Kemper Center is creepy any time of the year, so having a haunted house there is a natural. This is a popular attraction, so expect to wait 30-45 minutes during peak hours. It takes about 10 minutes to go through the haunted house. Our comments: Mark: “It’s a freaky good time — and is really scary at times. You just never know when people will pop up.” Raechel: “It was scary and really dark in there. And there’s a lot of screaming — which makes me scream!” Brian: “Look out for things crawling on the floor. I also like the Freak Show guide and the strobe lights are disorienting.” Liz: “They set the scene starting outside, with fog machines and tombstones lining the walkway. Inside are two dark mazes and another demented clown. Seriously, what’s with scary clowns this year? “I wish the haunted house was longer (we were out in under 10 minutes), and the actors inside relied a bit too much on just screaming. Look out for ‘ghouls’ outside the haunted house, too. We’re pretty sure we encountered a real Kemper Center ghost, who talked to us about everything from Nine Inch Nails to the ‘Saw’ movies as we were heading toward our car. At least we hope he’s a ghost.” Family call: Take the kids during the daytime hours, 6 to 7 Saturday nights, when the ghouls aren’t so scary.
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Contact the Connections Desk of the Kenosha News at (262) 656-6282 or e-mail connections@kenoshanews.com. 5800 Seventh Ave., Kenosha, WI 53140 |
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