Night Terrors: A stroll through the park

It has been a couple years since we visited Wiard’s. This scream park still features an atmosphere unlike many other in the area can provide. A midway filled with the clashing sounds of screams creeping out of the various attractions, to groups laughing and running away from monsters roaming the land, to karaoke coming from the stage that is centrally located in the park. Night Terrors provides a feeling that really invokes Halloween. What matters most though is the attractions themselves. Once again, the quality is a mixed bag, but there are numerous improvements over the last visit we made.

The Hayride of the Lost loading station is located behind an old West looking facade. It is the first impressive looking aspect of the hayride, which features some incredible sets that are mind-blowing for a hayride. A full-scale two-story house is the site of terrible acts. An old ghost town with saloon, jail, brothel, and even a train are part of the ride. It all adds up to one impressive looking trail. Unfortunately, they forgot the one thing that makes haunted attractions work, the actors. The number of monsters is disappointedly low, and those that are on the path are not exactly energetic. It takes an impressive set up, that should easily be a classic hayride, and instead makes it forgettable. Such a shame.

1.5 / 5

Heading towards some wagons and the big top, it is clear the circus is in town. Of course, the UFO that is nearby also tells you that something is not quite right. It is time to head into Alien Caged Clowns. A rather simple house, filled with a small maze-like structure with many twists and turns, and packed full of fog. Elevation changes will have you crawling through tunnels and making you confused. The clowns inside are gleeful, and eager to scare you whenever possible. A fun little house, the major issue is length, as it is very short, lasting only a couple minutes. Still, it is a fun side attraction that provides some good scares.

3 / 5

Heading into the mine, you find yourself in a shaft that should’ve been condemned years ago. It is time to head into the Mind Shaft, as there is no turning back now. This is the big improvement from our last visit. The set design is strong, taking advantage of little lighting and tight corridors to make it truly feel like a claustrophobic mine. Good animatronics litter the house and prove to be valuable assistants to the monsters in the house. This year feels more packed with actors, with many miners jumping out of crevices everywhere. What a turnaround in a short span for this one.

4 / 5

Heading into the Asylum’s waiting room, it doesn’t take long to realize that maybe this visit was a bad idea. Still, you decide to press on, of course this could be due to the psychotic nurse that would’ve done who knows what if you hadn’t moved on. This house is intense, and does a good job of fitting the theme, as it just feels insane. The house is perfectly themed, with every room getting more and more deranged, with actors getting great sports to jump out of everywhere. For instance, one room features numerous clothing racks, where inmates can pop out of. It is a simple set up but works perfectly. The actors are all gleefully nuts and help to keep the insanity flowing. One of the classic attractions for years at Wiard’s this is still a standout.

4 / 5

As soon as you are let into the preshow room of the Ultimate Haunted Barn, you know you have messed up. With footage playing on tv screens that look like a serial killer’s home movies, the tension builds fast and heavy. Soon you are beckoned deeper into the Barn and descend into backwoods terror. Another great house, this does a great job of staying on theme, putting you through terrifying corridors filled with mutated creatures and hillbillies crawling out of every crevice. The actors in this one carries the attraction, as they seemingly come from everywhere. This includes from cupboards under a sink, to flying overhead with chainsaws. They alternate between scary and funny, consistently keeping you off guard. A good example is the first guy you meet, who tells you their story of the barn. He is humorous and inviting but has such a sinister nature that is incredibly unnerving. Another strong house.

4 / 5

Night Terrors in generally is a good event worth visiting. The major blackmark is a haunted hayride that desperately needs more enthusiastic actors in larger numbers. Still, the other attractions are all entertaining, and it is an event that has improved since our last visit, and I expect it to keep getting better year after year.

Overall: 3.5 / 5