| HAUNTED
ATTRACTION |
| HANNA
HAUNTED ACRES |
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| RATING:
8 |
| Reviewed
10/29/08 |
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| LOCATION
& ADMISSION INFO: |
| 7383 E. Hanna Ave. |
| Indianapolis, IN 46239 |
| (317) 357 - 0881 |
| Haunted Hayride $12 |
| Entanglement (Corn Field Maze)
$10 |
| Phantazmagoria (Haunted House) $10 |
| Hell's Half Acre (Haunted House)
$10 |
| Acres Manor (Haunted House) $8 |
| Blackout (Haunted House) $8 |
| - ALL Event Combo Ticket - $27 - |
| click
logo (center) to visit their web site |
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| REVIEW |
| HANNA HAUNTED HAYRIDE:
As the tractor pulled wagon descends into the dark, mystifying woods, nervousness
sets in at the thought of whatever uncertainty lies ahead. Coming across
some sort of accident scene finds demented medics attending to the injured,
one of whom turns his attention toward the ride climbing aboard, chainsaw
in hand, tormenting riders. One by one killer clowns, guillotine beheadings,
electrocutions, and multiple chainsaw assaults take their turns delivering
surprising scares and attacks. A wicked assembly of mechanical startles
is also on tap including an enormous 6 armed behemoth, 13-foot tall Impaler,
gigantic pterodactyl, and a multitude of animated skeletons! Also
occupying a portion of the haunted field is the sight of a lonely, horse
drawn carriage being pulled by the bony equine remains of a once majestic
thoroughbred. A variety of ghouls are drawn alongside the hay ride,
each having a most difficult time resisting the urge to hop on board to
terrorize riders while an overhead sign, body hanging in the trees, and
a deadly tarantula-like spider all come crashing down as the wagon passes
beneath progressing to a fast-paced, elevated combine chase-out of The
Hanna Acres Haunted Hayride!
Analysis:
LENGTH - 7½, Only 13 minutes
ACTORS - 8, Several characters adorned with make-up,
although one “monster” twice boarded the wagon seemingly without a costume
(no mask or make-up). The hayride in general would benefit from additional
characters, and some dialogue containing interactions.
SCARINESS - 8, Scares materialize quickly out of the
dark woods, and the wide varieties of mechanical props provide more than
their fair share! Elevated combine is best and legitimately realistic!
DESIGN - 8, With only a few exceptions, scenes are close
enough together to avoid extended dead spots, and cast is utilized to fill
in the gaps. Combine chase is a strongpoint, and additional motorized
scares would positively impact the rating.
PROPS - 9, As is the case with many outdoor attractions,
additional décor, scenes, skits would augment the experience, although
dead zones aren’t really an issue. The hayride features an ample
amount of impressive animatronics, and the most intense combine chase around!
Impaler was on the blink, but an otherwise impressive display!
VALUE - 10, Less then $5 on the combo ticket is
just too great a bargain to pass up!
RATING: 8½, The main event at Hanna
is the best attraction at the complex, and rightfully so. The layout’s
been tweaked to provide more plentiful scares, while retaining the enjoyment
of the Hayride itself. The vast array of animated surprises
alone is worth the price of admission! |
HELL'S
HALF ACRE: Scary décor guards the
queue line leading up to the entrance of Hells ½ Acre.
Complete darkness sets the stage for the first room, where skeletons piled
one upon the other move about and rise up on their own. Creepy old
wooden fences line the route connecting one structure to another.
Flashing strobes serve to illuminate a giant mechanical horned creature
propelling forward, as well hidden monsters that arise from obscure hiding
places startling all who pass. Several animated surprises are on
the horizon including a large fanged monster that hangs upside down, but
suddenly awakens and springs forward with blood running down its mouth,
and later a monstrous winged gargoyle quietly watching over a foggy cemetery
that begins spewing smoke from its mouth while undead souls walk the mystifying
graveyard! The spooky cemetery leads to a funeral wake scene that
finds an open coffin guarded by vampire figures en route to a darkened
hallway that ushers in a pentagram room, and a climactic encounter with
the Prince of Darkness himself, whose booming, amplified voice reverberates
throughout the wicked surroundings as he happily welcomes you into his
inferno, and threatens eternal torment, before one of his demons orders
you to depart into a chainsaw chase-out of Hell's ½ Acre.
Analysis:
LENGTH - 6, Only 7 minutes.
ACTORS - 8, Good costuming and make-up. Excluding
the finish, most confrontations consist of immediate startles from hidden
characters without interaction. Devil is most impressive, and best.
Vampire funeral scene was unoccupied.
SCARINESS - 8½, Tension mounts throughout, culminating
with the devil climax, which is the most intense scare at Hanna Haunted
Acres. This one would easily rate even higher with extended duration.
DESIGN - 8, The course is similar to years past showcasing
some really unnerving scenes that build to a fantastic encounter with Satan
himself! Hell’s ½ Acre is the most frightening attraction
the sight has to offer and possesses even more potential that could easily
be recognized with a lengthier experience.
PROPS - 8, Rooms are decorated with legitimately frightening
decor. Large mechanical monsters leave a lasting impression.
Gargoyle hovering above the cemetery is a sight to behold!
VALUE - 9, Less than $5 on the combo! Compromised
only by length, this is the most extreme haunt at Hanna and houses
the single best scare of the night!
RATING: 8, Hells ½ Acre pushes
the envelope more than other attraction at Hanna Haunted Acres serving
up some of the most fear inducing scares the evening has to offer, and
earning its reputation as more than just a secondary attraction complimenting
the Hayride. Check it out! |
| PHANTAZMAGORIA:
Loud falling panels expose hidden ghouls, anxious to claw and grab at passersby
upon entering the darkness of Phantazmagoria. Lightlessness
joins forces with obscuring fog to form a maze that leads to a wooden walkway
accessing an alien encounter, and a poisonous toxic waste area. Escaping
into a large open field brings about chases from more enraged monsters
that finds a couple of sewer pipes offering the only refuge, the second
of which is so confining that crawling on all fours presents the only chance
for salvation! Fiends strategically positioned on top of the drain
pipes inhibit efforts to elude attack that eventually leads into another
structure highlighted by more dark corridors, claustrophobic passages,
and the Dead Man’s Junkyard inhabited by an irate mechanical monster
and a near miss collision with a hit and run driver! Leatherface
and his trusty chainsaw provide chase through blood spattered hallways
and into an insane asylum, where fanatical lunatics promise death while
aimlessly throwing themselves against walls and floors! Body parts
surround a pair of hungry, animated wolves busy devouring the unfortunate
souls that preceded your visit to Phantazmagoria!
Analysis:
LENGTH - 7, 12 minutes.
ACTORS - 8½, Good make-up and a greater than average
density in comparison to other Hanna attractions. Ghoul hiding
and jumping off sewer pipe is most memorable, while chainsaw lunatic and
loonies did a great job providing scares.
SCARINESS - 8½, Darkness, fog, and soundtrack
set a most appropriate mood. Having to drop down and crawl through
second sewer while being harassed non-stop is quite intimidating, as are
chainsaw attack, and the many mechanical surprises encountered along the
way.
DESIGN - 8, Extended length plays a major role in Phantazmagoria’s
improvement. Multiple buildings are appropriately decorated and outdoor
sewer pipes are nicely incorporated into the course. Some confusion
exists upon exiting the first building into the field where the path of
progression isn’t clearly marked or evident.
PROPS - 8, Good, scary décor throughout.
Mechanical surprises and the sewers are best.
VALUE - 8½, This is one of the better attractions
at Hanna. Get the combo ticket and enjoy 6 haunts for less than
$5 each
RATING: 8, A lot has changed since we last
visited two years ago. Phantazmagoria has evolved into a major
player at Hanna, and one of the stronger supporting attractions
on the sight containing numerous surprises both inside and out! |
| ACRES' MANOR: Spider
webs make up the décor and skeletons occupy the furniture in the
decrepit, old Manor, as the excursion visits various areas of the
run down house including the laundry room, living room, kitchen, etc.
A little girl’s room finds animated dolls moving about on their own, and
a piercing alarm accompanying another bedroom scene that’s highlighted
by a corpse thrashing about wildly on a bed. Loud pounding coincides
with a hallway having a ceiling so low it forces you to duck down in order
to pass through. Ghoulish residents sneak up from behind as an old
piano having blood on the ivory keys is passed en route to a bathroom surprise
just prior to exiting Acres Manor.
Analysis:
LENGTH - 4, Less than 5 minutes.
ACTORS - 4, Less than a handful.
SCARINESS - 5, Well decorated, but soundtrack is week
and there aren’t nearly enough characters. Other than the animated
corpse on the bed, nothing really memorable happened to rate any higher.
DESIGN - 5, Appropriate décor, but extremely limited
by its length.
PROPS - 7½ , Well decorated with ghoul portraits,
a flickering chandelier, and a mechanical surprise or two.
VALUE - 5, Unable to recommend on its own, but an okay
compliment to extend the overall Hanna experience. Best as part of
the combo ticket, or for smaller children and chickens!
RATING: 5, Tough to rate this one on its own.
It wouldn’t take much to transform Acres Manor into a quality, supporting
attraction as this underachiever would potentially score higher by lengthening
the duration and supplementing the cast. Established décor
just needs a little polish. |
| BLACKOUT: The
newest attraction at Hanna consists of a mainly dark maze with occasional
flashes of light illuminating the way. The course is obstructed
at times by body bags suspended from above, and a few rare encounters with
a monster or two.
Analysis:
LENGTH - 5, It took us less than 5 minutes, but can easily
last much longer with a little less light, and a bit more intimidation.
ACTORS - 5, Those present did an admirable job resorting
to unnerving tactics like repeating, or playing off of what was said by
scare seekers, but not a very populated attraction..
SCARINESS - 5, Opportunity is there to score much higher,
but falls short due to the length and design flaws discussed below.
DESIGN - 5, Early on, repeated flashes of light destroy
the difficulty of the concept, unfortunately and unnecessarily revealing
the course. Then later, when a little light might come in handy to
prevent running head-on into panels that jut out into the path, there’s
none to be found. These obstacles should be removed, or at least
padded before someone breaks their nose, and the light source eliminated
completely in order to allow the anticipated darkness to take its toll
on the emotions. These simple changes would significantly lengthen
the duration, make the experience more frightening, and in turn elevate
its overall rating significantly. In theory, Blackout has
expectations of becoming a powerful, uniquely themed part of the Hanna
experience.
PROPS - N/A, It’s a dark maze so this category isn’t
applicable, although shock walls and claustrophobic passages in the dark
would have major positive impacts.
VALUE - 5, Blackout’s strengths are underutilized rendering
it similar in nature to Acers Manor. Look for vast improvements
from future installments.
RATING: 5, This uniquely themed debut attraction
needs some minor tweaking in order to live up to its theoretical potential.
The fix here is simple, so look for Blackout to soar in the ratings
department. |
| ENTANGLEMENT: This
lengthy walk through a fairly difficult maze cut in a cornfield features
winding loops, frustrating dead ends, and confusing paths. Tall corn
impedes navagation, while sporadic monster attacks deliver some startling
surprises. Occasional taunting from beyond the corn adds to the unrest,
while fiends armed with knives, and other weapons of choice come rustling
out of the cornstalks. A final chainsaw salute serves as a send-off
as the escape route is eventually uncovered leading to the escape of Entanglement.
Analysis:
LENGTH - 10, Roughly 30 minutes and easily more.
ACTORS - 8½, Cast was plentiful and all tried
hard to deliver quality scares. Distant taunting made a huge impact
as the crew would shout inaccurate directions, and intimidatingly call
out names they’d managed to overhear. Mugger-like character near
the end demanding wallets and claiming he didn’t work there was best.
SCARINESS - 8, The level of difficulty brings about frustration
that can easily progress to panic and instability. Characters did
a commendable job exploiting fears as discussed above. A few added
scenes and surprises could elevate the score even higher.
DESIGN - 9, This is arguably the best Entanglement
has ever been! Numerous paths comprise several loops and dead ends
that make finding the way out most difficult. Cornstalks are tall
and the route winds deep into the field. Although diverging forks
in the road occasionally reunite at some point, at times there are three
or four options to choose from. A soundtrack is absent, but otherwise
very well done!
PROPS – N/A, It’s a maze, so this category isn’t applicable,
although an occasional scene or skit would only add to the attraction.
VALUE - 9, Quite a bargain as part of the combo deal.
RATING: 8½ , Entanglement provides
a lengthy finish to an enjoyable night of seasonal entertainment. |
OVERALL HANNA EXPERIENCE:
The
strong point here is multiple haunts at a single location providing variety,
and an evening's worth of seasonal entertainment. Obviously, the
Hayride
is the main event, and it’s supplemented with 5 differently themed, supporting
attractions. It offers a cozy bonfire alongside the queue line
to keep you warm on a chilly night while you wait, and it’s a great place
to hang out with friends, making the venue more inviting. The
introduction of Blackout only adds to the scare options available,
and lengthens the amount of on-sight entertainment. The extended
Phantazmagoria
course strengthens its performance, and Hell’s ½ Acre provides
Hanna's
most intimidating adventure. Entanglement is an outstanding finisher,
and while Acres Manor remains the weakest link, it has unrecoginzed
potential, and can also be looked at as a more family friendly option.
As is often the case, the aggregate effort at Hanna Acres as a unit
outscores many of its independent attractions considered on an individual
basis. Purchasing the combo ticket is definitely the way to go, and
the price hasn’t been raised in years!
OVERALL RATING: 8 |