Features:
✓-Free Parking✓-Restrooms/Porta Potties On-Site✓-Food/Concessions✓-Gift Shop/Souvenirs✓-Original Characters✓-Uncovered Outdoor Waiting Line✓-Indoor/Outdoor Attraction

Review Team/Author Info:
This attraction was reviewed by Team Zombillies on October 18, 2024.Team Since: September 1, 2010 | Experience: Master TeamEditor: Team Zombillies (Master Team).
Final Score: 8.14
Final Scores – By Category

Final Scores – By Attraction

Summary:
A feeling of unease crept in as we stood outside the maximum security asylum, watching the searchlights sweep ominously across the crowd. We couldn’t help but wonder what we had gotten ourselves into. Our dread only deepened as we boarded a bus, setting the tone for the madness that was about to unfold inside!
Welcome to The Asylum Haunted House in Cave Springs, Arkansas – ‘where every corner holds a new nightmare!’ Newly revamped and more menacing than ever, this institution is overrun with irate inhabitants eager to share their madness with you! Each corner you turn, you’re faced with more chaotic characters, all desperate to bring you into their world of insanity. Prepare yourself and hold on tight because this asylum has no shortage of wild surprises!
We were ready to step into the madness in hopes it wouldn’t consume us…
Cast Score: 8.48
Cast Scores – By Question

Cast Scores – By Attraction

Cast Review:
The inmates, asylum guards, and staff were fully committed to their roles, with believability being a clear strong suit here. Almost every character was engaged in something different, hurling unique lines and threats our way. Their unpredictability kept us on edge as they jumped, climbed, and bent in unnerving ways, often getting uncomfortably close and physically interactive with their enclosures. This level of dedication brought an intense, immersive quality to the experience, making the chaos within the asylum feel all too real.
Several standout moments took the experience up a notch. One of the most unsettling was an autopsy patient lying still, appearing lifeless, only to suddenly widen their eyes and stare directly at us – creepy doesn’t even begin to describe it!
We also encountered a policeman who seemed more like an inmate himself, giving us the strong impression that he might have killed someone and stolen their uniform. Meanwhile, Billy (dressed as an officer as well) wasn’t content with just borrowing clothes; he had someone else’s face! If these were actually officers, we’d be very surprised! The cell block patients were especially chilling, with one bending backward while another reached for us, and one even escaped! The warden kept order as best she could, but the chaos of patients – like the one wielding a circular saw and launching body parts across the room – made for pure pandemonium.
Blue Ninja kept things light by having us sit down to watch some good ol’ TV with them (we’re not sure what they were watching; all we saw was white noise), while Pun Isher brought more aggressive, impatient energy to his scene. Then there was Jim, who claimed he’d been stuck in the maze for 25 years, adding desperation and dread to the encounter… Were we ever going to get out of there?
A few cast members simply stood and stared. Adding more depth to these characters could enhance the overall experience. On the other hand, the diverse and interactive performances by many of the other cast members made this group stand out, adding to the asylum’s chaotic, unpredictable nature. Each character felt like they had a story to tell and were more than eager to drag us into their madness!
We’d also like to shout out to the green-haired clown lurking in the parking lot who gave us a good scare before we even reached the ticket booth!
Costuming Score: 7.79
Costuming Scores – By Question

Costuming Scores – By Attraction

Costuming Review:
Once past the razor-wired covered fences, we were first met by a correctional officer and his deputy, both in police/security attire. Both appeared to have been through a battle with the occupants of the Asylum. Some blood spatters were visible on their uniforms. After that, we were guided into the streets to get into the asylum. Both ‘officers’ had blue uniforms and appeared very dirty and grimy.
Most asylum patients wore scrubs, some with black and white stripes or orange scrubs (some with DOC on them), which got confusing. Was it a jail or an asylum? All actors were pale and had some form of blood splatters, wounds, or dark circles under their eyes. It was clear that they stayed balls to the walls here just by looking at them!
One of the most unique looks was worn by the Blue Ninja! He was rocking an adorable blue dress with an apron and pigtail hair. We immediately got Alice vibes! A few cast members wore straight jackets and lab coats, too.
When The Pun Isher sprung from his corner, he was extremely intimidating! Blood-covered and angry, he ran around the room, threatening us all. He wore a jockey jersey with his name spelled out on the back. We would have liked more details for his costume to match the theme, but this definitely worked, and he appeared ready to get us!
Customer Service Score: 9.35
Customer Service Scores – By Question

Customer Service Scores – By Attraction

Customer Service Review:
GPS led us directly to a parking attendant who directed us into the free, well-lit parking lot. Don’t forget to give the 4-legged attendant pets! Plenty of signage showed exactly where the haunt was and where to park. Once out of the car, we could see the signs leading us to ticket sales, and not far from that were merchandise and yummy treats!
The website and Facebook provided tons of pertinent information for attending the haunt and much more. They also have an escape room, which you can book at an extra charge. The FAQ sections are always helpful, and they also have one of those. You can even purchase your tickets online in advance.
Everyone was helpful and welcoming. Especially the clown in the parking lot with the green hair! Even though he frightened us, he still ensured we were good to go!
Immersion Score: 8.49
Immersion Scores – By Question

Immersion Scores – By Attraction

Immersion Review:
The designers of Asylum are not playing around when they say it’s maximum security. In addition to high walls, razor wire, and spotlights scanning the field for escapees, there were also intimidating-looking gun turrets sweeping the yard, too ready to fire on anyone they deemed to be a threat! We could not wait to get inside!
We boarded the bus that would get us into the asylum, and the intro video did a great job getting us hyped up for the haunt. If it wasn’t for the playback progress bar on the video that plays on the windshield screen, it would’ve been easy to believe we were really moving! The theme and storyline are strongly established from the beginning, and they do a great job of maintaining them throughout.
At times, there were some less detailed areas that pulled us out of the immersion, but for the most part, we felt like we had been permitted to enter an insane asylum. The maze pulled us out of the immersion the most, with more bland walls, but it served its purpose of making us get lost!
Special FX Score: 7.55
Special FX Scores – By Question

Special FX Scores – By Attraction

Special FX Review:
One of the first special effects upon entering the Asylum is a unique take on the elevator drop-in. Featuring a screen on the top and bottom that showed an exterior view of the elevator as it free falls made us really believe we were about to crash! As we made our way through, we encountered a padded hallway with a floor made of memory foam that felt like running in sand. If that wasn’t scary enough, voices whispered to us from seemingly all around, making us wonder if we really needed that padded room. Trust nothing and no one if you venture in here!
We would’ve liked to see some more sound effects throughout to elevate some of the scenes. Some other scenes could use more detail to make them more realistic. The actors made excellent use of the props and effects that were there though! One particular stand-out scene was an actor seemingly being electrocuted, only to rip out of his arms and barrel toward us, sending us screaming!
We also enjoyed the giant, spinning cage that could lead us to one of three routes! This scene was as unique as they come! While we can’t give all of the secrets away, the path we took wasn’t as sturdy as it seemed! We also ended up on both sides of a visitation center with metal chairs to sit on, in an uncomfortably slanted hallway, on a real schoolbus (though we’d love to see this move in the future), trapped inside a cage, winding between cells, and ducking through a fireplace, to name a few! They also had a unique spin on the classic vortex tunnel – haha, get it?
In various places, the walls were very deteriorating and oozing, and we noticed a lot of realistic medical equipment that brought the asylum to life! Unique and flashing lights added to the ambiance and intensity of the maximum security vibe. We’d love to hear more sirens, announcements over the intercom of loose patients, warnings, etc.
Scare Factor Score: 7.66
Scare Factor Scores – By Question

Scare Factor Scores – By Attraction

Scare Factor Review:
If the Blue Ninja is gracious enough to offer you a rock paper scissor game, take them up on the offer. We managed to win and earned a prize to offer Pun Isher in the end. After finally encountering him, we were grateful we had something to placate him because he filled us with terror as soon as we laid eyes on him!
Not only are the actors scary, but many things aren’t as they seem: secret doors we scrambled to find, places we thought were safe only to have that view suddenly tilted on its side (you’ll find out what we mean if you’re brave enough to venture inside) we were constantly on guard for threats on this haunt leaving us no room to catch our breath. They ensured every member in our group was included in this and came at us from all sides!
There was a slight distraction at the finale, but additional surprises in this area could enhance the main scare of a chainsaw stalker. We’d also like to see more scares in the maze area. While it was good for letting our guard down, it felt repetitive after taking the wrong way a few times with no surprises.
Entertainment & Value Score: 8.13
E&V Scores – By Question

E&V Scores – By Attraction

E&V Review:
The Asylum website had information on discount tickets at the beginning of the season, so you should keep that in mind for next year. General Admission tickets were $25.00 per person, Fast Pass is 35.00, and VIP is 55.00. With VIP, you skip all lines and will be admitted as the next group in. You may also purchase your tickets online.
It took us 18 minutes to walk through. Now, that does include a maze, so it depends on how savvy you are in finding your way around. This brings the Minutes Per Dollar to 0.72. While this is below the average of 1 that we like to see, it was accurately priced due to the blast we had in there! They also offer an escape room for an additional charge.
While we waited, a clown was roaming about interacting with guests. Once out of the haunt, they had a food truck and merchandise stand. Everyone was very helpful and welcoming; we had such a great time here that we didn’t want to leave!
From the moment you look at its ominous exterior, Asylum Haunted House starts working its magic. With interactive sets and unnerving actors, you’ll feel like you’ve been admitted, and the longer you stay, the more your sanity will slip away. Will you make it out of the labyrinth before losing your mind? Only time – and a few twisted patients – will tell!
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