Features:
✓-Free Parking✓-Restrooms/Porta Potties On-Site✓-Gift Shop/Souvenirs✓-You will NOT be touched✓-Uncovered Outdoor Waiting Line✓-Indoor/Outdoor Attraction
How Do We Get These Scores?
Our Rating System
UPDATE FOR 2022: Our former “Atmosphere” and “Theme” categories have now been combined and renamed “Immersion.” Our intent with this is to give more appropriate credit to attractions that have shown a clear focus on achieving and maintaining better customer experiences (both inside and outside the attractions) and developing creative storylines.
Each of the category scores in this review are calculated using a weighted average of several questions that we rate on a scale of 1 to 10.
The following breakdown explains what these scores typically mean. All of our Teams use this as a reference for providing accurate ratings:
10: “Peak Performance”This score is treated as if it has a chastity belt on it. “10’s” are reserved for the best of the best; those that we feel could not possibly improve on what they’re doing.
9: “Innovative and Groundbreaking”It rocked! Nearly everything seemed to go as planned and it was one of the best we’ve ever seen! These guys are leaders in the industry, and attractions like this are truly hard to come by.
8: “Solid”A high score on our scale. They had a good handle on it and, overall, they knew how to use it well. Most attractions can learn from what these guys are doing.
6 to 7: “Good”We could tell that a good effort was made. However, we’ve seen this done much better at other places, or can detect areas where significant improvements can be made. This is about the top end of what we’d call “Family Friendly.”
5: “Average / Fair”Compared to the competition, they weren’t the best, but definitely not the worst. Scares and Special Effects in this range are usually considered “Family Friendly.”
3 to 4: “Below Average”We could see that a clear attempt was made, but most other professional attractions are doing a much better job at this.
1 to 2: “Poor”It appeared that very little time, thought or effort was contributed to this aspect.
0 (Zero): “Non-Existent”No apparent effort was made to make this a significant contributor to the attraction.
Afterword:This rating system is standardized across all of The Scare Factor’s official haunt review teams. However, keep in mind there will always be minor differences between Teams, as we all have varying levels of experience. Regardless, we do our best to remain true to our core values, which is to promote all haunted attractions!Perhaps the biggest thing to remember is: sometimes the score – in and of itself – doesn’t tell the whole story about an attraction’s merits. This is why we provide detailed explanations for each category… to help you better understand how and why we chose the score/s that we did.We do our best to not let feelings or emotions rule our judgement, while also viewing the attraction through the lens of the typical haunt-goer. But, because all reviews with ratings are inherently subjective, this is nearly impossible to completely prevent. Though, when in doubt, we tend to give slightly lower scores than our original “gut feelings” to account for this, and also give the attraction more room to improve over time.We also do our best to be fair and consistent across all of the haunts that we review. We know that you’ll be looking at these scores and comparing them to other attractions, so we hope this review helps you out in that aspect.Do you have some feedback about our review system? Contact Us Here to let us know what you think!
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Final Score: 8.35
How Did We Get This Score?
Final Scores:
(15% of Final Score) Cast: 9.28
(15% of Final Score) Costuming: 8.5
(10% of Final Score) Customer Service: 9.25
(10% of Final Score) Atmosphere: 6
(15% of Final Score) Special Effects: 8.7
(5% of Final Score) Theme: 10
(15% of Final Score) Scare Factor: 8.15
(5% of Final Score) Entertainment & Value: 7.53
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Summary:
Avondale Haunted Barn is a giant two-story walk-thru barn located in Rutledge, TN. They have been voted a fan favorite in East Tennessee for the last three years! As soon as you set foot inside the haunted barn, you will see why it is a top favorite. So, come on out and experience the unnerving feeling that Avondale gives you!
Since 2014, the Pickett family has been wreaking havoc on the locals of Avondale every October. Their son was taken from them too soon during the Civil War, and they became overwhelmed with grief. All who entered through Avondale went missing mysteriously, and the number of ‘scarecrows’ in their field increased over the years. Eventually, the locals started to believe the farm was abandoned. However, people traveling through still went missing. Eliza and Jubal are back and on a quest for vengeance for all who enter their barn!
Can you survive the dangers that lie within Avondale Haunted Barn?
Cast: 9.28
How Did We Get This Score?
Cast Scores (15% of Final Score):
(20% of Cast Score) Did it seem like there were enough actors?: 9.5
(30% of Cast Score) How creative, believable and convincing were the actors?: 9
(20% of Cast Score) How interactive were the actors (verbally and physically)?: 9.5
(15% of Cast Score) How creatively & appropriately did they use dialogue?: 9.5
(15% of Cast Score) Was there a good variety of characters?: 9
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The cast of Avondale Haunted Barn kept the scares flowing consistently. Every new room we went into, a new and unique cast member gave us several new scares. They did very well at making us feel like we were in a real-life haunted barn!
They even interacted with us and the props very often. They called us out by name multiple times, asked us various unwanted questions, such as ‘want to play hide ‘n seek,’ and acted like they were props themselves! The dialogue used by the actors was highly creative. For example, one of them wanted to add us to their collection of bodies. We were not very thrilled to do so!
The best part about this haunt is that they managed to stick to the haunted barn theme entirely but still gave us a wide variety of characters. Every character looked like they came from a farm in the 1800s.
Costuming: 8.5
How Did We Get This Score?
Costuming Scores (15% of Final Score):
(15% of Costuming Score) How complete / finished did the costumes appear to be?: 9.5
(25% of Costuming Score) How creative / detailed were the costumes?: 9.5
(20% of Costuming Score) Was their makeup creative? Detailed? Realistic?: 6
(15% of Costuming Score) How effectively did they use masks (if used)?: 7.5
(25% of Costuming Score) How appropriate were the costumes for their scene/s & theme/s?: 9.5
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Most of the costumes were very well done! It seemed like they were made specifically for this haunted barn. They were old and dirty or bloody and worn when they were supposed to be. It made them seem much more authentic.
We could tell that the cast took a lot of time to apply their makeup when going through. These monsters did not use prosthetics as much, but they still did very well at making themselves look like they belonged in a haunted barn.
Masks were primarily effective in making the characters look authentic. There were just a few instances where the masks did not fit well, but overall, they looked impressive! There were guys in pig masks, a person in a ghillie suit, and let us not forget the crazed farmer wandering the queue line while we waited!
Each character was unique to their respective scenes. For example, there was a cleaver-wielding butcher in a bloody kitchen, a creepy girl in white wanting to play hide ‘n seek, and a swamp person in a marshy area.
Customer Service: 9.25
How Did We Get This Score?
Customer Service Scores (10% of Final Score):
(25% of CS Score) How easy was it to locate the attraction, park, and navigate the premises?: 10
(30% of CS Score) How safe was the attraction?: 7.5
(25% of CS Score) How professional, helpful and friendly were the staff members?: 10
(20% of CS Score) How easy was it to find their information before* arrival?: 10
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Avondale Haunted Barn is straightforward to locate and see from the road. To park, you must look for the people in the yellow reflective vests, and they will direct you where to go. Once you are parked, simply walk toward the green barn to purchase your tickets.
We felt this attraction lacked adequate lighting in the parking lot. However, the ticket and queue lines were well-lit. There is one police officer on-site, as well as some undercover security guards. The only thing to note is that there are stairs in the barn with a few light scares near them, but they are well-lit.
The staff that we encountered were very accommodating and friendly. The staff members were wearing ‘Avondale Haunted Barn’ attire, and the cast members were wearing spooky barn attire, so it was easy to see the difference between them.
Customers can easily find all information about Avondale on their website. In addition, they have information about the backstory of the barn if you would like to read about that before you arrive. Parking is free but limited, so carpooling is encouraged. Tickets are only $15 per person on-site only; you cannot purchase tickets in advance.
Atmosphere: 6
How Did We Get This Score?
Atmosphere Scores (10% of Final Score):
(60% of Atmosphere Score) How obvious was it that you were at a haunted house before entering?: 5
(40% of Atmosphere Score) How well did the atmosphere prepare you for what you experienced inside?: 7.5
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As we approached AHB, it was difficult to tell that we were coming to a haunted house. The barn looks like it used to be an antique shop. In addition to the music/sound effects playing, the enormous green lights outside the barn, and a couple of roaming actors, the only way we knew that we were at a haunted house was the sign outside. Still, the two actors did help build excitement before entering.
However, once in the queue line, it became apparent that we were about to experience a haunted barn. The haunt resides within a real-life barn from the 1800s, which helped give us insight into it before we entered. They also showed us a short video about the history of the haunt before going through.
Special Effects: 8.7
How Did We Get This Score?
Special Effects Scores (15% of Final Score):
(20% of SFX Score) How effective were the sound effects?: 7.5
(20% of SFX Score) How creative / original were the scenes & props?: 8.5
(20% of SFX Score) How well were the scenes detailed?: 8.5
(25% of SFX Score) How well did they achieve & maintain the suspension of disbelief?: 9.5
(15% of SFX Score) How effective were the SFX at providing scares / entertainment?: 9.5
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The sound effects at Avondale are well done and used appropriately within the haunt. Sometimes there were no sound effects except for actors (or guests) screaming, but we felt this helped amplify the experience.
The props and scenes flowed together very well. Nothing appeared to be out of place, and the design helped display everything appropriately according to the theme. The haunt put a reasonable amount of time into making their props and scenes. It was evident that they genuinely cared about their visitors getting a realistic experience!
Everything in Avondale has a natural transition from room to room. We believed we were in a real-life haunted barn most of the time! The special effects provided as much entertainment as the actors themselves!
Theme: 10
How Did We Get This Score?
Theme Scores (5% of Final Score):
(30% of Theme Score) Could you tell what the theme was?: 10
(50% of Theme Score) How well was the theme carried throughout the attraction/s?: 10
(20% of Theme Score) How well does their location authenticate the theme?: 10
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We believe Avondale hit the nail on the head with its theme! If you were to check out their website before you arrive, the theme is made evident by the description they give. The haunt also showed us a video before we entered. The actors in the queue lines dressed the part as well. Every actor inside the attraction fits the theme perfectly! Nothing appeared to be out of place or positioned inappropriately within the haunt.
Avondale is in a barn built in the 1800s that is almost 8,000 square feet, including upstairs and downstairs. The barn even smelled like wood, hay and had a light scent of manure. It was as if we were truly living in the 1800s, visiting a real-life haunted barn.
Scare Factor: 8.15
How Did We Get This Score?
Scare Factor Scores (15% of Final Score):
(30% of Scare Factor Score) How scary was it?: 9
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How well did they provide scares to the entire group?: 9.5
(25% of Scare Factor Score) How predictable were the scares?: 8
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How well did they provide a wide variety of scares?: 8.5
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How strong was the ending / finale?: 5
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Avondale did an excellent job of providing us with a wide variety of scares and entertainment! We thoroughly enjoyed every actor and scene we encountered. Every scare was perfectly timed and spread evenly throughout our group. However, one scare stands out: be on the lookout for the pig people!
The scares provided varied quite a bit. Actors were stalking us, props jumping out unexpectedly, and actors moving or doing something when we expected them to be inanimate objects.
The ending was a little lackluster. We did not realize it was the end until we were suddenly walking outside. With that said, we understand the lack of a strong ending. There was a step right at the end and a staff member telling us to ‘watch our step.’ It is difficult to end the haunt with a chase scene if there is a trip hazard in the way.
Entertainment & Value: 7.53
How Did We Get This Score?
Entertainment & Value Factor Scores (15% of Final Score):
(30% of E&V Score) How satisfied were you with the entertainment received during the main attraction/s?: 8.5
(25% of E&V Score) How satisfied were you with the entertainment that’s available with* the ticket price, excluding the main attraction/s?: 4
(30% of E&V Score) How appropriate is/are the ticket price/s?: 9
(15% of E&V Score) Have they effectively used their available space?: 8.5
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We highly recommend Avondale to everyone! It was overall a wonderfully spooky and entertaining experience!
Before entering the haunt, the only type of entertainment in the queue line was a few actors interacting with the guests and some music/sound effects. But, if you are hungry, they have concessions available at an additional charge.
The ticket price is very reasonable. At $15 per person, it is lower than most haunted houses in the area. We spent 12 minutes inside the haunt, which brings the minutes per dollar to 0.8.
Avondale has almost 8,000 square feet of usable space, and it seemed like they positively used every inch. Every corner we went around was a new and exciting scene. It felt like we were in a maze with the number of corners we went around!
How Did We Get These Scores
Our Rating System
Each of the category scores in this review are calculated using a weighted average of several questions that we rate on a scale of 1 to 10.
The following breakdown explains what these scores typically mean. All of our Teams use this as a reference for providing accurate ratings:
10: “Peak Performance”This score is treated as if it has a chastity belt on it. “10’s” are reserved for the best of the best; those that we feel could not possibly improve on what they’re doing.
9: “Innovative and Groundbreaking”It rocked! Nearly everything seemed to go as planned and it was one of the best we’ve ever seen! These guys are leaders in the industry, and attractions like this are truly hard to come by.
8: “Solid”A high score on our scale. They had a good handle on it and, overall, they knew how to use it well. Most attractions can learn from what these guys are doing.
6 to 7: “Good”We could tell that a good effort was made. However, we’ve seen this done much better at other places, or can detect areas where significant improvements can be made. This is about the top end of what we’d call “Family Friendly.”
5: “Average / Fair”Compared to the competition, they weren’t the best, but definitely not the worst. Scares and Special Effects in this range are usually considered “Family Friendly.”
3 to 4: “Below Average”We could see that a clear attempt was made, but most other professional attractions are doing a much better job at this.
1 to 2: “Poor”It appeared that very little time, thought or effort was contributed to this aspect.
0 (Zero): “Non-Existent”No apparent effort was made to make this a significant contributor to the attraction.
Afterword:This rating system is standardized across all of The Scare Factor’s official haunt review teams. However, keep in mind there will always be minor differences between Teams, as we all have varying levels of experience. Regardless, we do our best to remain true to our core values, which is to promote all haunted attractions!Perhaps the biggest thing to remember is: sometimes the score – in and of itself – doesn’t tell the whole story about an attraction’s merits. This is why we provide detailed explanations for each category… to help you better understand how and why we chose the score/s that we did.We do our best to not let feelings or emotions rule our judgement, while also viewing the attraction through the lens of the typical haunt-goer. But, because all reviews with ratings are inherently subjective, this is nearly impossible to completely prevent. Though, when in doubt, we tend to give slightly lower scores than our original “gut feelings” to account for this, and also give the attraction more room to improve over time.We also do our best to be fair and consistent across all of the haunts that we review. We know that you’ll be looking at these scores and comparing them to other attractions, so we hope this review helps you out in that aspect.Do you have some feedback about our review system? Contact Us Here to let us know what you think!
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Promo Images:
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Awards:
2023
2022
