Backwoods Haunt at McHorneys Odditorium Review (2024)

The cast at BackWoods Haunt really brought the Hellbilly family to life, making the experience unforgettable. From the menacing Grandpa to the eerie Granny in her wheelchair, each character added their own unique touch of terror. Lily Mae, with her shotgun and tragic backstory, stood out as especially memorable. The swamp creatures and shadowy figures lurking in the dark added layers of suspense and creepiness.

The HellBilly Butcher and Verminaard the scarecrow were particularly intense, delivering consistent scares and keeping everyone on edge. The Butcher’s darkly humorous reminder, “where we come from, the saw is the law,” added a playful yet unsettling moment to the experience.

It’s clear that both the paid actors and local volunteers are fully committed to their roles, staying in character and maintaining a spooky atmosphere throughout. While the actors interacted with visitors, adding a bit more dialogue and banter—especially in the outdoor areas—could enhance the immersive experience even further. Inside the house, the energy was high and packed with action, though there were a few spots outside where the pacing could be tightened up.

Overall, the cast at BackWoods Haunt delivered a fantastic performance. With a little more interaction outdoors, this haunt could reach an even higher level of creepiness!

The costuming at BackWoods Haunt really impressed us, especially knowing that a lot of it is done by volunteers, with some cast members doing their own makeup. There’s a good mix of prosthetics, painted faces, and masks, and while it’s not a high-budget haunt, the makeup definitely gets the job done. The costumes, masks, and makeup all fit perfectly with the scenes, making the experience feel authentic.

The characters inside the house, like Lily Mae and Grandpa, looked fantastic. And the Scarecrow? Amazing! At first glance, we thought he was just a prop until he came to life. While some of the masks were a bit on the simple, off-the-shelf side, they still worked within the setting, and we really loved HellBilly Butcher’s pig mask—it fit the character perfectly.

One small detail that increases the realism for masks would be to add some black makeup around their eyes to make them look even more authentic. But overall, the costumes and makeup were on point and really added to the atmosphere of the haunt.

The customer service at BackWoods Haunt was really good overall. One of the big positives is that the haunt is ADA accessible, making it super safe and accommodating for all visitors. Finding the Backwoods Haunt is a bit tricky. There were purple and green lights, so you knew something was happening, but we passed it at first because the sign wasn’t very well lit, and there weren’t any additional signs pointing you in the right direction. Definitely rely on your GPS!

Once you arrive, though, parking is free and well-organized with attendants to guide you. The haunt itself is easy to spot once you park, with the ticket booth right on the front porch—you can’t miss it. The website also provides all the essential information you’ll need. One thing that would be great for the future is if they added the history and backstory of the haunt to the site because it’s such a fascinating part of the experience.

Overall, the staff were incredibly nice and helpful, making the visit smooth and enjoyable from start to finish.

The house itself really sets the mood with its creepy vibe. The strobe lights, skeletons, and oddities on the front porch create a perfect spooky atmosphere, and the old house is super cool, it just adds to the whole eerie feeling. Even though there weren’t any queue actors or entertainment while we waited, hearing the screams of people inside kept us on edge and excited for our turn!

There wasn’t a storyline explained ahead of time, but as soon as we walked in, it was clear we were in some kind of HellBilly family’s house. We kind of pieced together our own story, which made it fun. The props inside made it feel like we had stepped into a seriously messed-up family’s home—think Firefly Family vibes. Once we got outside, we flowed through different areas like cornfields, a swamp, and a butcher zone.

Most of the time, we felt really immersed in the experience, but there were a couple of spots where we weren’t sure where to go, and we noticed a few things left behind, like empty water bottles. Overall, though, the atmosphere and details definitely made for a memorable, spooky time!

The special effects at BackWoods Haunt were primarily driven by the actors—there were no animatronics, which gave the experience a more authentic, interactive feel. Inside the house, there was so much to look at, from taxidermy animals and oddities to weird trinkets scattered throughout. Honestly, I wish I had more time to take it all in because the detail inside the house was incredible!

Once outside, the atmosphere changed with plenty of pallets, cornfields in the maze, bloody sheets, and body parts everywhere. The chainsaws added to the excitement, creating a fun sense of chaos. The lighting, including the use of strobes, added some interesting moments, especially as they disoriented us in a way that heightened the experience.

The sound effects were good, with plenty of ambient noise that kept the tension alive. We were greeted with some big band music when we first walked into the house, which set a quirky, eerie vibe, and they cleverly transformed the music stage into a butcher shop scene.

The scare factor at BackWoods Haunt was impressive, especially inside the house! The characters were genuinely terrifying, and the atmosphere was spot on. The ending had a guy bursting out behind us with a chainsaw, it felt a bit anticlimactic since a lot of haunts use them. We were hoping for something a little more startling as that area is pitch black dark which gives you plenty of options to really jolt your victims with a surprise, especially after the suspense built up throughout the experience.

Inside, the setup really kept us on edge, but once we moved outside, the vibe shifted to more of a fun experience rather than pure terror. We loved the swamp creatures lurking around and the incredible scarecrow that added to the creepy atmosphere.

The use of various characters hiding in the shadows definitely provided plenty of scares for both of us. While some of the scares outside were a bit predictable, the ones inside were totally unexpected—especially Grandpa, Lily Mae with her shotgun, and Granny. They really got us good!

The entertainment value at BackWoods Haunt was definitely there! It took us about 10 minutes to get through, but it could take a bit longer, depending on how quickly you walk. For just $10 to get in, it’s a great deal!

While there wasn’t a midway or a lot to do while waiting, you have to remember that this is a low-budget, newer haunt. What they’ve done with the space is really impressive, and you can tell they put a lot of effort into creating a unique experience. We had a blast, and we can’t wait to check it out in future years to see what they have in store next!