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: 8.83
How Did We Get This Score?
Final Scores:
(15% of Final Score) Cast: 8.67
(15% of Final Score) Costuming: 8.49
(10% of Final Score) Customer Service: 9.24
(10% of Final Score) Atmosphere: 8.84
(15% of Final Score) Special Effects: 9.17
(5% of Final Score) Theme:
(15% of Final Score) Scare Factor: 8.72
(5% of Final Score) Entertainment & Value: 8.8
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Summary:
There may be a global pandemic raging, but the fun is still ongoing at Boogerwoods. We make an effort to get out to this unique haunt every year and we were lucky enough to get in to see them again. This year, because of various restrictions, Boogerwoods has an even more limited set of tickets – if you haven’t arranged to get yours, act quickly! We look forward to this unique night of entertainment and can’t help but recommend it to others. This theatrical haunt does as much to immerse visitors into the act, providing everything from scares to laughter.
This year, there are no standard tickets and fast pass tickets, but instead, one single class of ticket that moves patrons through at a rapid pace in an attempt to decrease the number of people waiting in line at any one time. As always, this haunt supports Cystic Fibrosis research through its ticket sales and the work of its dedicated volunteers.
Cast: 8.67
How Did We Get This Score?
Cast Scores (15% of Final Score):
(20% of Cast Score) Did it seem like there were enough actors?: 9.1
(30% of Cast Score) How creative, believable and convincing were the actors?: 8.1Explanation:
Awesome flatback
(20% of Cast Score) How interactive were the actors (verbally and physically)?: 8.6Explanation:
Booty pirate mosh.
(15% of Cast Score) How creatively & appropriately did they use dialogue?: 9.2Explanation:
lots of scripts, some good improv
(15% of Cast Score) Was there a good variety of characters?: 8.8
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Boogerwoods uses a pair (or more) of guides for each group that dares to enter. These guides are as much a part of the show as the various hillbillies, asylum patients, bar patrons, pirates, and more, that populate the woods outside of Rockwell, NC. There are a number of different sets of guides and therefore visitors won’t know who will be leading their group until their arrival in the Holding Tank.
Because of the interactive and immersive nature of this haunt, we highly encourage guests to not only get into the spirit of the season but also get involved with the various acts and scenes. Patron interaction not only is encouraged, but it is also a part of the show itself. The cast of volunteers is vast and clearly passionate about their chosen cause.
Costuming: 8.49
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?: 8.7
(25% of Costuming Score) How creative / detailed were the costumes?: 8.4
(20% of Costuming Score) Was their makeup creative? Detailed? Realistic?: 8.3
(15% of Costuming Score) How effectively did they use masks (if used)?: 8Explanation:
Some untucked or ill-fitting masks
(25% of Costuming Score) How appropriate were the costumes for their scene/s & theme/s?: 8.9Explanation:Asylum could have been better
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There are a lot of different characters inhabiting Boogerwoods – everything from classic movie characters to some unique pirates, monsters, boogers, and patients. Each of these has some variety of make-up and clothing, masks and prosthetics that make them one with their surrounding sets. Each of the scenes that we went through had its own style and characters reflected in the costumes. All of these were detailed and complete, from an angry camp manager’s shovel to a pirate’s cutlass. While the individual costumes may not be the most creative things that we’ve ever seen, they are all utilized to great effect.
Customer Service: 9.24
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?: 9.7
(30% of CS Score) How safe was the attraction?: 7.7
(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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Boogerwoods has a web presence that keeps folks updated on times and prices. This year, all tickets are a single standard price ($30) and are sold in blocks of 8-12 individuals for 10-minute time slots.
This haunt is a walking trail – walking through woods, through narrow passages, up stairs, down slides, and being subjected to a variety of different effects like car-crashes, rooms caught in tornadoes, and so on. The guides are there to make sure that guests not only keep moving at the appropriate times but also provide a measure of safety. Still, guests should not be the faint of heart as the path available is a mix of high adrenaline entertainment.
It should be noted that all of the staff at Boogerwoods are volunteers and that profits from the haunt go to charitable medical research. Not only do dollars spent provide entertainment for the guests, but also go to helping others. Witnessing the work and dedication of the staff to their chosen cause is an amazing thing and a credit to the memory of those who have gone before. ‘Still scaring because we keep caring,’ is a Boogerwoods motto and central to the haunt.
Atmosphere: 8.84
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?: 9.4
(40% of Atmosphere Score) How well did the atmosphere prepare you for what you experienced inside?: 8
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Boogerwoods’s exterior is marked out with a variety of ‘costumed’ cars inspired by some of the more popular scenes. The queue-line is decorated with a variety of seasonal accouterments and a monitor overhead displays a variety of movies and videos. Depending on the time, some of the various guides may even appear to entertain the guests during the brief wait. We were on time to witness a stunning serenade by the Boogerbusters before they leaped down into some of the awaiting crowd to elicit an echoing chorus of screams.
While some of this seasonal, Halloween decor does help set the mood, there is likely nothing that could adequately prepare a guest that has never before entered Boogerwoods.
Special Effects: 9.17
How Did We Get This Score?
Special Effects Scores (15% of Final Score):
(20% of SFX Score) How effective were the sound effects?: 8.7
(20% of SFX Score) How creative / original were the scenes & props?: 10
(20% of SFX Score) How well were the scenes detailed?: 9
(25% of SFX Score) How well did they achieve & maintain the suspension of disbelief?: 9
(15% of SFX Score) How effective were the SFX at providing scares / entertainment?: 9.2
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For over four decades, Boogerwoods has been serving up entertainment. While there are a variety of purchased spot-light props, the vast majority of the sets and creations at this haunt are unique things that have been built in-house. The enthusiasm and energy of the crew here comes through in the surroundings and sets that work as a backdrop to the actors. Sometimes those sets become center stage and are the star of the scene itself.
Theme: N/A
How Did We Get This Score?
Theme Scores (5% of Final Score):
(30% of Theme Score) Could you tell what the theme was?:
(50% of Theme Score) How well was the theme carried throughout the attraction/s?:
(20% of Theme Score) How well does their location authenticate the theme?:
This score is left “N/A” when we believe the haunt is trying to target a random variety of themes or phobias, rather than a single overarching “Theme” or “storyline.”
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There is not a singular theme across the Boogerwoods attraction except for creative adaptations of the term ‘booger’ – in this case, a monster, ghost, or phantom. Instead, each of the various scenes along the journey are filled with entertainment in the form of music, puns, jump scares, and shocking thrills.
Scare Factor: 8.72
How Did We Get This Score?
Scare Factor Scores (15% of Final Score):
(30% of Scare Factor Score) How scary was it?: 8.8
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How well did they provide scares to the entire group?: 8.9
(25% of Scare Factor Score) How predictable were the scares?: 8.3
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How well did they provide a wide variety of scares?: 8.2
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How strong was the ending / finale?: 9.6
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This family-friendly haunt focuses on bringing an evening of entertainment – an evening that we look forward to months prior to Halloween. While there are a number of jump scares, chainsaw-chases, and suspenseful reveals, Boogerwoods has developed its own immersive and interactive style that we have found nowhere else.
The fantastic fighting finale of the Flatback is a frenzy-filled, ferocious experience that we enjoy every year. It’s a great ending to an evening of fun that was filled with sudden dance parties, shared shots of ‘snot rockets,’ and circling round-and-round in a crazy maze.
Entertainment & Value: 8.8
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?: 9
(25% of E&V Score) How satisfied were you with the entertainment that’s available with* the ticket price, excluding the main attraction/s?: 8
(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?: 9.3
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A guided tour through the various scenes within this haunt takes about 50 minutes, and tours (of 8-12 guests) start every 10 minutes. Though it can be hard to get tickets, with a cost of only $25, the minutes per dollar at Boogerwoods is a whopping $2/minute. That’s an amazing value no matter where you go for a haunted attraction; for one as unique and as entertaining as Boogerwoods, it is a small price to pay.
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!
