Features:
✓-Free Parking✓-Restrooms/Porta Potties On-Site✓-Food/Concessions✓-Gift Shop/Souvenirs✓-Optional Games/Midway✓-“Old-School” (Low Tech)✓-You will NOT be touched✓-Original Characters✓-Uncovered Outdoor Waiting Line✓-Indoor/Outdoor Attraction✓-Family Friendly
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: 8.41
How Did We Get This Score?
Final Scores:
(15% of Final Score) Cast: 8.29
(15% of Final Score) Costuming: 7.46
(10% of Final Score) Customer Service: 8.93
(10% of Final Score) Atmosphere: 8.9
(15% of Final Score) Special Effects: 8.44
(5% of Final Score) Theme: 8.1
(15% of Final Score) Scare Factor: 8.6
(5% of Final Score) Entertainment & Value: 8.69
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Summary:
Lexington’s premier haunted house is Deceased Farm, a terrifying Halloween destination connected to the more family-friendly Clinton Sease Farm which runs throughout the day and into the night along with the haunted house next door.
Beyond the high fenced barrier walls of the attraction lies a creaking abattoir, with mazes, escape rooms, and a high energy midway full of music and life to counteract all the horror. Queue entertainment is abundant and there is never a dull space or moment as you make your way past all the spooky activities and events that you and your party can enjoy. Come early so that you can enjoy the family-friendly corn maze across the way along with the unlimited hayrides, playground activities, and humongous pumpkin patch.
Cast: 8.29
How Did We Get This Score?
Cast Scores (15% of Final Score):
(20% of Cast Score) Did it seem like there were enough actors?: 7.2
(30% of Cast Score) How creative, believable and convincing were the actors?: 8.9
(20% of Cast Score) How interactive were the actors (verbally and physically)?: 8.9
(15% of Cast Score) How creatively & appropriately did they use dialogue?: 7.8
(15% of Cast Score) Was there a good variety of characters?: 8
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The very first cast members our team met were two lovely undead ladies that saved us from the line by offering us the ability to buy fast passes. While much of the cast impressed us, without a doubt these were our two favorite members.
Noah the Ringleader was high-energy and took us into the challenging Library escape room while taunting and tormenting all the other rooms’ participants. Several of the midway monsters were delightful to meet as they sent people shrieking and laughing through the big open space. A criminal rabbit booped the hat bill of one of our team (which she declared the best part of the night) and the stilt walker defied reason and gravity.
Inside the haunt, we saw a menagerie of monsters that employed multiple techniques to hunt and attack anyone walking by. We saw a shadow that utilized the fa������ade of a nun to surprise our team, a weeping student that took a terrifying drop that ended up being part of her act, and a greedy prospector in the corn that liked the smell of one of the people’s hands. A cook making stew, the teacher in the classroom, and the deep-sea hunting fish were all novel creatures that earned a round of applause. Lastly, our team got offered creepy tokens of flowers and skulls by two different monsters that managed to hide and pop out at the last second. Overall the team of monsters here love scares and we are happy to share that love with them.
Costuming: 7.46
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
(25% of Costuming Score) How creative / detailed were the costumes?: 7.2
(20% of Costuming Score) Was their makeup creative? Detailed? Realistic?: 6.5
(15% of Costuming Score) How effectively did they use masks (if used)?: 6.2
(25% of Costuming Score) How appropriate were the costumes for their scene/s & theme/s?: 8.9
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In keeping with the farm theme of the haunt, there are a lot of location-appropriate costumes that allowed characters to look natural in their scenes. Costumes were also used to create clever bits of camouflage that gave monsters the ability to move quickly through light and shadow before being really visible to us or other guests.
A mossy monster in the corn was one of the cleverest visual tricks that we saw and scared a member of our team every time we encountered him. Another monster that managed to hide in plain sight created a shadow out of vestments and statues before leaping out at the last second. One of the most impressive costumes we saw was the deep-water hunting fish that lured us through the pitch-black before showing us a monster we have never seen before. Masks are used throughout the haunt but are not predominant or heavily relied on.
Customer Service: 8.93
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?: 8.1
(30% of CS Score) How safe was the attraction?: 8
(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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Signage is clear and visible from the road all throughout the haunt. Starting in the parking lot it is obvious where to go for both attractions, and then the same is true throughout the haunt.
To lower crowded and massed lines they have employed a system of calling groups through playing cards that’s highly efficient and organized. An ATM is set up at the entrance in case you’re not carrying cash and placed in a private area so you can withdraw your money safely. There is also a heavy amount of security including a guard and metal detector to make sure that all guests inside are safe.
There are a large number of dark places, some areas where ducking is necessary for safety, and some unsure footing but there are a lot of monsters around to watch out for you so they don’t lose their prey to a trip and fall.
Atmosphere: 8.9
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?: 8.9
(40% of Atmosphere Score) How well did the atmosphere prepare you for what you experienced inside?: 8.9
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The atmosphere at Deceased Farms is an excellent blend between a haunted house and a carnival. The music is audible from the outdoor waiting area and inside lights and monsters cavort through the wide midway that’s peppered with spooky details and places to sit and soak in the vibe.
The front fa������ade has an intimidating height to it and hearses and monsters weave in and out of the ticket line to make sure that you never forget that you are visiting a haunted farm.
Special Effects: 8.44
How Did We Get This Score?
Special Effects Scores (15% of Final Score):
(20% of SFX Score) How effective were the sound effects?: 8.44
(20% of SFX Score) How creative / original were the scenes & props?: 9.2
(20% of SFX Score) How well were the scenes detailed?: 8.1
(25% of SFX Score) How well did they achieve & maintain the suspension of disbelief?: 8.3
(15% of SFX Score) How effective were the SFX at providing scares / entertainment?: 8.7
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While there are several places that have bleed in sound effects and music from area to area, there is no doubt that all of the source sounds are perfectly picked and placed.
When it comes to unique and innovative special effects, Deceased Farms has employed a number of tricks you can’t see anywhere else in the area, and one that our team has never seen before. Projections in the graveyard add ghostly images and insane effects that change the layout of the land. Graves literally rock and roll along with the screams and the music, and details abound in and out of the house. There is something to look at from the floor to the ceiling in almost every room and area. The pass-throughs from area to area are incredibly believable, and then the deep-sea scene knocked our socks off! There is no shortage of things to look at and enjoy, and the application of the 3D effect is wonderful and fitting instead of forced.
Theme: 8.1
How Did We Get This Score?
Theme Scores (5% of Final Score):
(30% of Theme Score) Could you tell what the theme was?: 7.9
(50% of Theme Score) How well was the theme carried throughout the attraction/s?: 7.9
(20% of Theme Score) How well does their location authenticate the theme?: 8.9
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From the beginning to the end, the theme of a farm of deceased creatures is underlined and upheld. There are secondary themes of being hunted, chased, or lured that are all pulled off beautifully to create a more cohesive plotline from scene to scene. Areas of the house clearly delineate where one secondary theme ends and where the next begins. The setting is perfect as it allows for long and lonely stretches in the darkness of the corn to question your decisions as you flee monsters and scream.
Scare Factor: 8.6
How Did We Get This Score?
Scare Factor Scores (15% of Final Score):
(30% of Scare Factor Score) How scary was it?: 8.9
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How well did they provide scares to the entire group?: 8.6
(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?: 8.8
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How strong was the ending / finale?: 8.3
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Our team experienced a very good distribution of scares from the front to the back. At one point we meandered a little too slowly and merged with another group. We were pleased to see that the monsters adjusted to make sure the scares hit the middle and back of our new large caravan. The variety of scares was also well placed especially when it came to the more innovative and tense scenes. There was no shortage of scares as chainsaws revved and monsters darted from their hiding places utilizing distractions to get their prize.
Entertainment & Value: 8.69
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?: 8.7
(30% of E&V Score) How appropriate is/are the ticket price/s?: 8.8
(15% of E&V Score) Have they effectively used their available space?: 7.8
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Admission prices range from $22-25 for standard admission depending on the day of the week, and then fast pass is $40, and the VIP experience is $55. This last one includes access to one of the escape rooms and an ‘I Survived’ T-shirt. Escape room access is $5 a person. Cash is required for entry to both the haunt and the escape rooms, and there’s an ATM on-site with standard fees.
The souvenir shop has both themed items and some delightful merch that has the Deceased Farm logos and sayings. There is a huge variety of snacks, drinks, and beer for people 21 & over. All of these prices are fitting for the length and quality of the haunt, and the escape rooms are a fun way to challenge yourself and your friends.
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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