Tucked away in the quiet farmlands of Mt. Olive, North Carolina, Deranged Acres is quickly becoming a name to remember in the local haunt scene. Now in its second season of terror and its very first at this brand new location, this attraction is already showing just how much potential it has. From the moment we pulled up, we could feel the excitement in the air. You can tell this team loves what they do, and it shows in every scream, laugh, and scare they deliver. It’s clear that a lot of heart, hard work, and creativity went into bringing this haunt to life. What they’ve managed to build in such a short amount of time is genuinely impressive, and we have no doubt Deranged Acres will only keep getting bigger and better. For anyone looking for a night full of chaotic energy, chainsaws, and plenty of deranged fun, this is one to keep on your radar.
The cast at Deranged Acres brings plenty of energy and personality to the experience. Inside the main attraction, we felt there was a solid number of monsters spread throughout, which kept the scenes lively and engaging. The talent level did vary a bit, with some actors fully embracing their roles and others still finding their footing. When the cast hit their stride, though, they were absolutely fantastic.
Satan and “Pet” were among the first characters we met, and they immediately set the tone for what was to come with their strong presence and in-your-face attitude. The Crematorium worker was another standout. He gave off some serious Slingblade vibes as he asked if we liked “French-fried potaters” before tossing a body into the fire.
There were several moments where the actors nailed their timing and improvised some great back-and-forth with us, which always adds so much to the experience. Others seemed a little more reserved, and with a bit more confidence and interaction practice, they’ll really be able to elevate their scares.
The clown crew deserves a special shoutout for keeping the chaos alive. Blinky, Smokey, Art, Psycho, Skittles, Zero, Boogie, Trixie, Plum Crazy, and Homicide were all relentless in their pursuit of scares, and their energy helped carry the midway and main attraction alike. Overall, the cast has a solid foundation with a great mix of personalities, and with just a little more polish and confidence, this team has the potential to become one of the most entertaining haunt casts around.
The costuming at Deranged Acres shows a lot of potential, with several standout looks that really hit the mark and others that could use a bit more attention to detail. Pet’s costume, for example, immediately caught our eye. The tattered, blood-soaked fabric and the illusion of being bound in barbed wire gave off a brutal and unsettling vibe that fit the character perfectly. It was easily one of the strongest looks of the night. We also appreciated the clown crew, many of whom were splattered in blood and grime, creating an appropriately chaotic and creepy presence both inside the attraction and out in the midway.
That said, not every costume carried the same level of effort or cohesion. A few characters, particularly those in the corn maze, appeared to be wearing street clothes like plain shirts and jeans, which pulled us out of the immersion a bit. Adding layers of distressing, dirt, or themed accessories would go a long way in helping those actors blend more naturally into the world Deranged Acres is building.
When it came to masks and makeup, there were a few inconsistencies. Some masks didn’t have any blending around the eyes, jawline, or neck, which made it easy to spot the actor beneath. Others relied on smudged greasepaint that didn’t fully bring their characters to life. These are small details, but ones that can make a big difference in realism, especially under show lighting or when actors are up close to guests.
On the flip side, the queue actors were some of the best-looking characters of the night. Blinky, Smokey, and Art the Clown all had convincing and detailed looks that immediately pulled guests into the chaos before they even entered the main attraction. With a bit more consistency across the board, Deranged Acres could easily take their costuming and makeup game to the next level. The creativity is clearly there; it just needs a little more refinement to make every character look as impressive as the best of the bunch.
The staff and overall operation at Deranged Acres were professional, friendly, and genuinely welcoming. From the moment we arrived, everyone we encountered was helpful and upbeat, which set a great tone for the night. We felt safe throughout our visit, and the team did a nice job maintaining a comfortable and organized environment. Parking was simple and well-handled, with staff members clearly directing cars and making sure guests could get in and out without confusion.
Because of the haunt’s rural location, additional roadside signage would make a big difference for first-time visitors. A few more directional signs within a few miles of the property would not only help with navigation but also create a little anticipation on the drive in. Once inside the midway, key information such as ticket pricing, rules, and event details were clearly displayed at the ticket booth, which was appreciated.
However, one major area for improvement is accessibility to information before guests arrive. At this time, Deranged Acres relies solely on their Facebook page for updates, hours, and general details, and tickets are available on-site only. While social media is helpful, not everyone uses it, and important details can easily be missed or buried in posts. Having an official website, even a simple one, would be a huge step forward. It would give potential visitors a central hub for directions, pricing, hours, special events, and contact information, helping them plan their visit with confidence.
Deranged Acres has the foundation of a well-run and safe operation, and creating a website would elevate their professionalism and visibility within the haunt community. With how much heart and dedication this team already puts into their show, a proper online presence would help them reach an even larger audience and make it easier for fans to find their way back year after year.
The pre-haunt area at Deranged Acres sets a lively and festive tone, welcoming guests with a mix of country, classic rock, and pop music. While the playlist definitely adds to the upbeat energy, sprinkling in a few eerie or ambient tracks could help build more anticipation before entering the main attraction. The atmosphere was fun, though, and the roaming characters kept the crowd entertained while waiting to go in. Blinky and Smokey, along with Art the Clown, were absolute standouts, working the line with great energy, humor, and plenty of scares. A couple of the other midway clowns seemed a bit shy and less interactive, but with a little more confidence and practice engaging guests, they’ll likely come into their own.
Once inside the haunt, the immersion level kicked up dramatically. We had several memorable and unexpected moments that made the experience feel fresh and unique. At one point, we were locked inside a cage and had to dance for our freedom, which was hilarious and completely caught us off guard. We crawled through a casket to exit a room and even stumbled onto a disco bus complete with a chainsaw-wielding clown who knew how to keep the chaos going. Those interactive moments really made the haunt stand out and showed just how creative the team can be when it comes to keeping guests engaged.
After the main attraction, the energy didn’t drop off. The midway stayed active with more antics from Blinky and Smokey, and guests could grab a bite to eat or browse the small gift shop for souvenirs. Adding a few more post-haunt activities, such as carnival-style games, themed photo ops, or even a horror movie playing on a projector, would take the experience to the next level and encourage guests to hang out longer. Some live music or creepy ambient soundscapes would also help round out the atmosphere.
Deranged Acres already has a strong foundation for creating a full-night experience, and with just a few more interactive and atmospheric touches, it could become an even more well-rounded destination for haunt fans looking for both scares and entertainment.
The effects at Deranged Acres were used creatively and showed a lot of thought in how to keep guests engaged from one scene to the next. We experienced some great moments of surprise and sensory tension throughout the haunt, though we’d love to hear more eerie background sound effects to tie it all together. Sound plays a huge part in building suspense, and incorporating ambient noises like whispers, distant screams, or sudden, sharp cues could really heighten the atmosphere between the louder jump scares. We did catch a bit of nu metal-style music in one section of the corn maze, which added some fun energy, but a more consistent and haunting soundtrack would help maintain immersion across the entire attraction.
From a design standpoint, there were several strong scenes that showed creativity and personality, though we also noticed a few stretches of bare walls and open space that interrupted the flow between set pieces. Adding even simple scenic details, lighting effects, or hanging props in those transitions could help sustain the mood and keep guests fully immersed.
The props themselves were well-chosen and added some great visual moments. Skeletons hanging from the ceiling created a creepy overhead effect, and the butcher’s victim looked like he had definitely seen better days. The corn maze had a few particularly gruesome highlights with impaled bodies that helped sell the brutality of the scene.
Where Deranged Acres really shined was in its use of tactile and sensory effects. The combination of fog, strobe lighting, swamp lasers, and a super tight claustrophobic tunnel made for some fantastic interactive scares that kept us on edge. And in true “deranged” fashion, there was even a moment where an actor tried to feed me what I thought was a bloody foam finger, which turned out to be a Vienna sausage. It was hilarious, unexpected, and perfectly in line with the chaotic personality of this haunt.
With a few more layered sound effects, smoother scene transitions, and added environmental detail, Deranged Acres could easily elevate their production value to match their already creative and enthusiastic spirit. The groundwork is clearly there, and it’s exciting to see how much potential this haunt has to grow in both atmosphere and intensity.
21. How scary was it? (35% of score): 7
22. How well did they provide scares to everyone in the group? (15% of score): 9.75
23. How predictable were the scares? (25% of score): 7.75
24. How well did they provide a wide variety (types) of scares? (10% of score): 6
25. How strong was the ending / finale? (15% of score): 6.5
Deranged Acres brings plenty of high-energy scares to the table, relying on classic shock tactics and lots of in-your-face moments to keep guests on their toes. This is definitely a haunt that thrives on chaos, loud noises, and sudden surprises, and they pulled off quite a few that got us good. If you’re a fan of chainsaws, this is your kind of haunt. You’ll get plenty of close encounters, and the actors behind those roaring saws know how to use them to make people scatter. We also appreciated that the scares were well-timed so that everyone in our group got their fair share of attention, rather than focusing only on the front or back.
Some of the most memorable moments were the unpredictable ones that broke away from the usual formula. Getting locked in a cage and having to dance for our freedom was a hilarious surprise, and crawling through a coffin to exit a room added a great creepy twist. Those kinds of creative, interactive moments are where Deranged Acres really shines, and we’d love to see more of that kind of originality carried throughout the attraction.
That said, while the energy level stayed high, the heavy reliance on chainsaws did start to feel a bit repetitive after a while. When almost every scene ends with a chainsaw or aggressive chase, the impact starts to wear off and becomes more of an expected pattern than a genuine surprise. Mixing in more variety, such as quieter, tension-building scares, visual illusions, or unexpected timing, would really help balance out the pacing and make those big chainsaw finales hit even harder.
The actors did a solid job keeping the energy up and engaging guests verbally as we moved from scene to scene, but a little more variation in scare styles could make the overall experience even stronger. As for the finale, while it kept the energy high, it was a bit predictable and could benefit from a more unique or dramatic ending to leave guests talking as they exit.
For a second-year haunt, Deranged Acres delivered great entertainment and solid value for the price. General admission is $25, which feels very fair for the quality of the main attraction. Our walkthrough took about 15 minutes, though that time could easily stretch longer depending on your group size and how much you interact with the actors.
For those who don’t want to wait in line, a Fast Pass option is available for $35, making it a convenient upgrade if the queue is long. Given the haunt’s growing popularity, that option will likely be appreciated on busier nights.
Outside of the main attraction, the additional entertainment rounded out the evening nicely. There was a food truck on-site, a cozy bonfire to relax by, a gift shop with themed merch, and a no-scare zone with seating for anyone wanting to take a break from the chaos. These touches helped make Deranged Acres feel like more than just a walk-through haunt. It’s a full-night outing that offers something for everyone.
For a newer attraction, they’re off to a strong start, and we’re genuinely excited to see what new features and scares they add in the coming seasons. The passion behind this team is undeniable, and with continued growth and refinement, Deranged Acres has the potential to become a must-visit stop on the North Carolina haunt circuit. We fully recommend checking out this up-and-coming spot for a night of fun, fear, and a few good laughs along the way.
1323 Crows Foot Road, Mt Olive, North Carolina 28365
