If you’re looking for a cozy, not-too-scary, hometown haunt with good vibes, Dot’s Haunted Woods is your place. Started by Dot Vaughn over 50 years ago in a barn, this haunt has grown into a winding journey through the woods, lasting about an hour.
Run entirely by volunteers, this charity-based haunt supports Alzheimer’s and dementia causes. Before heading into the woods, haunt goers can enjoy snacks, hang by the large bonfire, and watch a classic horror movie which adds a full evening experience. Be sure to bring cash, as this haunt does not accept other forms of payment.
The cast at Dot’s Haunted Woods was adequate in number to staff each scene, ranging from young kids to adults. However, the interaction felt limited.
Few actors engaged verbally unless they were providing instructions, and most of the audible scares came from female actors delivering blood-curdling screams, which is not a fan favorite. There was not a lot of character variety, which diminished the overall immersion and dynamic energy of the experience.
How complete, unique, detailed were the costumes, accessories? – (35% of score)
Were the masks, makeup creative, detailed, realistic? – (30% of score)
How appropriate were the costumes for the respective scenes, themes? – (20% of score)
How believable-, detailed-looking were the queue actors? (See Note if N/A) – (15% of score)
The majority of the costumes at Dot’s Haunted Woods lacked detail. One clown was dressed in a basic jester outfit, while another actor wore jeans and a T-shirt, which didn’t quite fit the spooky atmosphere.
Most of the masks were clown-themed, though there were a few exceptions. One actor wore a Jeepers Creepers-style mask paired with a long trench coat, which suited the character well. However, we didn’t notice much makeup beyond a few basic blood-splattered faces. Overall, the haunt relied heavily on masks, which limited the variety and immersive quality of the costumes.
How easy was it to locate, park at, navigate the premises? – (25% of score)
Safety (Only dock points for TRULY DANGEROUS hazards!) – (30% of score)
How professional, helpful, friendly were the staff members? – (25% of score)
How easy was it to find pertinent information before arrival? – (20% of score)
Before heading to Dot’s Haunted Woods, we easily found the address and used GPS, which took us directly to the location. The drive itself set the mood, as we traveled down a dark, eerie back road that led to a field-turned-parking lot.
The staff at the ticket booth were all very helpful, making the entry process smooth. We found all the necessary information on hours and pricing through Dot’s Facebook page, which made planning our visit simple. The overall atmosphere definitely gave us the feeling we were in for a spooky night ahead.
How well did the pre-haunt areas ("vibe") prepare you for the attraction/s? – (25% of score)
How obvious, creative, believable was the storyline? (See Note if N/A) – (20% of score)
Were you completely, consistently immersed inside the attraction/s? – (40% of score)
How well did the "vibe" flow after, between the attraction/s? – (15% of score)
Upon arrival, the spooky vibe at Dot’s Haunted Woods was immediately set. A huge bonfire crackled away, and The Conjuring played on a projector, adding to the eerie atmosphere.
For a fun touch, they even had familiar 12-foot skeletons set up for a photo op. However, once inside the attraction, it was difficult to stay immersed in the experience. As you venture through the woods, you’re required to stay with your group, and after every scene, you’re asked to stop and wait for everyone else.
In some scenes, they split us up—sending us in solo, in pairs, or as a group, but once we completed the scene, we were often stopped again to wait for the rest of our party.
We even encountered a few mazes where we were instructed to go in as pairs and, once finished, wait for everyone else to catch up. These frequent pauses disrupted the flow of the haunt, making it hard to stay fully engaged and immersed in the spooky atmosphere.
How effective were the sound effects? – (20% of score)
How realistic were the scene designs, details? – (30% of score)
How effective, realistic were the props, animatronics? – (30% of score)
How well did they use creative, special, sensory effects? – (20% of score)
As an all-outdoor haunt nestled deep in the woods, Dot’s Haunted Woods didn’t offer a wide array of special effects. We did encounter some eerie music and classic Halloween tunes, along with the occasional sounds of crows, which contributed to the atmosphere.
There were also laser lights that flickered in the tunnels and among the trees, adding a bit of visual flair. A notable feature was the bouncy suspension bridge, which felt springy underfoot as we walked across, providing a playful twist to the experience.
The vortex tunnel was an interesting element as well, adding a sense of disorientation, although it felt out of place in the rustic setting of the woods. Overall, while the special effects were minimal, they managed to create a decent atmosphere for the haunt.
How scary was it? – (35% of score)
How well did they provide scares to everyone in the group? – (15% of score)
How predictable were the scares? – (25% of score)
How well did they provide a wide variety (types) of scares? – (10% of score)
How strong was the ending / finale? – (15% of score)
The scare factor at Dot’s Haunted Woods was not particularly high. Given the layout of the haunt, our group often moved through scenes together, which made it challenging for the actors to effectively deliver scares to everyone at once.
While there were a few jump scares in the various mazes, the overall variety of scares was limited. Most of the encounters consisted of loud screams, startling noises, and abrupt bangs from the actors, which felt somewhat repetitive.
However, one shining moment was the finale, which featured a mother and her kids who brought a fun, interactive dynamic to the scene, complete with engaging jokes. We’ll just say, keep an eye out for the snots!
How satisfied with the entertainment provided by the MAIN attraction/s? – (50% of score)
How satisfied with OTHER entertainment INCLUDED with the ticket price? – (25% of score)
How appropriate is/are the ticket price/s? – (25% of score)
For just $20, we spent nearly an hour exploring the woods, which offers a solid value in terms of minutes per dollar. We would love to see this haunt bring more story to the scenes, while adding more interaction from the characters.
While it’s wonderful that this haunt supports a great cause, the overall experience fell short of expectations. The scares felt a bit subdued, and the limited interaction left the visit feeling more like a routine than an exciting adventure.
One thing we truly enjoyed was relaxing by a warm fire, watching a classic movie, and indulging in nachos while we waited, which added a bit of comfort to the night.
48 Spooky Hollow Road, Manchester, Tennessee 37355
