The Factory of Terror is constantly evolving, and there are great additions this year that change the flow of the previous experience. Their team has worked on upping the energy and the options, and it shows from the excited faces rushing past. At least, we think the screaming was excitement.
Featuring four haunted houses and a self-guided tour, Tarot readers, and five themed bars, the Factory of Terror has something for all members of the family. If you have enough energy and time after you escape the haunts, there is a dance floor and an attached bar with axe-throwing. With multiple haunts, immersive bars, and an entire midway of diversions, “the Factory of Terror isn’t just a haunted house. It’s a full night out.”
The monsters at the Factory of Terror make their way through the afterlife with great energy, trailing screams behind them. Lunatics in the asylum crawled and leaped, popping out of nowhere to menace our team. In the Industrial house, there was a variety of undead and far too alive creatures that we found in every corner. Stalkers in the Industrial maze got us turned around and confused. In Massacre on Mahoning, we grabbed the strong hand of one monster only to learn it was a trick when another monster came from nowhere.
Abyss is the final house if you go through linearly, and here we saw all sorts of darkness. An angler fish entranced us into its trap, and we left cheering for our Captain and hyped all the way up. The cast is great about spreading out the scares over the group and making sure that everyone gets their frights. This cast’s creativity and stamina ensure no two trips through the Factory feel the same.
The Factory has a dedicated team that blends makeup, prosthetics, masks, and highly detailed buckled shoes to create believable and terrifying characters. Because of the wide variety of monsters, this approach makes it so that you are constantly staring at a new, carefully crafted horror. Makeup adds dimension to zombies, and there was a dandy and delightful pirate that looked like he’d stepped off a movie set. Keep an eye out for undead punks and giant stalkers with glowing eyes.
Every year, we’re impressed with the additions the Factory of Terror makes to improve the guest experience. They’ve really expanded the merch shop this year with new items featured from Reflection, who also offer Tarot services that are consistently fascinating and introspective.
Guests can explore the Underworld as often as they like, and there you’ll see a collection of terrifying locations and creatures from the Factory’s history. You can also choose the order you visit the haunted houses in and repeat favorites until you’ve filled your wristband. There’s a bar crawl that lets you experience the haunted bars without having to go through the houses.
Parking lots are well-lit, and the signage is always clear. There are helpers added this year that you can find throughout the house who can answer any questions you have. It’s clear that the Factory’s staff put as much thought into guest comfort as they do the scares.
Once you enter the Factory of Terror, you have entered the Factory of Terror. Canton disappears, and you are trapped in a world of nightmares. Everywhere you turn, whether you’re in a house or in the French Quarter, you see well-crafted sets and carefully dressed monsters that make the whole experience so much more complete.
Every one of the themed bars blends in perfectly, and photo opportunities for you and your fellow survivors are everywhere and add to the vibe. The themed bars aren’t just add-ons; they’re extensions of the world the Factory has built, letting the nightmare spill into your downtime.
Sparking lights, crashing industrial equipment, smoldering remains, and falling buildings are all in store for you if you visit the Factory. There’s no shortage of things to stare at as the Factory’s team has put together old-school scare tactics and modern animatronics. At one point, we rounded the corner, and the blend of fog machine and lasers made it so the looming red eyes of the animatronic, slowly extending towards us, sent all of our team stumbling back.
The Asylum added some insane tricks, including shattered mirror cages and carefully timed flickering medical screens indicating bodily distress. In Mahoning, you can smell the earth when you enter the graveyard, and in Industrial, you dodge crashing machinery that’s been rigged to attack. Abyss uses cleverly constructed paths and fog machines to send you to the depths of the ocean.
The sounds of the Factory are tremendous, and some blend from house to house as screams, roars, and high-energy music collide together. A hall of mirrors staffed by a helpful clown sent us stumbling about until we reached a tunnel to madness. Going through the Underworld gives you the chance to see more animatronics up close and take your time looking at the detail and craftsmanship that have gone into this haunted house over the years. From industrial crashes to undersea terrors, the Factory’s effects team crafts moments that are as cinematic as they are startling.
21. How scary was it? (35% of score): 8.3
22. How well did they provide scares to everyone in the group? (15% of score): 9.2
23. How predictable were the scares? (25% of score): 9.1
24. How well did they provide a wide variety (types) of scares? (10% of score): 8.73
25. How strong was the ending / finale? (15% of score): 8.97
At one point in the Asylum of Dr. Morbidius, we found ourselves faced with a trio pressed to the wall and unable to move forward. Monsters work together to confuse and disorient you, and the creatures utilize every inch of the haunt to find new ways to scare their victims.
The Factory has worked over the years to build up a series of detailed horrors, and there is nothing quite like it. Scares are varied, some are loud and sudden, and some creep up behind you. As mentioned in the special effects section, we were all shocked by the looming red-eyed monster, but that wasn’t the only place that we ran into well-timed attacks. Winding through the coffins, we were tricked into looking one way and then jumped when the second monster attacked. A demon surprised us as we were entranced by a possession in the other direction, and a creature appeared from the depths of the Abyss’ darkest turns to shock us. Teamwork makes the nightmare work, and the result is a haunt that keeps you second-guessing every shadow.
Few haunts offer this much variety for the price, making Factory of Terror a must on any Halloween itinerary. The Factory of Terror has multiple types of admission, including a zombie bar crawl that lets you enjoy the haunt without going through the haunt. Online general admission is $30, and there is an upcharge if you buy in person, so we recommend buying online. VIP Fastpass admission is $45. The Zombie Bar Crawl is 21+ only, costs $20, and lets you take routes through the Factory to enjoy exquisitely decorated and themed bars. Parking is $5 or $20 for premium, and there is a lot of space to park in.
It took about 40 minutes to go through all the haunts, and for the price and the quality, it is well worth it. If you’re a haunted house super fan, the Season Pass Holder ticket is $160 and gives you unlimited fast passes to both the Factory of Terror and Akron Haunted Schoolhouse and Laboratory, as well as discounts on guests you bring and merchandise you buy.
4125 Mahoning Road NE, Canton, Ohio 44705
