Features:
✓-Free Parking✓-Restrooms/Porta Potties On-Site✓-Food/Concessions✓-Gift Shop/Souvenirs✓-Optional Games/Midway✓-“Old-School” (Low Tech)✓-You may be touched✓-Movie Characters✓-Original Characters✓-Indoor 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: 8.02
How Did We Get This Score?
Final Scores:
(15% of Final Score) Cast: 7.7
(15% of Final Score) Costuming: 7.45
(10% of Final Score) Customer Service: 9.75
(10% of Final Score) Atmosphere: 7.6
(15% of Final Score) Special Effects: 7.9
(5% of Final Score) Theme: 8.9
(15% of Final Score) Scare Factor: 6.68
(5% of Final Score) Entertainment & Value: 9.2
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Summary:
Fear on the Farm has a little something for everyone. Their tag line, ‘An experience unlike any you have ever experienced’ does fit this attraction.
While there are several attractions available to partake in, this review will be focusing on the two haunted attractions, Crescent Inn Haunted House and Bloody Mary Caverns. Each haunted house has its own story. Crescent Inn tells a story of a haunted roadside inn while Bloody Mary dives into the comic book world and takes you to an underground cavern. Their latest endeavor: partnering with Bobbie Weiner to create a trademark Bloody Mary Haunted House.
The location of the business moved to its current location three years ago, to a quaint hometown neighborhood, but don’t let that fool you. These guys have been in business for more than 15 years.
Oh, did I mention Fear on the Farm WV recently ranked #5 in the state of West Virginia for The Scare Factor’s Fan Favorite poll for 2019?
Cast: 7.7
How Did We Get This Score?
Cast Scores (15% of Final Score):
(20% of Cast Score) Did it seem like there were enough actors?: 8
(30% of Cast Score) How creative, believable and convincing were the actors?: 7.5
(20% of Cast Score) How interactive were the actors (verbally and physically)?: 8
(15% of Cast Score) How creatively & appropriately did they use dialogue?: 7.5
(15% of Cast Score) Was there a good variety of characters?: 7.5
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There seemed to be an ample amount of cast members. When they weren’t screaming at us, they were touching a shoulder here and popping up there. This isn’t a shy bunch either, they don’t mind a bit to get into your personal space. You will be touched. You will get screamed at. They will step up into your space, or simply block your path.
A stand out character we much enjoyed was the bellhop. He was witty, and bantered with us, staying in character the entire time. He also used the areas in his room to his advantage, in a way that was a little unexpected. We also appreciated the character we have dubbed ‘the outside guy’ for his chainsaw-welding enthusiasm to hurry us along our course while we were on hands and knees! We also experienced an energetic ‘cult boy’ that can make your skin crawl.
Costuming: 7.45
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?: 7.5
(25% of Costuming Score) How creative / detailed were the costumes?: 7.5
(20% of Costuming Score) Was their makeup creative? Detailed? Realistic?: 7
(15% of Costuming Score) How effectively did they use masks (if used)?: 7
(25% of Costuming Score) How appropriate were the costumes for their scene/s & theme/s?: 8
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Crescent Inn had some cohesive face applications, showing the overall theme of the haunt. We noticed some scaring and injuries. There were some grotesque rows of teeth added in as well.
Again, we enjoyed the little details on the bellhop’s uniform. Bloody Mary’s costume did look dark and dirty down in the cavern.
Some characters who were painted had bare, unpainted hands, but costumes in general were appropriate for their scenery. Dirty places contained actors who looked dirty.
When it comes to masks, some were hard for the actors to talk through so they could be understood.
Customer Service: 9.75
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?: 10
(30% of CS Score) How safe was the attraction?: 10
(25% of CS Score) How professional, helpful and friendly were the staff members?: 9
(20% of CS Score) How easy was it to find their information before* arrival?: 10
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Using GPS, we found the spot quite easily. While we did not see signage leading to the haunt, once we approached the place, there was a sign on the main road just in front of the driveway (and some flowy ghost guys) to let us know we reached our destination.
There were two friendly parking attendants directing us where to park in the gravel parking area just in front of the main attraction. Porta Potties were available just outside the haunt as well. In general, this haunt is not handicap accessible. This haunt is a physical one: you will be walking on uneven ground, crawling, wading, climbing, and sliding your way through. Be sure to wear comfortable clothing and athletic shoes because you will be moving a lot.
There were two places to get tickets with prices and bundles clearly visible. There was also a nice little souvenir shop, and a food trailer on site.
Staff was approachable, helpful, and very informative.
Fear on the Farm has an active Facebook page as well as a website. Unfortunately, the website does not explain the story behind Bloody Mary or Crescent Inn. They do have their basic information posted, including address, phone numbers, hours of operation, dates, attractions, ticket information, and directions.
They do more than haunted houses too! We got a sense that they are quite active in the community year long, not just Halloween Season.
Atmosphere: 7.6
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
(40% of Atmosphere Score) How well did the atmosphere prepare you for what you experienced inside?: 7
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As soon as we approached the parking area, we knew that we were headed to an event. The barn is professionally designed and painted by local talent in a haunted barn motif. There is music, and three painted hearses with the haunted houses’ names on them. There is a friendly fellow bearing a modern day haunted jack-in-the-box that will dart out at you and give you a startle. There is even a lighted photo booth available for those photo ops. The queue area is dark, but painted with bright paint that reacts to black lighting and you will get to make friends with Bubble Barf.
After each haunt, we were directed back into the wait line to prepare to enter the next haunt. While you’re waiting, you can enjoy a movie and hang out with some interesting characters in the queue area.
Special Effects: 7.9
How Did We Get This Score?
Special Effects Scores (15% of Final Score):
(20% of SFX Score) How effective were the sound effects?: 7
(20% of SFX Score) How creative / original were the scenes & props?: 9.5
(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?: 7
(15% of SFX Score) How effective were the SFX at providing scares / entertainment?: 7
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There was a lot of screaming going on. We could hear loud music. Crescent Inn had nice detail throughout the haunt. We found ourselves looking above us at the candle light fixtures, to the jars of faces on dressers, and even walls with books plastered on them. The wet experience was well executed and entertaining. ‘The laundry room’ was beyond anything we could have imagined. We will never look at laundry the same ever again, that’s for sure! We found ourselves crawling through many unexpected areas.
The caverns were nicely constructed and sculpted. We did get to see a neat mechanism that makes one think of the ‘Pop Goes The Weasel’ toy, but a weasel you will not get.
Considering this haunt is reimagined and completely rebuilt every year, the details were nice to behold.
Theme: 8.9
How Did We Get This Score?
Theme Scores (5% of Final Score):
(30% of Theme Score) Could you tell what the theme was?: 10
(50% of Theme Score) How well was the theme carried throughout the attraction/s?: 9
(20% of Theme Score) How well does their location authenticate the theme?: 7
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For people familiar with Bloody Mary in the comics, the theme would be much easier to follow. While comics were plastered on the walls inside the haunt, they were small and difficult to read. A remedy could be to offer those blown up versions of the storyline on the walls in the queue area for visitors to read while they are in line.
Crescent Inn was very easy to follow. The theme was carried out in each room we entered. We all have a familiarity with hotels and overnight accommodations, so we were able to relate to that theme with ease. Everything fit together nicely and made sense.
Scare Factor: 6.68
How Did We Get This Score?
Scare Factor Scores (15% of Final Score):
(30% of Scare Factor Score) How scary was it?: 7
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How well did they provide scares to the entire group?: 6.5
(25% of Scare Factor Score) How predictable were the scares?: 6
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How well did they provide a wide variety of scares?: 8
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How strong was the ending / finale?: 6
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There were times we were taken out of our comfort zone, whether it be navigating floors at crazy angles and slopes, demented beings screaming in our face, drinking bizarre looking fluids, crawling on hands and knees, or the classic touches to your back. The scares seemed evenly balanced. People in the middle might get touched, or the lady standing in the back of the group might get called out for special treatment. There were some sneaky actors, laying in perfect stillness until they were ready to let someone have it.
Entertainment & Value: 9.2
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?: 10
(15% of E&V Score) Have they effectively used their available space?: 10
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Fear on the Farm has two haunted attractions (Crescent Inn Haunted House and Bloody Mary Caverns), 2 coffin ride simulators, a haunted virtual reality experience, and multiple escape rooms (Miners Revenge, 3 Mins or Die, and Last Ride). Each attraction can be purchased separately, or bundled in a variety of ways for a small discount.
Both haunted houses shared an entrance and exit area, which could be frustrating for a customer to get back into the same queue area all over again to see the second haunt. Sharing an exit leads customers to experience the same ending, which takes you out of the moment, causing the exit to not be a strong one.
This was an entertaining haunted house experience for us. Both haunted houses together did last around 30 minutes. Pricing at $15 each seemed appropriate, as compared to similar haunted attractions. When you arrive at the barn, you have no idea how two haunted houses could possibly fit, but looks are deceiving. All space was adequately used. There were no dead areas. Most equipment was used in a proper entertaining manner.
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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