Field of Screams Haunted Forest Review (2026)

We were excited to experience both the Haunted Forest and Coulrophobia at Field of Screams, so we purchased our tickets online and signed the waiver included in the confirmation email that arrived immediately afterward. We arrived about 20 minutes before opening and joined a line of fellow guests who seemed just as eager as we were to get inside. Once the gates opened, we discovered two lines: one for guests who had purchased tickets online and another for those buying tickets at the door. Although buying tickets online allowed us to skip the line, we opted to wait because we wanted to take advantage of the $5 food voucher advertised on the haunt’s Instagram account. With several food trucks on-site, we already had dinner plans!

Even before we entered the main area, actors were making their way down the line, interacting with guests and building excitement for the night ahead. Once inside, we found plenty to keep us entertained while we waited for our turn to enter the Haunted Forest. Along with the food trucks, there were carnival games, merchandise for sale, spooky drinks, fire pits, pyrotechnic entertainment, and a DJ playing upbeat music. Guests were assigned numbers for entry into the Haunted Forest, with the numbers displayed on a screen to let everyone know when their turn was approaching. Coulrophobia had a more traditional queue that wound its way toward the entrance, although most guests seemed to be heading into the Haunted Forest first, likely so they wouldn’t miss their number being called. The entry process was a little confusing at times, and things seemed to slow down as guests tried to figure out where they needed to be and when it was their turn. Still, there was plenty to enjoy while we waited, and the lively atmosphere gave everyone a chance to grab some food, play games, and get into the Halloween spirit before heading into the haunts.

The Haunted Forest has definitely stepped up its game since our last visit a few years ago! The familiar dark trail through the thick Missouri woods was still there, along with Camp Crystal Lake, Jason, and several other scenes we remembered. However, there were plenty of new surprises waiting for us in the dense fog too. Stone walls suddenly closed in around us, new characters emerged from the darkness, and unexpected scares kept us guessing about what we might encounter next. One of the haunt’s greatest strengths is how well it draws you into the experience. Rather than feeling like we were moving from one staged scare to another, we felt immersed in the woods, never quite sure what might be watching us from the darkness or waiting just ahead on the trail.

Coulrophobia does a great job of immersing you in a world where the fun of a carnival has taken a disturbing turn. The rundown carnival setting, vibrant blacklights, glowing paint, and unsettling circus music all work together to create an atmosphere that feels strange and otherworldly. Rather than feeling like you’re walking through a series of separate scenes, you feel as though you’ve stumbled into a carnival where the fun has taken a sinister turn.

The Haunted Forest, though typically dark and shrouded in fog, also surprised us with a completely different kind of environment. One area was filled with bright white light, dense fog, and rapid strobing that made it nearly impossible to get our bearings. An actor dressed entirely in white came after us, but between the disorienting lights and thick fog, we could barely make him out! Even finding our way to the exit proved difficult, making the entire experience feel like a struggle to escape.

Coulrophobia’s special effects took a very different approach, using eerie circus music, blacklights, and fluorescent paint to bring its carnival setting to life. The glowing colors and details throughout the scenes created a striking visual effect, while the unsettling music added another layer to the experience. From the scenic design to the lighting and sound, these elements worked together to give Coulrophobia its own distinct style.

For the Haunted Forest, our group of four was combined with another group of four before entering the attraction. Eight people is a fairly large group to move through a haunt, especially when it comes to scares. With so many people together, it can be difficult for one or two actors to give everyone an equally memorable experience. For much of our walkthrough, the scares were directed toward the front of the group, leaving those of us in the back watching the action unfold without getting to experience as many scares ourselves. However, some actors made a point of waiting for those of us toward the back to catch up before giving us our own scares. We really appreciated that extra effort, and since we weren’t expecting it, those encounters caught us completely off guard!

In Coulrophobia, we encountered more clowns than I could count! Many of them were wielding chainsaws, which, if you’re anything like me, makes an already frightening encounter even more terrifying. There’s something particularly intimidating about a chainsaw-wielding clown coming straight toward you! At one point, I found myself trapped between two clowns, one on either side of me, both holding chainsaws. With nowhere to go, I had no choice but to stand there and hope they’d let me pass. It was an intense encounter that definitely got my heart racing!

The Haunted Forest on its own costs $28.00 and $32.53 with tax. Coulrophobia tickets only cost $22.00 and $26.21 with tax. We opted for the combo pass for $47.00 and $52.52 with tax. The Haunted Forest with fast pass option is $43.00 and $48.31 with tax.

We spent a total of 27 minutes walking through both attractions, with 20 minutes in the Haunted Forest and just 7 minutes in Coulrophobia. Although both attractions were advertised as taking approximately 20–35 minutes to complete, our experience with Coulrophobia fell well short of that estimate. We were moved through the Haunted Forest fairly quickly, yet still spent a reasonable amount of time exploring it. We enjoyed the atmosphere and actors inside Coulrophobia and wished it could have lasted longer. We hope to see Coulrophobia continue to grow and offer an even longer experience in the future, as we’d love to spend more time exploring what this haunted carnival has to offer!