Gearing up for its 33rd year of harvesting fears, Field of Screams is a scream park located in Mountville, Pennsylvania. They offer four different attractions: two indoor experiences, Den of Darkness and Frightmare Asylum, a haunted outdoor trail called Nocturnal Wasteland, and a hayride. Beware, this scream park is a touch haunt. Also, please note that all three attractions feature stairs and ramps, so plan accordingly before your visit.
Each year, while the four main attractions remain the same, they undergo extensive remodels, and a unique setting is added to each haunt. We always appreciate and enjoy the increasing creativity they bring to every attraction annually.
Here are the overall scores we had for each attraction:
Den of Darkness- 8.75
Frightmare Asylum- 9.01
Hayride- 9.17
Nocturnal wasteland 7.8
During our visit, most cast members performed their roles well throughout the attractions. However, certain areas felt understaffed and a bit lifeless, while some rooms had too many cast members at once. We recognize the challenge of hiring staff these days, but overall, this was the category we rated the lowest.
Den of Darkness: The cast members inside the den were consistently on point throughout the attraction. As we moved through, we met several different characters, each interacting with us to enhance the experience. For example, the mechanic greeted us in the garage and invited us in. In the kitchen, a cast member announced, “Dinner’s ready,” although the smell left much to be desired. Upstairs in the study, another staff member quieted us down with a firm “shhh” for being too loud.
On our way up to the attic, we were greeted by a small girl who wanted to play peek-a-boo and asked us to stay with her and her dolls. Although we couldn’t remain with her, our descent to the basement brought a terrifying surprise: a chainsaw-wielding maniac trying to drive us out of the old, dark house. We really enjoyed how the cast members were really interacting with us throughout our stay in this house.
Frightmare Asylum: We thought it would be your ordinary asylum, but we were wrong! The cast members inside this attraction were really crazy and off the wall. The patients have taken control, replacing Dr. M. We managed to escape from a few patients on the first floor with nail guns. We were met by even more patients, many of whom said, “Don’t tell them I did this,” while he was ripping the intestines out of a patient who was dead on the table.
We climbed to the top floor of the massive asylum, where a patient greeted us and demanded we leave him alone in his attic. Later, upon reaching the bottom floor, we encountered yet another horror: a chainsaw-wielding maniac chased us out.
Nocturnal Wasteland: While walking through Nocturnal Wasteland, it was clear that few cast members had made it out of the fallout shelters. There wasn’t much activity except for a handful of cast members wandering the trail and others hiding in the laser swamp, popping out to interact with guests. One memorable cast member was a woman standing by a tree with a hole in it, assuring us we would be safe if we went inside.
Hayride: Where do we start? From the first scene of the hayride to the last, every cast member was excellent and highly interactive with the guests during the ride. There were plenty of cast members contributing to the overall experience. The new gas station scene especially stood out, featuring a hillbilly drinking gasoline while his boss argued with him, making it our favorite part of the night. Another highlight occurred in the clown barn, where a cast member performed a backbend walk among the guests, impressively using her flexibility and engaging with everyone.
Across all attractions, the costumes, masks, props, and makeup were well put together. Field of Screams stands out by providing a wide variety of masks and weapons for many cast members in each attraction.
Den of Darkness: At the start of the attraction, we were greeted by a cast member in torn dress clothes with impressively realistic burnt makeup. The attention to detail in the costume was excellent. Next, the mechanic appeared in a dark blue jumpsuit and a latex mask. In the library, the librarian’s makeup enhanced the spooky effect, and at the grand finale, the maniacs brandishing chainsaws wore terrifying masks.
Throughout the first attraction, actors wore either masks or makeup. As far as we could tell, the only actor using a prop was the chainsaw maniac, who pursued us with his saw.
Frightmare Asylum: Costuming was easily our favorite part of this attraction. The detail in many of the costumes was visually impressive, but one that really stood out featured a girl with metal appearing to pierce through her mouth and wrap around her jaw. The effect was so realistic and impactful. We have to give major credit to the makeup team for this creative idea!
We really enjoyed the props featured in this attraction. The nail guns, intestines, and saws used by the cast members were all effective and added a lot to the overall experience.
Nocturnal Wasteland: The costumes worn by the cast members we saw were on point. We especially enjoyed the detailed masks and some of the character makeup. Throughout this attraction, we only saw one chainsaw being used and noticed no other props.
Hayride: The experience began with a remarkably realistic and detailed lab worker, setting a high bar for costumes on the hayride. Two costume moments stood out: first, the cast members in the new gas station scene. Each costume captured the feeling of being in the boonies and added to the authenticity. We also appreciated the scene’s props, guns, cigarettes, and gas cans, all of which appeared convincing and perfectly appropriate for their setting.
The second moment that stood out was when we were in the toxic wasteland. The costumes in this scene were all illuminated by blacklights. Even the masks and makeup added to the memorable atmosphere created by the blacklight effect.
Field of Screams truly prioritizes customer service. Parking was straightforward and organized, with a friendly attendant helping us. At the entrance, another staff member guided us to the ticket area. The only downside was in Nocturnal Wasteland, where dimly lit stairs made it hard to see and nearly caused us to trip. More lighting in these areas would be helpful.
The pre-haunt atmosphere was very well crafted, setting the stage for an intense experience. The beautifully designed facades immediately gave us a creeped-out feeling. Most of the attraction storylines were well executed, though Den of Darkness was sometimes confusing and hard to follow. Still, we stayed fully immersed in the attraction thanks to the absence of any dead space. The other attractions were similarly engaging, always offering something to see with no empty or dull areas.
We were blown away by the special effects featured in every attraction at this scream park. The soundtracks throughout were spot-on and added to the atmosphere. The only drawback was that some areas in Frightmare Asylum were so loud that it made it hard to hear the cast members.
Second, every attraction featured incredible detail, from the numerous animatronics to the cleverly designed props. We were thoroughly impressed by the level of craftsmanship and the painstaking effort that went into making the entire park feel so realistic. We absolutely love how the buses are in Nocturnal Wasteland and how they intercomp with the hayride. You will not see something like this at any other haunted house!
Lastly, it’s rare to find haunted attractions that feature as many sensory effects as this one. Field of Screams truly nails it with their use of these elements. We especially enjoyed hearing thunder crash and then seeing lightning flash through the windows of the Den of Darkness dining room.
We really enjoyed our time in Nocturnal Wasteland, especially watching the fire shoot up into the air. The laser swamp was incredibly effective and immersive. Of all the attractions, the hayride stood out for its sensory effects – from the moving floor to the dramatic fire in the crane scene. Our favorite, though, was the gas station sequence, where motorcycles toppled and a car rolled away, causing the gas pump to burst into flames. This unique effect was unlike anything we’ve experienced before.
21. How scary was it? (35% of score): 7.25
22. How well did they provide scares to everyone in the group? (15% of score): 8.5
23. How predictable were the scares? (25% of score): 8.71
24. How well did they provide a wide variety (types) of scares? (10% of score): 8.33
25. How strong was the ending / finale? (15% of score): 8.54
Each attraction offers some solid scares, but we did wish Nocturnal Wasteland delivered more thrills. Every haunt provided a diverse range of frights, with scares coming from all directions. The finales across the attractions were similar, so if you’ve made it this far, you’ll be prepared for what happens at each ending.
General admission tickets start at $40 on select nights, with prices increasing as Halloween approaches. During our visit, we spent 53 minutes inside the attraction, achieving a minutes-per-dollar (MPD) ratio of $1.32 -above the haunted attraction average, so you get good value for your money. Fast pass upgrades are available for an extra $20.
We recommend purchasing tickets online, especially since some nights require you to pick a time slot. On select evenings, live bands and DJs play throughout the night. For an additional cost, you can enjoy a variety of games and the lively food court, which features a chainsaw-themed bar next door for drinks!
The scream park is filled with numerous photo opportunities. Throughout your visit, you’ll encounter actors roaming around and interacting with guests. There’s also a very well put-together merchandise shop. We survived the screams, can you??
191 College Ave, Mountville, Pennsylvania 17554
