Hanna Haunted Acres Review (2024)

Cannibal Chaos is a journey into the dark corners of a backwoods country, filled with flesh-hungry maniacs. As they hear the dinner bell ring, these cannibals begin to salivate, because they know their next meal has just arrived. This group of psychos are feral and mean and don’t mind taking every chance to show you they mean business. Violent in nature, these beasts stalk and lunge for you at every turn. Each actor had unique dialogue and kept the line moving well without it feeling too repetitive. One actor was wanting fingers while banging on a steel drum; another had a doll, whose head she ATE! They really wanted to make friends but we weren’t feeling very friendly. Stalker, a creepy flesh mask-wearing freak kept trying to give us a spider, named “Nora” surprisingly. Each actor also had a different and unique costume, keeping each scene new and refreshing.

Bitten is a gothic trip into medieval Transylvania through a castle that’s been overrun by bloodthirsty vampires who have existed rampant and unchecked for ages, waiting to turn you into a member of their brood – or just use you as a juice box. These unholy grounds are rife with actors portraying attackers and victims alike to keep it more entertaining. We were bombarded almost every minute, not leaving even a chance to catch our breath. Each victim actor was convincing and felt like they were truly in peril. The Lady of Vampires met us in her fountain room and after assaulting an innocent victim and forcing her to drink from the fountain, insisted we indulge as well and achieve eternal life. No thanks!

Hanna Haunted Hayride is a serious thrill for those brave enough to climb aboard the long wagon. Dare they make it out alive as it’s loaded with monsters coming at you from all angles?! As the ride began, we were almost instantly ambushed by a screaming witch and a twisting and contorting demon nurse. Hot on their trail were a pair of chainsaw-wielding demons, one even had a fancy handlebar mustache! They loved getting as up close and personal as they could; making you squirm brings them delight. A group of witches shrieked and demanded our souls in exchange for passage! Stitches, a masked jumpsuit-wearing psycho tormented us with his gang of chainsaw maniacs, narrowly missing our heads as they swung them around wildly. A sinister skull-robed priest warned us of the Executioner before sending us to certain doom!

Stalker Farms grows more than corn: they grow fear, and it’s harvest season. The creatures of the corn have come to reap the harvest and you better be quick if you intend on staying alive. These Cornmen, as we have dubbed them, appear to be some manifestation of grotesque scarecrows that have come to life. They’re really great at lying in ambush, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. This evil malevolent force appears to have taken over more than just scarecrows as well. A monstrous pumpkin creature lunged from behind a combine, snarling as we scurried past. Another one of the Cornmen insisted we pet his chicken; however, he must not have received a brain like the scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz because this fool thought a chainsaw was a chicken! Or maybe he just wanted to chop us up into itty bitty pieces. As we drew near the end, a farmer and his livestock- who have turned into freaky creatures, deer, goats, and even a possum- crawled and a sheep chased us out with weapons and a chainsaw!

Come one, come all! Step right up to the Freakshow, where your scariest imaginations come to life! This Satanic spectacle exhibits the world’s worst circus and its array of demonic oddities. A striped clown greeted us and sealed our doom as we were introduced to a cotton candy man who appeared to be consumed by the sugary treat. Clowns berated us as we hurried through their devilish funhouse. Into the dressing room we snuck, where we were confronted by an irate circus leader who screamed for us to get out! Princess led us into the animal ring, where a super tall jester on stilts towered over us, his bloody ruffles almost dripping. Through a tunnel we escaped, but we almost became a part of the show!

Our final test lay in the depths of the abyss known as Dark Echoes. It’s a cavernous dungeon that some demonic force has laid claim to, summoning demons and mummies from the afterworld. Blood-soaked princesses shriek in horror and black hooded figures startle and confuse you. One intricately decorated character was a mummy priestess with an elaborate headdress that featured ornaments on them. Some of the demons also had Satanic inscriptions and horns on their face shrouds. The darkness gave them the ability to stalk us unnoticed and pop out when we least expected it.

First and foremost, it was clear that the costuming this season had received a significant overhaul! We’re pretty sure all the looks were new to this year, as we didn’t recognize any of the looks or styles from previous years. This significant improvement was especially impressive considering the sheer number of actors spread across the six haunts!

In Cannibal Chaos, the farm-themed terror was instilled by gritty, distressed outfits like overalls and flannel shirts, perfectly fitting for the chaotic vibe. We noticed dirtied skin, grunged-up teeth, fresh cuts, and wounds that made the characters look like they’d lived through a nightmare. One stand-out costume featured an indescribable possible animal head mask with a third eye, while another sported a gas mask-like contraption that added a creepy, apocalyptic feel. What did they need that for inside a barn? Props like the girl holding a doll and a few weapons further enhanced the horror, and each character looked like they had crawled out of a dirty, old barn.

Inside what’s left of the manor, the elegant yet haunting costumes stood out. The vampires wore beautifully tattered gowns and old-timey clothing, giving the house a classy, undead feel. The lead vampire’s look was particularly striking, complete with a Victorian collar. While none of the vampire actors had super-obvious fangs, their dead, ghostly appearances more than made up for it. The cast looked like they had just stepped out of a gothic horror novel.

On the hayride, the costumes were much more noticeable this time around. As the cast members jumped on and swarmed the wagon, we noticed unique masks, cloaks, and other full attire that matched the scenery around them, for the most part. Stitches sported a stand-out costume along with the chainsaw maniac with horns and the bushman. While we’re not quite sure how this one fit in, but the nurse’s outfit looked creepy as heck as they writhed around on the rails of the wagon!

In Stalker Farms, the costumes sometimes blended into the rows so well that we couldn’t see that we were in imminent danger! Many of the characters sported animal faces, such as a cat, deer, an opossum, and more, adding to the primal feel of the path. One of the stand-out costumes was the pumpkin man, who brought just the right amount of autumn creepiness to the farm. Overall, the costumes here felt right at home in the cornfield setting, adding to the unsettling, rural atmosphere.

In the Freakshow, the costumes were a colorful nightmare! Actors disappeared into their surroundings for no other reason than their costumes were just that good! The Ice Cream Man’s costume was one of the best, with a unique ice cream cone mask and a cone on top. The stilted clown and Princess had impressive get-ups featuring colored contacts and creepy makeup that elevated their looks. In a room full of clowns, we had no idea which ones were real, keeping us on edge throughout! We would like to note that we’d love to see some costumes added here that aren’t clowns.

As we journeyed through the darkness within Dark Echoes, shadows darted at us from beyond the walls. What were these? We dubbed them the ninjas of the darkness! And boy, were they good at frolicking in it and watching our every move! In addition to these dark forms, we uncovered that this haunt had some of the most evil-looking costumes on the property! At least three costumes were so unique and layered that they took this haunt to the next level! We’re not sure what a few of them were, but that’s a good thing – they looked so gnarly!

Across the board, Hanna nailed many of the looks this season. From the rustic horror of Cannibal Chaos to the twisted elegance of Bitten, every haunt featured outfits that added to the story and made each attraction feel fully immersive. In addition, all of the masks appeared to be of great quality, and whoever those airbrush artists are – wow! You all created some amazing looks!

Getting to Hanna Haunted Acres and navigating most of the property was super easy. Before we even turned on to the road leading to the park, there was a sign bearing the haunt’s name to let us know we were basically there. More signs and a helpful parking team guided cars into a vast lot full of free parking. Above the haunt’s entrance, an impressive banner also had their name and some of their new icon characters. The ticket booth was straight ahead.

Hanna uses a sliding scale pricing system for tickets, meaning you can expect cheaper prices earlier in the season or on slower nights, but these will increase as it gets closer to Halloween. A variety of options were available to tailor our experience as we saw fit. Here was the breakdown the night we came:

General Admission (Combo Pass) – $40
General Admission – Unlimited Entry – $50
Fast Pass – $53
Immediate Access – $65
Fast Pass – Unlimited Entry – $76

Hayride Only – $27
Hayride Only – Fast Pass – $37

Plenty of helpful staff were around to assist and security was on site keeping everyone safe. Big banners directed customers to the restrooms and where they could purchase concessions (shout out to Hanna for having actual working sinks by the potties near the entrance!). At each attraction, the entry points for GA, Fast Pass, and Immediate Access were clearly labeled.

Hanna Haunted Acres greeted us with a brand-new look, instantly giving off that eerie haunted vibe you’d expect in the rural countryside, surrounded by towering stalks of corn. The large signage was impossible to miss as soon as we parked, which set the tone for our spooky evening of frights.

As we stepped into the midway, it didn’t take long before some incredibly detailed queue actors spotted us – and the scares were on! With carnival-style lighting, food stands, games, multiple roaming characters, digital signs, music, flickering lights, and photo ops sprinkled throughout, we knew we were in for a treat. The detailed entrances to most of the haunts only added to the excitement, giving us the perfect mix of thrill and anticipation!

Each indoor haunt and the trail at Hanna Haunted Acres followed its own unique storyline, and the detailed signage outside each attraction made that clear. Not only did the signs let us know which haunt we were about to enter, but they also hinted at the storyline and gave us a preview of the characters we might encounter. Meeting most scareactors on the signage and from their promos was great! While the hayride didn’t follow a storyline, it showcased a variety of fears and scenes with no common theme, and the waiting area took us out of the party-like atmosphere of the midway and into more of a rustic, farm-like feel.

Inside the indoor haunts, the immersion was solid, with the detailed sets and environments drawing us deeper into the storyline, keeping us on edge throughout. There were a few moments where the tension dipped due to some dead spots, but overall, the atmosphere remained intense. The only significant disruption came in Dark Echoes, where a wide-open door leading outside momentarily broke the spooky illusion.

The hayride, however, did an impressive job of minimizing dead space, keeping the scares consistent. The only issue was after the main finale – passing by many stored items broke the immersion a bit. Finding a way to hide these would improve the overall experience. On the corn trail, the towering stalks entirely surrounded us, creating a sense of isolation. We ran into another group several times, but we simply let them pass. While there were occasional quiet moments, the trail kept us primarily engaged and on alert. When a breeze would hit and that corn would move, you bet your butt we were searching for the culprit!

CANNIBAL CHAOS: Cautiously stepping into the cabin that served as the farmhouse for this cannibalistic hillbilly family, the first thing we noticed was the array of hunting gear hung on the walls. That should’ve been our first warning we were making a huge mistake going in there, but we’re haunt reviewers… we never learn. Another scene early in the house had an impressive number of taxidermied animals mounted on the walls – this clan were prolific hunters! A zombie rushing at us from an animated window swiftly had its face blown off. The family’s truck about ran us over at one point, barely contained by a gate as it honked and lurched forward. Animatronic threats, like a lunging skeleton, a corpse rising out of a rolling chair, and barking angry hounds were found throughout the house, along with a giant pendulum swinging from the ceiling! Watch out! Colorful strobe lights in one room enhanced the creep factor and made it slightly harder to find our way. The torso of a man with his legs sliced off (!) dripped blood into a bathtub in keeping with the gory, cannibalistic nature of the attraction. All of this was backed by a fun techno mix with banjo music, a bit of an odd choice but it did match the theme.

More sensory SFX would be a great addition to this already solid house, i.e. water and fog effects. They did have strobes and at least one air blast. Some animatronics, like the dogs, could use some repairs or replacement as they are showing wear and tear.

BITTEN: Entering this mansion that served as a lair for a clan of vampires, we admired the ornate wallpaper and old portraits that lined multiple scenes and hallways. Some of these were as possessed as this old house was, with animations of a young girl turning demonic, a ship sailing on the waves, and we saw one of an older man with creepy eyes at least twice. (Did he bear some significance here? Maybe the family patriarch?) A soundtrack that started off classical eventually turned more sinister the further we progressed. You’ll note I said “possessed” – the vampires weren’t the only thing you had to worry about here! Anything and everything could and did come to life, including cabinet doors, a child’s bed thrashing about as the spectre of her ghost rose above it, and even the whole ceiling opening up on its own! Red tendrils resembling blood vessels were an amazing touch throughout the haunt. We passed through a scene with several caskets in disarray… and not all of them were empty either. An unfortunate live victim sitting in a chair was being fed upon by a realistic bat puppet right before our eyes. Near the end of the haunt, we walked through an incredible scene that appeared to be the heart of this living house: the blood vessels had completely consumed it to the point where they were hanging from the ceiling!

While there were plenty of animatronic props and startles, we didn’t see much for sensory effects. Adding some where possible would make this house even more immersive to walk through.

HANNA HAUNTED HAYRIDE: Holy smokes – the park’s signature attraction was loaded with special effects! All sorts of animatronic effects, monsters, and scares menaced our wagon as we rolled through the woods. Right off the bat, a big sign almost toppled over to smash us! Multiple fire effects were used, both at random and as part of scenes. Several of the beasts we saw were larger-than-life, like two gigantic demons and even a freaking dragon! A team of pallbearers carried a casket our way… but it seemed the person within it wasn’t quite dead yet. Floating through the night, a graveyard ghoul drifted back and forth over our heads. Strobes illuminated the cabin that was home to killer chainsaw-wielding crazies. Cobwebs lined the lair of a massive SPIDER – that promptly dropped on our wagon! Eek! A cluster of jack-o’-lanterns glowed within a shack, and we also saw a cute effect with a trio of pumpkins singing to us.

There were some quiet points that could be filled in by either a consistent soundtrack or some sound effects. The train was awesome and included fog, but needed a loud horn or something to complete it.

STALKER FARMS: Not long after entering the corn, we noticed the bodies of less fortunate intruders strung up like scarecrows… yet another warning our group chose to ignore. The corn was lit well to accentuate set pieces without providing too much clearance to find our way. We walked by some very large farm vehicles, including a combine and other equipment, and also passed a chicken coop. (Which might’ve been a ruse for a little surprise I’m not going to spoil!) You could say we were SHOOK for a moment by an animatronic walkway. Sound effects were used at various points.

We encourage the Hanna team to continue adding on to the corn maze to make it a fully fleshed out attraction (as much as a corn maze can be). Some fog would be excellent in here!

FREAKSHOW: In addition to the multitude of creepy clowns and other freaks we faced off with, there were many other interesting sights and sounds under the Big Top. The fanged maw of a huge grinning clown provided a great entrance. A rotating ball sent colorful dots of light around one scene. Many rooms were decked out in fun textures or colors, like multicolored hand prints. An excellent funhouse-style soundtrack played in the background. There were tons of circus-related props: cotton candy, nasty bloody buckets of popcorn, a layer of carnival game prizes covering walls. The animatronic game of whack-a-skull left us longing to play! A fortune teller’s booth contained various artifacts and a glowing crystal ball. Surrounded by playing cards, a prop magician proudly displayed a box containing a gory victim sawed in half. A crazy collection of oddities filled the shelves in another scene. Stacks of colorful barrels nearly fell over on us later in the house! Strobes in multiple rooms, along with a vortex tunnel, provided sensory effects. We also really liked the dressing room scene; loaded with detail and so realistic!

The funhouse mirrors were looking worse for the wear and needed to be cleaned or replaced entirely – those weren’t as effective as they could’ve been.

DARK ECHOES: This dark underworld had a cavernous environment that truly made us feel like we’d descended below the earth. Several skeletal corpses were entombed within its walls. Water dripped between the teeth of a massive carved skull, and additional skulls formed the textures of some walls. An enormous animatronic beast- with numerous arms!- rose up and roared at us from a pit. Fiery sconces flickered against the stone. A foreboding soundtrack played and walking through one area, a sharp noise like a blade slicing through flesh drew our attention upward, though it wasn’t obvious what the source was. (We were probably better off not knowing!) Not every skeleton was actually dead; one thrashed toward us like it had been reanimated! One of the best effects in the house involved a booby trap from above, and another that was a hit with our group was the red laser effect that made it seem like we were wading through the River Styx – complete with an incredible animatronic of a reaper piloting a huge boat.

This house was really cool as it is, but additional detail could be added to the walls to enhance immersion. More water effects would do well here too.

Hanna Haunted Acres maintains quite a thrilling and intense ride from beginning to end. They utilize classic and new techniques to scare, and those scares will last. Even roaming the Boneyard Midway, the creatures will surprise you at every opportunity.

In Cannibal Chaos, this house was fast-paced with in-your-face action. While it might have been a few actors or a lot, we couldn’t tell. They came from all over, so anticipating direction was futile. The animatronics they did have were just to distract so the actors could do the heavy work. Lights and darkness led to the hysteria that made us confused. Gore was also a scare method used here. At the finale, we were ganged up on from both sides!

Bitten felt more theatrical and shocking than filled with in-your-face quick scares. The vampires featured inside were gothic and dramatic. Freaks lunged from the shadows from all angles, creating the illusion they were surrounding us at all times. Watching a vampire smack and forcefully feed a victim blood left us fleeing to the next scene quickly. The finale was exceptionally shocking as a victim used a hand-operated large bat puppet to bite his own neck, making it appear so real. However, this could have served as the perfect distraction for another scare for a more intense, double-tap finale.

The hayride is truly eye candy for the adrenaline junkie. It’s filled with spectacular animatronics that come from just about every direction. The actors through the hayride are just as intense and won’t leave you room to squirm as they get very up close and personal. They use Incan Death Whistles and real chainsaws to torment you as you go. While the ending could’ve been a bit more grandiose, the ride was filled with all types of startles.

At Stalker Farms, the maze was the most dread-inducing, anxiety-driving thrill ride. The suspense built up between each jump scare helped lead to the inevitable moment it happened and made it that much scarier. The creatures and scarecrows mean business, and they won’t let you pass easily. They had a great gig with one of the scarecrows trying to show us his chicken, which turned out to be a chainsaw. The animals took up some weapons, and we were chased out by a sheep with a chainsaw. That sheep has some mean cardio!

In the Freakshow, this is a dizzying and dazzling spectacle of delights and oddities. Frantic and spastic clowns and circus performers pop in and out every which way. The scenes were intricately decorated and made the illusion that the circus itself came to life. They kept playing with us all the way to the end, which was a tunnel that will make you glad you still have any balance. One of the stand-out scares here was the distraction lined up by Princess. She made sure she kept our attention so well that we never saw the stilted jester coming at us… until it was too late! We’ll buy some popcorn to that!

In Dark Echoes, the darkness was their ally and our worst nightmare in this twisted cavern filled with occultists and their dark lords. If you’re afraid of the dark, this haunt will keep you on edge the whole way through. In addition to the ninjas of darkness, large-than-life beasts attacked, and nearly every nook and cranny turned into a jump scare. Several devious distractions left us trembling, and multiple costumes were downright scary-looking! We would have liked to see a stronger finale here.

Hanna Haunted Acres provided plenty of queue entertainment to keep us engaged during our visit, with various interactive queue actors, high-quality photo ops, and lively music creating a fun atmosphere while we waited. Though they usually offer fire pits, they were under a burn ban during our visit.

In addition to the main haunts, there was an excellent array of on-site activities available for an extra fee. Guests could enjoy hatchet throwing, VR experiences, carnival games, and shop for souvenirs in the gift shop. The food and beverage options were top-notch, featuring a bar, kettle corn, and other treats, making Hanna Haunted Acres a one-stop shop for a night of scares and entertainment!

With the major overhaul we experienced this season, the impressive changes blew us away. The improvements in set design, scare quality, and overall experience truly stand out. This haunt is a fang-tastic option if you want lots of spooky entertainment for your dollar! And remember – once you step through those doors, they’ll be patiently waiting… To have you for dinner!