Features:
✓-Free Parking✓-Restrooms/Porta Potties On-Site✓-Food/Concessions✓-Gift Shop/Souvenirs✓-“Old-School” (Low Tech)✓-You will NOT be touched✓-Movie Characters✓-Original Characters✓-Celebrity Appearances✓-Uncovered Outdoor Waiting Line✓-Indoor/Outdoor Attraction
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: 8.17
How Did We Get This Score?
Final Scores:
(15% of Final Score) Cast: 7.96
(15% of Final Score) Costuming: 7.81
(10% of Final Score) Customer Service: 8.37
(10% of Final Score) Atmosphere: 8.06
(15% of Final Score) Special Effects: 8.51
(5% of Final Score) Theme:
(15% of Final Score) Scare Factor: 8.16
(5% of Final Score) Entertainment & Value: 8.61
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Summary:
Visitors to Kreepy Hollow are in for an intense night of scares as they enjoy the haunt’s bus ride, cemetery walk, multi-story haunted house, and hayride back to the front entrance. Clowns, zombies, classical movie monsters, and more wait for you in the halls, aisles, and trails of this massive event. Buried in the wilderness of Bishopville, South Carolina this multi-phase haunt has been scaring guests for over a decade. Prepare for a long night of screams at this legendary Southern haunt.
With a number of updates this year to the house and hayride make sure that you return to the halls/trails/bus of Kreepy Hollow to see all the changes that they’ve made!
Cast: 7.96
How Did We Get This Score?
Cast Scores (15% of Final Score):
(20% of Cast Score) Did it seem like there were enough actors?: 8.1
(30% of Cast Score) How creative, believable and convincing were the actors?: 7.8
(20% of Cast Score) How interactive were the actors (verbally and physically)?: 8.5
(15% of Cast Score) How creatively & appropriately did they use dialogue?: 7
(15% of Cast Score) Was there a good variety of characters?: 8.3
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Roughly 80 actors move throughout the various parts of the haunt, and there is no shortage of monsters to face throughout a visit to Kreepy Hollow. Actors here really put their all into scaring their victims, and the effort shows in every scream and every person sent running scared.
It cannot be understated how physically demanding the position of Kreepy Hollow haunter is. Our team is constantly impressed by the monsters weaving in and out of the bus as they work the length of the vehicle. Inside the house a Nun loomed large over the scenery as our crew tried to slide past to safety. A voodoo practitioner managed to transport us further South to the bayou with his chants and shouts. Once you reach the concessions stage outside of the house, it’s highly recommended that you stay and enjoy the show of the highly athletic clean up crew outside as well. While enjoying hot chocolate and a funnel cake, our team watched two clownish lunatics energetically chase a number of screaming guests all the way back to the cemetery.
The final leg of Kreepy Hollow holds up to the bar set earlier with a number of Colonial era actors delivering a terrifying speech, a zombie that made the most inhuman sounds and movements we had seen all weekend, and demons leading us into Hell with not a single pause. Chainsaw wielding psychos managed to involve the whole cart by going after each other and the guests with their gas-powered attacks.
Costuming: 7.81
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?: 7.3
(25% of Costuming Score) How creative / detailed were the costumes?: 7.7
(20% of Costuming Score) Was their makeup creative? Detailed? Realistic?: 7.7
(15% of Costuming Score) How effectively did they use masks (if used)?: 7.8
(25% of Costuming Score) How appropriate were the costumes for their scene/s & theme/s?: 8.3
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With a huge variety of monsters comes a large collection of costumes. Masks, makeup, and prosthetics are used through all stages of the haunt and geared towards the theme of each scene. Despite the heat of the evening, the majority of masks are tucked in, and where necessary makeup is applied under masks to make them seem more natural. In some places accessories struggled to meet the high bar set by the costumes; our team noticed minor issues with strangely sized and shaped weapons, but considering how good the costumes were in comparison it was a high bar.
Our team loved the unique and well-detailed pumpkin monster that we encountered outside the house. We were also blown away by the work done on the Nun and the Voodoo Priest. The cleanup crew was an interesting addition that really stood out from the standard monsters we see at haunts. Zombies were well decked out, clowns were bright and garish, and the creatures waiting at the Colonial scene really impressed us with how they fit into the theme.
Customer Service: 8.37
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?: 8Explanation:
No parking attendants
(30% of CS Score) How safe was the attraction?: 8.4
(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?: 8
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Kreepy Hollow is a beacon of light in a dark wilderness. The parking lot is 20 acres of well-lit spaces with police surveillance and clear signage. The ticket booth is easy to spot, and all prices are posted and clear on site. Operating hours, pricing, a helpful FAQ, and more information can be gained before your visit with the easily navigated website. Safety signs are posted everywhere, staff members keep a close eye on security for all their guests, and all stairs have railing and markings to ensure that no one falls.
On top of all of these safeguards the Kreepy Hollow customer service team is reliably polite and friendly. The woman that helped us at the ticket booth was patient as we figured out upgrading our passes, and knowledgeable about pricing and payment options. Russell, who supervised the loading of our hayride trailer and the actual ride, was incredibly friendly and made sure that our team member in a leg brace was safely seated and then safely dismounted. Every staff member we encountered from line attendants to our bus driver were a delight.
Atmosphere: 8.06
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?: 8.1
(40% of Atmosphere Score) How well did the atmosphere prepare you for what you experienced inside?: 8
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At the entrance of Kreepy Hollow at the top of the hill the energy is high as rock music fills the air and eager guests line up to enjoy one of two bus options. Upon arriving at the beginning of the cemetery trail to the house, the atmosphere slides into one of high tension and horror. From the looming fa������ade of the house at its entrance to the horror filled hayride waiting area of the other side, there is no question that you have arrived at a haunted house.
Themed photo ops are available in the waiting area at the exit of the house, and screams ring through the air harmonizing with the sound of chainsaws.
Special Effects: 8.51
How Did We Get This Score?
Special Effects Scores (15% of Final Score):
(20% of SFX Score) How effective were the sound effects?: 8.4
(20% of SFX Score) How creative / original were the scenes & props?: 8.8
(20% of SFX Score) How well were the scenes detailed?: 7.9
(25% of SFX Score) How well did they achieve & maintain the suspension of disbelief?: 7.8
(15% of SFX Score) How effective were the SFX at providing scares / entertainment?: 8.4
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Kreepy Hollow has a large number of special effects spread over the many steps of their haunt. This year we saw a massive addition with a secondary house and a stunning transition area between the two added on. Sound effects add authenticity as they mask or enhance the exclamations of terrified guests.
The very first room of the house holds an incredible surprise that is hand built by the Kreepy team and had our group turned around as we tried to figure out the trick. From there, rooms have a number of hand painted and added details to keep guests staring and distracted for monsters to pop out. The centerpiece of the first house is undeniably the Storm which brings the outside in and has an addition this year that ties the entire scene together. In the transition area between houses, guests are taken further away from their actual surroundings and transported to another place and time before facing a massive monster that is impressively wielded.
On the trail sound is merged with lights, fog, and flames to create a wide variety of hellish scenes that shock and amaze. The construction of the devil scene never fails to impress, and the colonial scene had a number of effects that only enhance the actors’ performances.
Theme: N/A
How Did We Get This Score?
Theme Scores (5% of Final Score):
(30% of Theme Score) Could you tell what the theme was?:
(50% of Theme Score) How well was the theme carried throughout the attraction/s?:
(20% of Theme Score) How well does their location authenticate the theme?:
This score is left “N/A” when we believe the haunt is trying to target a random variety of themes or phobias, rather than a single overarching “Theme” or “storyline.”
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Kreepy Hollow does not have a single theme across its attraction. However, that doesn’t stop it from delivering on the promise of screams, startles, and scares.
From what is surely the best bus ride in the South, to the expanded House, and throughout the multi-scene hayride, there’s a little bit of everything from mad men to devils to colonial Puritan witch-hunters to clowns – just enough to surprise anyone who dares to visit.
Scare Factor: 8.16
How Did We Get This Score?
Scare Factor Scores (15% of Final Score):
(30% of Scare Factor Score) How scary was it?: 8.3
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How well did they provide scares to the entire group?: 8Explanation:
hayride focused on screamers
(25% of Scare Factor Score) How predictable were the scares?: 8.1
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How well did they provide a wide variety of scares?: 8.3
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How strong was the ending / finale?: 8Explanation:
chainsaw delay but amazing run
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The screamers in our team were tired by the end of the night. On the bus, monsters made sure to interact with all seats and spread the scares evenly throughout. Inside of the house we received similar treatment as actors waited to make sure that every member of our seven-person group received the horror treatment. The concessions area is always a delight as guests run from the house’s finale with gusto and monsters give chase.
Distractions are utilized throughout the haunt to beef up scares and keep them from becoming predictable. On the trail, we were delighted to see how far several of the monsters would go to make sure that riders received one last scare after their guard was lowered. We were also massively impressed with the final actor on the ride who went out of his way to give us one last chainsaw send off.
Entertainment & Value: 8.61
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?: 7.9
(30% of E&V Score) How appropriate is/are the ticket price/s?: 8.8
(15% of E&V Score) Have they effectively used their available space?: 8.6
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With all the parts of the haunt timed it took our team 43 minutes to travel through the entirety of Kreepy Hollow. Ticket prices are reasonable at $20 on Thursdays and Sundays with a $15 upgrade for fast passes, and $23 on Friday and Saturday with the fast pass costing $40. The typical weekend visitor is getting an amazing 1.87 minutes per dollar spent; a bargain no matter where you are.
Because our team has been to Kreepy Hollow a number of times we made sure to upgrade to the fast pass as lines can get long with all the hype and history of the haunt. As there are three sets of lines to navigate across the attraction, we cannot help but stress that Fast Pass is the way to go during any weekend visit to Kreepy Hollow.
Concessions are reasonable and we can attest that the funnel cake is absolutely delicious. Merchandise can be purchased at the top of the attraction (though unless you intend to wear it right away, we suggest buying on your way out of the attraction).
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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Promo Images:
Click to Enlarge
Awards:
2019
2018
2017
Actor Shout Out Award - Rope-Swinging Clown
