This attraction was reviewed on September 11, 2021 by Team Jefferson Starship.

Final Scores:

(15% of Final Score) Cast: 8.2

(15% of Final Score) Costuming: 8.74

(10% of Final Score) Customer Service: 9.62

(10% of Final Score) Atmosphere: 9.2

(15% of Final Score) Special Effects: 8.51

(5% of Final Score) Theme:

(15% of Final Score) Scare Factor: 8.59

(5% of Final Score) Entertainment & Value: 8.59

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For the start of our spooky season this year, we revisited MadWorld Haunted Attraction. Located in Piedmont, SC, (not far from Greenville!), this is MadWorld’s eleventh year in operation. As in year’s past, the crew have clearly been hard at work during the off-season to not only improve the haunt itself but also bring something new for the waiting crowds to enjoy. Though the handful of carnival games, the new ‘haunted’ mini-golf course, and the variety of food vendors are a delight, the real reason for our visit lay behind the towering facade that loomed over the crowded queue-line.

MadWorld remains one of upstate South Carolina’s best haunts, rivaling everything else in the region for detail and costuming. This sprawling attraction is a major attraction for the area, and we continue to recommend a visit.

Cast Scores (15% of Final Score):

(20% of Cast Score) Did it seem like there were enough actors?: 8.5

(30% of Cast Score) How creative, believable and convincing were the actors?: 8.3

(20% of Cast Score) How interactive were the actors (verbally and physically)?: 8.4

(15% of Cast Score) How creatively & appropriately did they use dialogue?: 7

(15% of Cast Score) Was there a good variety of characters?: 8.5

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Just past the reaper-topped entrance gate, MadWorld holds a large queue-area that houses a number of waiting monsters in highly detailed costumes and makeup. The attraction’s webpage does give some brief backstory for this motley assortment of cult sacrifices, cursed souls, psycho-clowns, monsters and more. These cast members get heavily into their roles, maintaining the illusion that beyond the MadWorld gates, visitors are transported to a place where anything is possible.

Inside the haunt itself there are scores upon scores of actors portraying a wide variety of characters ready to scream or startle. As we moved from area to area within the haunt, we found that each of the gatekeepers to their respective realms were always very chatty and interactive ‘ a bit of personalization that we love.

Occasionally, we lost bits of the dialogue as thunderous roars, screams, and other sounds tore through the area, but the diverse variety of the cast was very much appreciated.

Costuming Scores (15% of Final Score):

(15% of Costuming Score) How complete / finished did the costumes appear to be?: 8.1

(25% of Costuming Score) How creative / detailed were the costumes?: 8.8

(20% of Costuming Score) Was their makeup creative? Detailed? Realistic?: 8.6

(15% of Costuming Score) How effectively did they use masks (if used)?: 9

(25% of Costuming Score) How appropriate were the costumes for their scene/s & theme/s?: 9

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As mentioned above, the costuming, makeup, and masks present at MadWorld are a joy to behold. While the costumed crew out in the waiting area are perhaps the most detailed and complete, there are occasionally characters within that have similar levels of detail.

The costuming details are immersive, with each internal setting of the haunt tied together with the crew haunting that area. While it is easy to focus on the elaborate queue-line actors or the individual gate-keepers to each internal piece, the multitudinous horde of other actors inside are also all well-appointed.

There were a few instances of things that stood out, taking us out of the immersive environment, but we feel that the vast majority of guests will be too busy screaming to take notice of minor flaws.

Customer Service Scores (10% of Final Score):

(25% of CS Score) How easy was it to locate the attraction, park, and navigate the premises?: 9.8

(30% of CS Score) How safe was the attraction?: 8.9

(25% of CS Score) How professional, helpful and friendly were the staff members?: 10

(20% of CS Score) How easy was it to find their information before* arrival?: 10

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MadWorld has a large number of non-costumed staff all wearing branded shirts. These engaging and friendly folk can be found not only in the various booths for merchandise and tickets, but also wandering through the crowds ensuring that the night is fun for everyone.

Just off I-85, MadWorld is easy enough to locate ‘ the occasional gout of flame and the sky-roving searchlights also help. Online, they maintain a presence across a variety of social media platforms, including a dedicated website with information about ticket prices, some of the monsters, the various internal attractions and more. There is a wavier that must be completed prior to entering; guests can fill it out on terminals beside the ticket booth or on their phones via following a link.

MadWorld is, predominately, an outdoor haunt. Though the trail runs through interior scenes before dipping back out into the woods for a chance to cool down, guests should be prepared for a bit of a walk. The path from the front door to the exit is over a half mile ‘ comfortable outdoor walking shoes are a must. There are a few steeper ramps exiting or entering various scenes, but all of these have handrails to help mount the walk and face the fears beyond.

Atmosphere Scores (10% of Final Score):

(60% of Atmosphere Score) How obvious was it that you were at a haunted house before entering?: 9.4

(40% of Atmosphere Score) How well did the atmosphere prepare you for what you experienced inside?: 8.6

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Through the towering arched gate by the ticket booth, the sights and sounds of MadWorld are a raucous carnival for the senses. Pop music competes with spooky soundtracks from the haunt itself. The scents of fried food are cut through by the smoke from a bonfire or the exhaust from a chainsaw. The laughter and chatter of the crowd are occasionally pierced through by the screams of those falling victim to the sudden appearance of one or more of the line actors.

While the outside monsters don’t necessarily reveal the variety of locations within the haunt, they definitely help create an appropriate mood and festive attitude.

Special Effects Scores (15% of Final Score):

(20% of SFX Score) How effective were the sound effects?: 8.8

(20% of SFX Score) How creative / original were the scenes & props?: 8.9

(20% of SFX Score) How well were the scenes detailed?: 8

(25% of SFX Score) How well did they achieve & maintain the suspension of disbelief?: 8

(15% of SFX Score) How effective were the SFX at providing scares / entertainment?: 9.1

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In order to create an immersive environment, to make guests feel like they are actually in the different places of this MadWorld, great attention to detail has been given to the various scenes and locations. Between each of these areas, there are brief periods of wooded trail that give guests a chance to catch their breath and calm down before plunging into somewhere new.

The details of each of the scenes are focused in appropriate lighting. Sounds can be a bit overwhelming in some places, but these noises do not bleed over into other scenes. In other words, though the sounds can be exceedingly loud, they are so distracting in adjacent scenes. Scents are even present in some scenes, customized and unique enough to make an impact and draw visitors into these different places.

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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As a whole, MadWorld as an entire attraction isn’t unified by a single theme. However, the various internal areas are each self-contained and consistent internally. Whether we were walking through an insane asylum or a cursed circus tent or ship-wrecked pirate ship, each area was completely dedicated to that particular concept. Across the entire haunt, however, there is not an overarching theme tying these disparate pieces together.

However, haunted house fans will not find this variety disappointing. The variety of frightening ideas and detailed scenes will be sure to elicit a reaction from someone in every group.

Scare Factor Scores (15% of Final Score):

(30% of Scare Factor Score) How scary was it?: 8.9

(15% of Scare Factor Score) How well did they provide scares to the entire group?: 8.9

(25% of Scare Factor Score) How predictable were the scares?: 8.5

(15% of Scare Factor Score) How well did they provide a wide variety of scares?: 7.9

(15% of Scare Factor Score) How strong was the ending / finale?: 8.5

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Whether delivering creepy one-liners, explosively bursting from a wall, or looming with some menacing stares, the assortment of costumed creepies at MadWorld worked hard to spread scares around to our entire group.

While we personally would have liked a bit more variety, there are still plenty of jump scares and screams ready to leap out and deliver shocks and scares to make this haunt a fun night out.

Since we arrived before the gates opened, we were fortunate enough to be one of the first groups through on the night of our visit. Despite the sizable crowd already forming out front, once we were through the initial check-in at the front doors of the haunt, we never again saw any other guests until after we had exited the haunt. That isolation really helps bring home the scares and makes the experience all the more valuable.

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?: 8.5

(25% of E&V Score) How satisfied were you with the entertainment that’s available with* the ticket price, excluding the main attraction/s?: 9

(30% of E&V Score) How appropriate is/are the ticket price/s?: 8

(15% of E&V Score) Have they effectively used their available space?: 8.7

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MadWorld does it’s best to provide an evening of entertainment at one location. The haunt itself took us under thirty minutes to walk through, but there is enough excitement in the waiting area for guests to spend easily that much time or more just soaking up the environment, not to mention the carnival games, face-painting, mini-golf, short escape rooms, and variety of food options.

The waiting area is probably as much of an attraction as the haunt itself with its detailed monsters and assortment of entertainment options. While inside the haunt itself, space has been effectively used to give guests moments of respite from the terrifying scenes that play on multiple senses.

General Admission for MadWorld is $30. Though FastPass to the front of the line is nearly double that, if you arrive late it could easily be your best option given how popular this haunt is and how crowded the line can get on a busy night. MadWorld also offers, for a small upcharge, a No Scare medallion. These light-emitting pendants keep monsters away from individuals both in the waiting area and inside the haunt ‘ allowing families to bring along younger children or for others to bring along that one friend who is a little uneasy about things that go bump in the night. While the various other pieces of entertainment (escape rooms, carnival games, mini-golf) are an additional cost, there is a combo ticket for $55 that grants general admission plus enough attraction tickets to do any of two of these.

How Did We Get These Scores

Promo Images:

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Awards:

2019

2018

2017