Features:
✓-Free Parking✓-Restrooms/Porta Potties On-Site✓-Food/Concessions✓-Optional Games/Midway✓-“Old-School” (Low Tech)✓-You will NOT be touched✓-Movie Characters✓-Original Characters✓-Covered 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: 8.06
How Did We Get This Score?
Final Scores:
(15% of Final Score) Cast: 6.77
(15% of Final Score) Costuming: 8.92
(10% of Final Score) Customer Service: 9.45
(10% of Final Score) Atmosphere: 7
(15% of Final Score) Special Effects: 8.2
(5% of Final Score) Theme:
(15% of Final Score) Scare Factor: 7.42
(5% of Final Score) Entertainment & Value: 8.77
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Summary:
Maris Farms Haunted Woods is located about 45 miles from Seattle in Buckley, WA. Even following the pandemic restrictions, Maris Farms is an agritainment farm that provides a plethora of daytime activities for families. Once the sun sets, the Haunted Woods creeps to life. Even though some of the daytime activities are closed in the evening, Maris Farms still offers a solid midway experience while you are waiting in line and after you go through the haunt.
Around a mile in length, Haunted Woods is the longest haunted attraction in Washington – and one of the longest haunts that we visited. The twisted outdoor path takes you through over 25 scenes, leading you through a creepy carnival, Santa’s village, and an encampment overrun by zombies to name a few. Be sure to take your time to appreciate the scenery as there is a lot to take in. Join Team Terror Techies as we debrief on our first walkthrough.
Cast: 6.77
How Did We Get This Score?
Cast Scores (15% of Final Score):
(20% of Cast Score) Did it seem like there were enough actors?: 7Explanation:
The start of the show was fairly quiet with few actors. More actors started appearing near the end which provided a great energy.
(30% of Cast Score) How creative, believable and convincing were the actors?: 6.67
(20% of Cast Score) How interactive were the actors (verbally and physically)?: 6.33Explanation:
Fairly limited interaction, it was mostly pop-out scares.
(15% of Cast Score) How creatively & appropriately did they use dialogue?: 6Explanation:
Most of the actors were non-verbal.
(15% of Cast Score) Was there a good variety of characters?: 8Explanation:It felt like a third to half of the characters were some kind of clown, but otherwise, the character variety was pretty good.
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The day that we chose to visit was raining and forecasted to downpour all night. However, the rain stopped an hour before the haunt opened, proving that Pacific Northwest weather will always be unpredictable. There were noticeable dead spaces, but we figured that was due to the rough weather earlier. The show started somewhat quietly but picked up partway through the experience to a wonderful finale.
All actors were in character the whole way through, but many were not particularly energetic. However, the actors who engaged with us were both varied and fun. The patient in the padded room leaped out at us just as we dismissed the actor as a prop. An elf – Jack – leaped out of a hinged box at Santa’s workshop, which was quite impressive considering the box was almost three feet tall. Also, the zombies in the corn maze that scrambled through low tunnels in the corn to be able to move quickly from one scare to the next particularly stood out.
While most actors were non-verbal, there were also a couple more talkative characters that we encountered like the witch who made banter over our needing/wanting our eyes. After noticing that most of our group had glasses, she decided that our eyes were not good enough for her spell anyway as we escaped her abode.
Costuming: 8.92
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?: 8.67
(25% of Costuming Score) How creative / detailed were the costumes?: 8.67Explanation:
They all appeared well costumed, with a good amount of detail where it was appropriate.
(20% of Costuming Score) Was their makeup creative? Detailed? Realistic?: 8.67
(15% of Costuming Score) How effectively did they use masks (if used)?: 8.67Explanation:
The actor’s skin was visible underneath the masks around the eyes.
(25% of Costuming Score) How appropriate were the costumes for their scene/s & theme/s?: 9.67
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The actors were in haunt quality costumes that were both creative and complete. You can tell that there was careful consideration put into what costumes fit with each scene, which is doubly impressive considering the number of scenes. The Pennywise that we encountered in the sewer was deliciously dressed.
The makeup application was really solid and you can tell that they had planned to incorporate face masks with each character. We especially loved the detail on the zombies that slumped next to us in the encampment as well as the chainsaw clowns that popped out of the ice cream truck. There were several characters in realistic silicone masks throughout the haunt, like the glutton in the trailer, which was really nice to see.
Customer Service: 9.45
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?: 10
(30% of CS Score) How safe was the attraction?: 9Explanation:
There were a couple of trip spots in the haunt but very minimal and there is defiantly a disclaimer on the website. We were advised to maintain 6 feet of space between us and the group in front or behind, a few of the set areas just didn’t allow for this behavior overall.
(25% of CS Score) How professional, helpful and friendly were the staff members?: 9Explanation:
Staff wasn’t super easy to distinguish, but they were generally very proactive about asking if people needed help and directing them where to go.
(20% of CS Score) How easy was it to find their information before* arrival?: 10
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Though it is hard to find information if you just Google “Haunted Woods”, you can easily find the dates and hours and tickets on the Maris Farms website. Maris Farms was a fairly direct drive off the highway to get to the farm. It was easy to locate the signage for Maris Farms and there was plenty of free parking. They do have an overflow parking lot just across the street for busier nights. Everything was clearly marked: the ticket booth, the haunt entrance, and the activities once you are walking through the midway.
The staff was extremely friendly and immediately offered assistance whenever we ran into them. The waiting area was partially covered, but the line extended out well past the covered areas as we exited the haunt.
Even though most of the farm is flat and easily accessible, the haunt has some areas where you are walking down a steep hill or using stairs. There were a couple of scenes with dark uneven transitions, just be mindful as you exit a scene. Overall, the haunted path is nicely lit with rope lights and it was easy to keep on the walkway.
Atmosphere: 7
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?: 7Explanation:
There was very little decoration and build up to the experience before going inside. The addition of talkative queue line actors would help bring up the energy. The DJ was a great addition.
(40% of Atmosphere Score) How well did the atmosphere prepare you for what you experienced inside?: 7Explanation:
In the barn, there was a lurking clown in a box that felt overly superfluous and out of place – this could’ve been moved into the clown portion of the haunt and felt more worthwhile.
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During the day, the farm is in full swing with a pumpkin patch, corn maze, and other agritainment. Before entering the haunt, there was little indication that you were in line for a haunt except for signage and rope lines guiding us where to line up. The queue line didn’t have much happening when we arrived, though there was a DJ that set up just after we entered the haunt. It was nice to see the actors interact with the line as they went to set up in their scenes. There was no decor until you entered the barn that served at the entrance to the haunt.
Once you entered the barn, there was a fun carnival vibe that carried through into the first scenes of the haunt. Our entire group enjoyed interacting with the puppet in a claw machine within the barn. The set up was fun and did set our experience as we entered the haunt.
Special Effects: 8.2
How Did We Get This Score?
Special Effects Scores (15% of Final Score):
(20% of SFX Score) How effective were the sound effects?: 7.67Explanation:
Most sound FX were a bit out of place like the Nu-Metal music going in the chain link maze and the zombie horde sound for a prop with 2 zombies animatronics attacking the metal fence.
(20% of SFX Score) How creative / original were the scenes & props?: 8.67
(20% of SFX Score) How well were the scenes detailed?: 9.33
(25% of SFX Score) How well did they achieve & maintain the suspension of disbelief?: 7.67
(15% of SFX Score) How effective were the SFX at providing scares / entertainment?: 7.67
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Most of the scenes were highly detailed and custom-built by the haunt. There were a few unique water displays in this haunt and the scenes provided a fun playground for the cast. They provided plenty of distractions to keep our attention while the actors scared us.
There were some sound effects used but there wasn’t continuous ambient noise throughout the haunt. However, the sound that was pumped into scenes did a great job of providing that bit of extra atmosphere.
The haunt effectively used special effects throughout their haunt, even though the majority of the haunt was low tech. Trying not to have too many spoilers, there were still nice surprises like the snow in Santa’s village and the cotton candy smell in the clown set. These small touches pulled each scene together. The vibrating walk through the corn caught our entire group off guard – in a good way.
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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This attraction does not seem to follow an overarching theme.
Scare Factor: 7.42
How Did We Get This Score?
Scare Factor Scores (15% of Final Score):
(30% of Scare Factor Score) How scary was it?: 6.67Explanation:
Most of the scares were lurking, creeping scares, but it would be nice to have some more energetic scares.
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How well did they provide scares to the entire group?: 8
(25% of Scare Factor Score) How predictable were the scares?: 7.67
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How well did they provide a wide variety of scares?: 7.33
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How strong was the ending / finale?: 8
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Haunted Woods did have a few good jump scares especially with how the haunt is constructed. It isn’t edge-of-your-seat-type of scary but it is definitely entertaining and the actors hit everyone in our group. Most of the scares were creeper stares which were easy to miss especially while we were admiring the scenery. The maze had a nice slow build to a climactic ending.
Entertainment & Value: 8.77
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?: 7.67
(30% of E&V Score) How appropriate is/are the ticket price/s?: 10
(15% of E&V Score) Have they effectively used their available space?: 7.67Explanation:There was a decent amount of dead space at the beginning, but otherwise well done.
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General admission is $35 per person and Fast Pass admission is $50.00. It took our group about 25 minutes to wander through this attraction. They also offer a flashlight maze on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. Admission is $16.00 for this event, which makes it very affordable for anyone looking for a no scare experience.
There were also a couple of food vendors and some side activities around. There also was a boot washing station which was really fantastic to see after going through the outdoor farm haunt. This was our first time visiting Maris Farms Haunted Woods and we look forward to visiting again. We had a great time admiring the scenes within this haunt and appreciated the length of the trail. Not only was this a very fun attraction, but the actors were able to give a few good scares.
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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