Maze of Terror
Full Review

2198 Miller Road, China Grove, NC 28023
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Multiple HauntsHaunted Corn FieldHaunted HayrideHaunted House
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Features:

✓-Free Parking
✓-Restrooms/Porta Potties On-Site
✓-Food/Concessions
✓-“Old-School” (Low Tech)
✓-Uncovered Outdoor Waiting Line
✓-Indoor/Outdoor Attraction
✓-Family Friendly


Review Team/Author Info:

This attraction was reviewed by Team Living Dead Duo on October 11, 2024.
Team Since: | Experience: Apprentice Team

Editor: Team Zombillies (Master Team).


Final Score: 7.33

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Summary:

Tucked away on Miller’s Fresh Farm, a 4th-generation working farm in China Grove, North Carolina, Maze of Terror has been delivering genuine scares for over 12 years. What started as a fun attempt to spook some friends on a hayride quickly grew into a full-blown haunt that’s become a community favorite.

Spread across 6 acres, this mostly volunteer-run attraction keeps things intense with its mix of a haunted hayride, trails, houses, and a corn maze. From the moment you arrive, Maze of Terror delivers a fun haunt that keeps you entertained with about 45 minutes of solid scares. But it’s not just about the frights; there’s plenty to enjoy on the property, making it a full night of fun.


Cast Score: 6.3

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Cast Review:

The cast at Maze of Terror brought a lot of energy to the haunt, with a mix of experienced actors and fresh faces. Miakoda, the voodoo lady, and Old Man Shotgun were standouts, adding an authentic and immersive feel to their scenes. Patches the Clown really stole the show with his saw, and the chaotic energy from Bedbug, Skeeter, and Clyde in the slide room kept us on our toes. We were also big fans of Art the Clown. He never broke character in the midway or in the haunt. He looked like he was ready to claim his next victim.

While there were some strong performances, a few characters could have used more confidence in their roles. The Nun seemed a bit unsure of what to do, and the “Fun House” bus was a little underwhelming, with the girl simply asking us to leave. We were also hoping for a bit more intensity from Leatherface in the butcher shop, especially with no chainsaw in sight.
That said, there were plenty of highlights, like the chainsaw-wielding character who caught us off guard in the woods, and the skeleton who zipped toward us for a great scare.

With such a large property, it’s understandable that more actors would be needed to cover every area. The houses were well-staffed, though the woods and corn maze could have used a few more bodies to amp up the tension.

Overall, the cast did a good job, and with a bit more training to fine-tune their performances, they could take this haunt to the next level!


Costuming Score: 6.13

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Costuming Review:

The dedicated volunteers brought their own unique costumes and makeup to create unique characters. The clowns were particularly effective, with their classic creepy aesthetic adding to the insanity. While some actors used store-bought masks, they mostly worked well with their characters.

We recommend they use makeup with their masks that match where the mask stops around the eyes, neck, and jawline. A couple of voodoo doctors did a fine job with their makeup matching their masks and costumes, and this likely helped them get into character.

One standout character was Old Man Shotgun, a grizzled figure who seemed to have stepped straight out of the Wild West. With his weathered appearance and shotgun in hand, he demanded that visitors leave his property, adding a touch of old-fashioned terror to our walk. Another memorable character was Patches the Clown, whose colorful costume and exaggerated makeup evoked the spirit of a classic circus clown. Patches’ costume looked just as authentic as a clown that you would see at the circus.


Customer Service Score: 10

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Customer Service Review:

When it comes to customer service, Maze of Terror has you covered. They have security and medical staff on-site at all times, ensuring everyone feels safe while enjoying the scares. They take safety seriously, so you won’t find any weapons, drugs, or alcohol allowed on the premises. Everyone goes through a metal detector and bag search before entering for peace of mind.

Parking is a breeze, with well-lit lots and friendly attendants guiding you to a spot. Plus, their website and social media make it super easy to find all the information you need. The staff is genuinely nice and helpful, always aiming to keep their customers happy. It’s this commitment to service that has helped their haunt thrive for 12 years.


Immersion Score: 7.03

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Immersion Review:

The atmosphere outside of the haunt felt like a good ol’ fall festival. The midway area was packed with activities, including two food trucks, fireworks to kick off the evening, vendors, and even a balloon twister. It was a fun and festive atmosphere!

Josh Sanders, runner-up on The Voice, provided some solo acoustic entertainment to warm up the crowd before they braved the haunt. There was a massive fire pit that kept everyone cozy, and queue actors roamed the grounds, some interacting with visitors. Some of these actors seemed a bit out of character, but others, like Art the Clown and Patches, fully embraced their roles.

Engagement from all of the queue actors in the Midway area is really important. Their job is to get the fans excited about going into the haunt, take pictures with them, and prep haunt goers for a great experience.

Queue actors also want to be mindful of appearing before the crowd only after their costume is complete. It adds to the vibe and scariness, but can quickly take away from the vibe if they’re been seen walking around with half of their costume assembled and no mask or makeup.

Immersion inside the haunt was pretty solid. You’re in the woods at night so that can automatically raises the hair on your arms. There were purge alarms going off periodically which could be heard from anywhere inside the haunt as well as a soundtrack of movie maniac slasher themes.

There were some really cool rooms throughout the haunt. One room in particular will send you on a quick descent into a colorful dirt basement that reminded me of Leatherface’s underground lair in Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, and that was a lot of fun.

You’re gonna get to meet voodoo doctors who will be sure to entertain and a host of other characters. Vortex tunnels are generally complimented with heavy metal or dance music. Heavy Metal is generally used to add fear and creepiness to the haunt, while dance music can remind you that you’re in a haunted house party. We found it odd that Celine Dion-type music was played in a vortex tunnel which clashed with the overall vibe. There were also some areas that could’ve used more actors to help keep the spooky vibe going.


Special FX Score: 7.05

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Special FX Review:

The “Maze of Terror” is packed with homemade special effects. The owner and select volunteers created most of the scenes and effects, including air compressor effects, shaky bridges, glowing skeleton props, caskets, a terrifyingly loud shotgun that was causing a lot of screams all night, and a stainless steel operating table that dropped unexpectedly, sending you on a quick descent into a dirt basement. You’ll also find body parts scattered throughout the butcher shop, and mind-bending vortex tunnels.


Scare Factor Score: 7.03

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Scare Factor Review:

Maze of Terror may be a lower-budget haunt, but don’t let that fool you! It’s got some serious scares packed in. My first big jump scare hit when a ghoul came soaring down the zipline right at us. Then there’s Old Man Shotgun, who made sure we knew we were trespassing by firing a shotgun blast in our direction. Talk about a heart-stopping moment! We could hear screams echoing across the haunt every time he shot his gun.

Patches the Clown brought his A-game, jumping around the corner with his saw in hand. But our absolute favorite scare had to be the slide. It caught us totally off guard and was such a blast! That may be one of my favorite rooms that I have been in this season.

Overall, they did a solid job of scaring both of us. We did notice a few cast members weren’t quite ready when we walked through, but we were the first ones of the night, so it’s understandable. It just meant we had a few moments where the engagement could have been a bit stronger.

While there are some animatronics sprinkled throughout, the real magic comes from the actors. The ones we encountered were great at keeping us on our toes, and the animatronics worked perfectly fine when we saw them.

The grand finale was the corn maze, which took us a bit to navigate. There weren’t many actors in there, but we did get a few jump scares. After finally finding our way out, we ended up at a fire pit where a couple of characters were hanging out. It would have been awesome to have a big scare waiting for us there to cap off the night, but we still had a fantastic time. We can’t wait to see how this haunt surprises us in the future!


Entertainment & Value Score: 8.63

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E&V Review:

Maze of Terror offers amusing entertainment at a great value. For just $25 cash, you get about 45 minutes to an hour of thrills that include a haunted trail, hayride, and corn maze. That’s an impressive amount of fun for the price, especially since there’s so much going on! Don’t worry if you do not have cash, there is an ATM on site. Parking is also free.

They also have a professional photographer from Indelible Imprints, who captures a keepsake photo of your group for you to download later. It’s a great way to remember your night!

They have food trucks serving up tasty treats and a vendor market filled with spooky items to browse. There’s even live entertainment and fireworks on some nights, a bonfire to gather around, and midway characters roaming about. Keep an eye out for someone twisting balloon animals, too!

If you’re looking for something a bit less scary, check out their “Little Spooks” events on October 12, 19, and 26 from 2-4 PM for just $5 per person. These non-scary events are perfect for little ones wanting to join in on the fun.


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10/10 (2 Guest Reviews)

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