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: 7.01
How Did We Get This Score?
Final Scores:
(15% of Final Score) Cast: 6.95
(15% of Final Score) Costuming: 7.78
(10% of Final Score) Customer Service: 9.25
(10% of Final Score) Atmosphere: 6.7
(15% of Final Score) Special Effects: 6.6
(5% of Final Score) Theme: 7.5
(15% of Final Score) Scare Factor: 6
(5% of Final Score) Entertainment & Value: 6.25
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Summary:
Among the multicolor fall foliage in the mountains of West Virginia, sits Ace Adventure Resort, home to the haunted house known as Nightmare in the Gorge. An area immersed in lore that is the stitch work used at creating a Halloween experience for all ages. All the while, customers can procure various overnight accommodations (cabin, RV, and tent) in an area where they can also enjoy whitewater rafting and night zip lining, if they so desire. Adding a haunted house in October with a ticket price of $15 (adults) and $13 (children), there’s something a little extra to do when the mountain air cools in the night.
Cast: 6.95
How Did We Get This Score?
Cast Scores (15% of Final Score):
(20% of Cast Score) Did it seem like there were enough actors?: 7.5
(30% of Cast Score) How creative, believable and convincing were the actors?: 6.5
(20% of Cast Score) How interactive were the actors (verbally and physically)?: 7
(15% of Cast Score) How creatively & appropriately did they use dialogue?: 6Explanation:
Some of the cast was younger and maybe new to acting in a haunt. With practice and experience, they will become more comfortable with switching up their dialogue, and improvising with their customers.
(15% of Cast Score) Was there a good variety of characters?: 8
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The cast is mostly younger. They had a script to follow, and stayed within that script. We heard the classics: ‘Get Out! Come play with me! Come back!’ The ghostly girl had the kind of scream that left me thinking, ‘I bet she has to drink a lot of honey and hot tea!’ There were a few places that looked as though an actor could be set up to be there, but was absent for some reason. In spite of those few areas, the first building seemed to have decent coverage of actors. Pigman was the first character we encountered inside the haunt, and performed with high energy and enthusiasm, demonstrated by jumping on a counter and banging things with his ax as he encouraged us along our way. An enchanting mermaid appeared to be submerged in a green hue water inside the life sized aquarium and felt otherworldly. The witch seemed convincing in her role of allowing us to observe her in one of her rituals, (although we weren’t so sure that was a good thing’..What if she was conjuring something evil? By the looks of the surrounding area, chances were pretty high of that very thing happening!). The clown with the car horn got us in a few different places, startling us each time. We always appreciate the efforts of the wolfman coming out after us on all fours snarling and growling at us. There was some chainsaw chasing that made us believe we had finished, only to be accosted by a hidden werewolf during the final scene.
Costuming: 7.78
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
(25% of Costuming Score) How creative / detailed were the costumes?: 7.5
(20% of Costuming Score) Was their makeup creative? Detailed? Realistic?: 7.5
(15% of Costuming Score) How effectively did they use masks (if used)?: 8Explanation:
We saw some creative face masks from some of the cast. All the regular masks in the haunt seemed to fit fine.
(25% of Costuming Score) How appropriate were the costumes for their scene/s & theme/s?: 8
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All costuming appeared appropriate for the sets. We could clearly tell who each character was immediately. The costumes all appeared complete and finished. Many of the costumes included fabric face masks, and there were some that had been detailed in a way to appear as part of the costume, with detailing that matched the look of the costume instead of competing with it. Masks all seemed to fit properly. Not only could we tell the wolfman was a wolfman by the way he approached us on all fours, but his mask and clothing told us he had just recently turned. Make up was simplistic on the ghostly kids, and their costuming was appropriately aged, and had a look to them that made them seem from a different century than ours.
Customer Service: 9.25
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?: 9.5
(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?: 7Explanation:
There was a little struggle finding information about your haunt. After some searching, and help from Chris, we were able to locate some basic information.
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All staff were polite and willing to help. Our temperature was taken before entering the actual haunt, and we noticed disposable masks and hand sanitizer were made available at the queue line. Most actors were wearing masks, and those who weren’t stayed at least 6 feet back. Questions were answered promptly. Prior to entering the haunt we were given extra Covid precautions about keeping hands off of as much as possible during the haunt.
GPS got us directly to the Adventure Resort with no problems. There was plenty of parking in a well-lit area, (at least early on while we were there.) The food at the Bar and Grill was tasty and served hot.
Once we got to the resort, we did find some signs pointing to where to go for the haunted house, located further up the mountain and behind the gift shop. Tickets were timed, and could only be purchased online. While they did not have a dedicated website, they had created the haunted house under events on the regular Ace Adventure website (acecraft.com/event/nightmare-in-the-gorge) and facebook page (ACE Adventure Resort event: Nightmare in the Gorge). From these sites, dates of operation, location, pricing, and a storyline can all be found.
Atmosphere: 6.7
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?: 6.5Explanation:
There is nothing wrong with having a smaller scale haunt for customers to enjoy while at the resort for other activities, like rafting and ziplining. This haunt wasn’t heavily advertised and the waiting area seemed like a waiting area for anything, not haunted house specific.
(40% of Atmosphere Score) How well did the atmosphere prepare you for what you experienced inside?: 7
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Queue entertainment consisted of concession drinks, souvenir shopping, and whitewater rafting videos, with music in the background. There was a tent that served as the waiting area, in addition to the covered seating area selling drinks and displaying videos of the whitewater rafting done for the day.
After climbing the stairs to begin the haunt, just before entering the building that housed most of the haunt, we did approach two separate sets of actors. The first appeared to be campers with EMF and EVP equipment, warning us to turn back. Citing their recent readings on their official equipment as proof of impending danger, they told us again and again that we really should turn back. Something bad was about to happen, they just knew it. As we approached the building, we were interrupted by another actor with a head injury who had clearly ‘lost it’ and babbled warnings to us to turn back before it was too late. In spite of the warnings, we decided to push forward.
Special Effects: 6.6
How Did We Get This Score?
Special Effects Scores (15% of Final Score):
(20% of SFX Score) How effective were the sound effects?: 8
(20% of SFX Score) How creative / original were the scenes & props?: 6Explanation:
Most of the props were plastic pieces that can be purchased at a local store. For a fun family haunt, this isn’t a problem.
(20% of SFX Score) How well were the scenes detailed?: 7
(25% of SFX Score) How well did they achieve & maintain the suspension of disbelief?: 6
(15% of SFX Score) How effective were the SFX at providing scares / entertainment?: 6
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We did see some different special effects. While inside the first building, we heard music and sound effects throughout. This was coupled with the car horn and voices of the actors in their respective sets. We did have to face a chainsaw madman at one point of the trip, and watch characters bang clubs loudly on metal items. We also made a quick get away from a circular saw wielding maniac cutting his poor victim’s throat. Some simple store bought animatronics provided a switch up between scenes to help fill up the space. The scenes had some props in each set, with black plastic covering the walls throughout the main building. One of the first rooms we entered seemed to be a storage room, and we expected someone to pop out, but were surprised to find no one there. In another section, we found ourselves traversing through a large area, presumably for storing boating equipment. The walls were completely lined with life vests that came alive with a bone chilling surprise. We encountered fog and strobe lights as well.
Theme: 7.5
How Did We Get This Score?
Theme Scores (5% of Final Score):
(30% of Theme Score) Could you tell what the theme was?: 8
(50% of Theme Score) How well was the theme carried throughout the attraction/s?: 7Explanation:
We understood the theme to be the effects of being cursed, and the horror in the haunted house was the result of the curse.
(20% of Theme Score) How well does their location authenticate the theme?: 8
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Using the information provided online, we were able to read about the theme of the haunt being one of the madness that ensues when a centuries old curse is unleashed on an area. The effects of the curse results in all the horrific events, victims, and creatures we were subjected to.
Scare Factor: 6
How Did We Get This Score?
Scare Factor Scores (15% of Final Score):
(30% of Scare Factor Score) How scary was it?: 6
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How well did they provide scares to the entire group?: 7
(25% of Scare Factor Score) How predictable were the scares?: 6Explanation:
Drop doors and the handheld horn was effective at surprising us. We were also surprised with the final scene because we were fooled into believing that the chainsaw was the ending.
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How well did they provide a wide variety of scares?: 6
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How strong was the ending / finale?: 5Explanation:
The finale seemed simple and following the chainsaw, felt anti-climatic.
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Entertainment consisted of some drop-down doors, various creatures, loud noises, rituals, circular saws and chainsaws, some characters chasing us, and bloody body parts. There were a few store bought animatronics tucked away here and there. The finale snuck up on us, as the traditional chainsaw action was not the ending. The werewolf chase, while unexpected, just couldn’t compete with the loud and startling chainsaw it followed to end the experience.
Entertainment & Value: 6.25
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?: 5.5Explanation:
The amount of time we spent inside was a little short.
(25% of E&V Score) How satisfied were you with the entertainment that’s available with* the ticket price, excluding the main attraction/s?: 5.5
(30% of E&V Score) How appropriate is/are the ticket price/s?: 7
(15% of E&V Score) Have they effectively used their available space?: 7.5
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Total time here in the attraction lasted 15 minutes, with a ticket price of $15, which averages to a cost of 1 dollar per minute. Children tickets cost $13. We felt the price was appropriate for the amount of time we spent inside the haunt and for the set up and execution of the overall experience.
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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