We made the trip down to Medford, Oregon, to visit the new location for Nightmares on the Rogue. From the moment we stepped into the Temple of Terror, we were drawn into a world of energetic characters and scares. Each twist and turn revealed creative sets and something waiting to jump out. And it’s not just the haunts that impressed us; the food options, new scare zone, and unique entertainment options elevated our visit to a new level.
Curious to discover the full experience we had at Nightmares on the Rogue? Read on to find out why we can’t wait to return next year.
Upon entering the Temple of Terror, the actors wasted no time drawing us into the story. They were loud and impossible to ignore, ensuring we felt immersed from the very beginning. This attraction was clearly actor-driven. The actors seemed to hold us in a room while they pleaded for help or rushed us into the next room. With plenty of performers scattered throughout the haunt, there was no shortage of interaction. We particularly enjoyed our interaction with the elevator operator, who lumbered behind us and then headed straight toward the panel. They were disengaged in their work of operating the elevator, but they definitely wanted us to hear all about how the elevator keeps breaking. The actors stayed highly engaged, using both dialogue and body language to involve us in the quest for the secret treasure. We ran into a mix of characters – from lost explorers, creepy creatures, and some frenzied scientists we encountered while walking through their labs.
In Tales of Halloween, the first scenes immediately set the tone for the rest of the attraction. A frantic character dressed entirely in black, pleaded with us to help possess Cydney, who writhed and chanted on top of a bed. It was clear our help was a little too late as Cydney may have already crossed the line between human and something more sinister. The screams of “What’s wrong with you?” from the desperate character followed us as we scurried out of the room. One of the standout moments was an eerie doll character that slid into a split, then crawled across the floor. This doll waited for us inside a walk through closet, timing their scare perfectly with another actor hidden among the hanging clothes. The collaboration between them startled us just as we tried to push through the narrow space. We also encountered a few other Jack and Jill scares, which kept us on edge as we walked through the haunt.
How complete, unique, detailed were the costumes, accessories? – (35% of score)
Were the masks, makeup creative, detailed, realistic? – (30% of score)
How appropriate were the costumes for the respective scenes, themes? – (20% of score)
How believable-, detailed-looking were the queue actors? (See Note if N/A) – (15% of score)
The costuming was thoughtfully tailored to match the characters and scenes. In the haunted mining scare zone, three line characters roamed outside the haunts, ready to tell their story to anyone passing by. One was a miner in grimy plaid and denim, and their skeletal face was a haunting reminder of a freak dynamite accident (or perhaps it wasn’t an accident at all). The owner of the haunted town wore a long, old-fashioned Western dress with a hoop skirt, and their pale makeup emphasized these piercing eyes that hid the intention to claim the entire town by any means necessary. The sheriff—or perhaps former sheriff—lingered nearby, looking worse for wear with a gruesome head wound, as if they should have been searching for medical help instead.
In Temple of Terror, each costume was tailored to reflect the characters’ roles, making them easy to identify. Explorers dressed in identical khaki shorts and button-up shirts, while the scientists stood out in lab coats with wild hair, embodying the chaos of their experimental research. The makeup complemented each character’s look, often helping to blend their masks into the rest of their costume.
Tales of Halloween offered more variety of characters, introducing a cast of eerie dolls, shambling zombies, and feral werewolves. The costumes and makeup were aligned with the scenes as we progressed through the haunt.
How easy was it to locate, park at, navigate the premises? – (25% of score)
Safety (Only dock points for TRULY DANGEROUS hazards!) – (30% of score)
How professional, helpful, friendly were the staff members? – (25% of score)
How easy was it to find pertinent information before arrival? – (20% of score)
Our GPS took us straight to Nightmares on the Rogue at its new location without any trouble. Once inside the fenced-off midway, everything was easy to navigate, with clear signs and well-marked areas guiding us along. The customer service was fantastic. Every staff member we met was friendly, helpful, and on top of things, especially the ones punching tickets while we waited in line. They were fun to talk to while we waited in line. There were plenty of off-street spots close to the venue for parking. The haunt’s website made planning easy, with a clear breakdown of ticket prices, storylines, and a handy FAQ section.
How well did the pre-haunt areas ("vibe") prepare you for the attraction/s? – (25% of score)
How obvious, creative, believable was the storyline? (See Note if N/A) – (20% of score)
Were you completely, consistently immersed inside the attraction/s? – (40% of score)
How well did the "vibe" flow after, between the attraction/s? – (15% of score)
The new scare zone and midway set the perfect feel while we waited to enter the haunts, keeping our excitement high. It’s definitely a place where families can spend the whole evening, even those who choose not to brave the haunts. Each haunt led us back out into this lively midway, making it easy to soak up the atmosphere between the two attractions.
If you spent enough time out in the haunted mining scare zone, the trio who haunted the area will start to spill some fascinating drama that has been happening around town. The miner is suspicious of the owner of the town for having some hand in their untimely death. The sheriff was mostly intoxicated but would sometimes say more than corny jokes.
Both attractions were strongly themed and engaging. In Temple of Terror, we have been recruited to join Professor Anderson and his crew on a quest to find the hidden treasure within the temple. With each scene, we dig deeper into the story with each interaction with the actors. While we never did find the treasure, visiting the temple was a thrilling adventure.
In Tales of Halloween, the storyline was a bit less straightforward, but the theme remained consistent throughout the attraction. (We had to read the storyline from the website. The themes of each room made sense with the story but the story wasn’t as prevalent as what we encountered in the other attraction.) We navigated through an old house, into a cornfield, through some eerie mines, past a graveyard, and finally out to a swamp. It felt like a genuine escape from the house with something lurking just out of sight.
How effective were the sound effects? – (20% of score)
How realistic were the scene designs, details? – (30% of score)
How effective, realistic were the props, animatronics? – (30% of score)
How well did they use creative, special, sensory effects? – (20% of score)
The scenes in Temple of Terror were thoughtfully designed. Each scene was lit just enough to guide us forward without revealing too much too soon. The sound effects were loud and filled up the entire room. There were a few spots where it was easy to wander off course or unintentionally backtrack to where an actor was stationed. However, actors were generally effective at blocking our paths and keeping us on track. At some point, we literally crawled through tight spaces to reach the next scene as if we were exploring an ancient temple.
In Tales of Halloween, we began our journey in a dilapidated Victorian house before moving through a cornfield, descending into eerie mines, and finally arriving at a quiet graveyard. This haunt was a little easier to navigate compared to the Temple of Terror with less places to wander off course. For anyone with arachnophobia, beware: we came across a large spider lurking right before we crossed the bridge during our walk through the crypts. Tales of Halloween utilized animatronics more heavily than Temple of Terror, which worked in its favor. The presence of these props kept us guessing about where the next scare might come from.
How scary was it? – (35% of score)
How well did they provide scares to everyone in the group? – (15% of score)
How predictable were the scares? – (25% of score)
How well did they provide a wide variety (types) of scares? – (10% of score)
How strong was the ending / finale? – (15% of score)
Both attractions were fairly even when it came to the scare factor, with frights coming at us from all directions. Tales of Halloween managed to deliver a few more scares to our group than Temple of Terror, largely thanks to its effective use of classic Jack and Jill scares. However, it’s honestly a matter of splitting hairs when it comes to which one was scarier overall. We particularly enjoyed the finale of Tales of Halloween, but we’ll keep that surprise under wraps so you can experience it for yourself.
How satisfied with the entertainment provided by the MAIN attraction/s? – (50% of score)
How satisfied with OTHER entertainment INCLUDED with the ticket price? – (25% of score)
How appropriate is/are the ticket price/s? – (25% of score)
The entertainment value has significantly improved since our last visit. What used to be a haunt in the basement is now a standalone building with a lively midway atmosphere. There are multiple food vendors, a fear garden offering adult beverages, and spooky shops where you can pick up unique items. (Don’t miss the chance to grab a caricature or enjoy some handcrafted soaps.) For families, there’s a saloon serving mocktails for both kids and adults, along with a few vignettes within the scare zone where you can interact with local “residents” and snap some fun photos. Plus, there’s a zombie gel blaster gallery, allowing you to team up and take aim at some zombies.
Overall, Nightmares on the Rogue has truly elevated its haunt experience, making it a destination for thrill seekers and their families. With all the exciting additions and two immersive attractions, we can’t wait to return next year. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable experience. See you in the dark!
502 N Fir Street, Medford, Oregon 97501