Since I was little, my mother would take me to Adventureland, and I always thought it would be amazing if they had a haunted house. Fast forward to 2025, and my team is reviewing not just one, but five!
Adventureland’s Phantom Fall Fest, now entering its fourth year of operation, has evolved into a vibrant celebration of the autumn season. The event boasts an impressive ensemble of over 100 talented actors, each bringing their unique characters to life, while a dedicated behind-the-scenes team works tirelessly to ensure a seamless experience. The festival continues to expand, captivating audiences with its enchanting atmosphere and engaging performances.
For the 2025 haunting season, the five haunts are: mAlice in Wonderland, CarnEvil, Cornstalkers, Spirits of the Swamp, and the all-new, Spell Keeper! In addition, the park features four scare zones: Deadsville, Nordic Nightmare, The Fallen, and Hellbillies. There are also many rides open during Phantom Fall Fest.
Overall Score Per Attraction:
CarnEvil: 7.81
Spell Keeper: 8.3
mALICE in Wonderland: 7.34
Cornstalkers: 7.84
Spirits of the Swamp: 7.74
Throughout the entire park, the cast was nothing short of amazing. From the moment we entered until the very end, every actor we encountered was fully committed to their role. What really stood out was how they stayed in character no matter what, whether they were creeping through the shadows, lunging at us in the haunts, or even pausing for a quick picture when we asked. Their dedication made the experience feel immersive and alive.
The variety of characters was also impressive. We ran into all sorts of nightmares, each bringing a different kind of fear to the table. One of the most memorable areas was the half-man, half-corn actor in the Cornstalkers haunt. On the other end of the park, we found ourselves face-to-face with the mischievous pink and purple cat (yes, the one you’re thinking of) in mALICE in Wonderland, who added a playful but still eerie energy to the night. Every character felt carefully chosen to fit their haunt’s theme, and together they created a lineup that kept us constantly entertained.
The use of latex prosthetics and airbrush makeup truly brought each character to life. The majority of the costumes looked handmade and well done; if they were store-bought, nice job! For the most part, costuming was on point in each section of the park grounds.
I would have appreciated more scene-accurate costumes for the mALICE haunt. While the costumes that were used were well-made and visually appealing, they didn’t quite capture the specific details and nuances of the original characters and settings. Enhancing the costume accuracy would have added an extra layer of immersion and authenticity to the experience, making it even more engaging for the audience.
The new haunted attraction, Spell Keeper, had all its “stolen souls” dressed in dark robes, and some had crowns on and swords signifying rank. One actor was dressed up like a statue, directing what way to go.
The clowns had a vintage circus feel with distressed tutus and carnie striped pants, which made the tent feel more CarnEvil!
The customer service team was exceptionally friendly and helpful. Upon entering the park, you will find the guest service office, where staff members are eager to assist you. They have up-to-date maps available that outline the day’s events and provide information about the timing of all family activities.
Since the theme park operates on a cashless system, the team is ready to help you with the cash-to-card machine and offer information about this service. They communicate effectively via radio to ensure that they can provide you with the information you need.
When it’s time to get food, you’ll find various Halloween-themed treats and drinks available, and the staff makes sure that you are served promptly. As the haunted attractions open, the queue attendants work hard to ensure that everyone has a fantastic experience and enjoys their time at the event. They happily welcome feedback from guests.
The attendants are easily recognizable by their reflective vests, and most importantly, the team prioritizes safety. They collaborate with Adventureland first responders and the Altoona Police Department to be readily available if needed.
The immersion at Phantom Fall Fest goes throughout the park into the haunts. They added pumpkins throughout the park and spooky skeletons here and there. The excessive smoke and muggy weather kept the fog hanging in the air for quite some time. Purple and red lights lit up the trees and sky, keeping the mood spooky and Halloween-like.
The park features several bars, one of which has lightning effects and dimming/strobing lights that create the atmosphere of a thunderstorm, and the other is a black-lit mad doctor diner. Throughout the park, there are designated scare zones designed to keep you in a spooky mood; however, you can bypass these zones if you find them too frightening.
The fog rolling over the water at the Spirits of the Swamp Haunted Attraction added a chilling atmosphere. Most of the decorations are located near the entrance; as you move further in, the displays become less frequent. There were no animatronics throughout the park other than what was in the haunted attractions. They had a Froggy’s Fog bubble party during the daytime for the kids (even though we ran through them).
The haunts all had their fair share of animatronics from all over the board, from trench coat clowns to towering demons. P.F.F. really likes their animatronics!
21. How scary was it? (35% of score): 7.7
22. How well did they provide scares to everyone in the group? (15% of score): 8.01
23. How predictable were the scares? (25% of score): 7.45
24. How well did they provide a wide variety (types) of scares? (10% of score): 7.88
25. How strong was the ending / finale? (15% of score): 7.3
Here are our rankings of the scariest houses and scare zones, listed from top to bottom, including descriptions from the official website and a brief explanation of their rankings.
Haunted Attractions:
The Spell Keeper – With this being their newest haunt, the budget was bigger, and it shows. It featured bigger animatronics and better wall materials. “Every scream tells a story in Spell Keeper, the most intense haunted house at Phantom Fall Fest. Step into the all-new maze of mayhem and feel the despair. The Spell Keeper has escaped the abyss where he is condemned for defying the ancient order. Now he’s on a mission for revenge, and the more souls he steals, the more power he wields.”
CarnEvil – It is one of the originals, but the older the props get, the better! The feeling of being in a circus tent with insane clowns is the easiest way I can put it! “As you navigate through distorted funhouse mirrors, you never know which sinister clown might be lurking behind the next corner. Beware of the demented clowns lurking in the shadows, ready to turn your innocent chuckles into horrifying screams.”
Cornstalkers – This haunt is honestly my favorite due to the corn man and the “junk” aesthetic. It’s not too scary but neat to look at! “A chemical spill has turned an Iowa corn field into a hazmat disaster, and you’re on the cleanup crew. But what should be just another day on the job, even the toughest first responders are running for the hills. It’s almost like the corn is… alive.”
Spirits of the Swamp – You walk into a witch doctor’s house, and you instantly get pulled into the bayou. “A roadside attraction of a bayou ghost town lures you in – but will it let you leave? Escape the plagues unleashed by tortured spirits before you get pulled into the swamp forever.”
mALICE in Wonderland – mALICE in Wonderland is an interesting one; it’s a mish-mash Alice in Wonderland vibe haunt. There were some great scares; just more energy from the actors would have been nice, but we still had a great time! “Experience this terrifying rabbit hole, where the evil inhabitants of Wonderland will greet you, scare you, and leave you wondering if you choose the wrong path. Beware of the Red Queen and her subjects – rumor has it they want you as their next victim.”
Scare Zones:
Deadsville – The main entrance to the Phantom Fall Fest, with a vintage town with businesses on either side and a creepy trolley. The closer you get to the trolley, the more you see the bloody handprints all over it. Don’t trust the spooky ice cream man holding a tray of ice cream cones.”As day turns to night, the streets that were once filled with laughter and life are now overrun by the relentless undead.”
Hellbillies – You must enter here as it’s the only way into the Spirit of the Swamp haunt. Here, you will enter the moonshiners’ still house, and what looks like their homes. Smoke bellowed into the water below the still houses. “Moonshine producers driven to madness by their concoctions, roam around while spiraling into a deranged existence.”
The Fallen – You enter this hoop-like structure with heavy fog and headstones everywhere, and what looked to be angels walking around, “Where the boundaries between the living and the afterlife blur – a place where curiosity can end you in someone else’s grave.”
Nordic Nightmare – So, Nordic Nightmare only had their stilt walkers on the path. It felt like the Nordic actors that might be in there were gone. Still had fun seeing the stilt walkers. “Step into the shadows and witness the terror of history’s fiercest warriors that have awakened from their slumber and are out of turkey legs.”
Experience a day of fun and a night of fright with ticket prices set at $69.99 if purchased at the gate and starting at just $39.99 online (not including fees), which includes a single-day admission to Adventureland Park & Phantom Fall Fest. They even have college student discounts online. The park is open on Saturdays and Sundays. Prices also increase the closer it gets to Halloween.
We clocked our time inside the haunts at about 19 minutes. Given the thrilling rides and engaging games that will be operating all night until closing, this is a reasonable price for a memorable evening. Keep in mind, there is a parking fee of $21, so consider gathering your friends and filling up the van to make the most of your outing together!
3200 Adventureland Drive, Altoona, Iowa 50009