Features:
✓-Free Parking✓-Handicap Accessible✓-Food/Concessions✓-Gift Shop/Souvenirs✓-Optional Games/Midway✓-“Extreme” Attraction✓-You may be touched✓-Movie Characters✓-Original Characters✓-Indoor/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: 9.03
How Did We Get This Score?
Final Scores:
(15% of Final Score) Cast: 9.29
(15% of Final Score) Costuming: 9.03
(10% of Final Score) Customer Service: 9.48
(10% of Final Score) Atmosphere: 8.65
(15% of Final Score) Special Effects: 9.09
(5% of Final Score) Theme: 9.6
(15% of Final Score) Scare Factor: 8.77
(5% of Final Score) Entertainment & Value: 8.71
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Summary:
Team Giraffic Shark revisited RISE HAUNTED HOUSE after a great visit in 2017. RISE HAUNTED HOUSE and RISEWELL ASYLUM both returned for 2018, and RISE HAUNTED HAYRIDE (now open) is new for 2018, though was still receiving finishing touches when we visited and opened slightly later than the rest of the attraction this year.
Both attractions were similar to their 2017 iterations, but with certain tweaks and improvements. The clear focus overall is the addition of the RISE HAUNTED HAYRIDE, which promises to be not your ordinary hayride, according to multiple internal sources who have attended rehearsals and test runs.
The former zombie paintball attraction, though no longer owned by RISE, has moved next door to make room for the RISE HAUNTED HAYRIDE. Paintball is just a short walk away at a new neighboring business, and still available for those who were fans of that fun attraction in 2017.
Cast: 9.29
How Did We Get This Score?
Cast Scores (15% of Final Score):
(20% of Cast Score) Did it seem like there were enough actors?: 9.13
(30% of Cast Score) How creative, believable and convincing were the actors?: 9.13
(20% of Cast Score) How interactive were the actors (verbally and physically)?: 9.63
(15% of Cast Score) How creatively & appropriately did they use dialogue?: 9.38
(15% of Cast Score) Was there a good variety of characters?: 9.25
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Team Giraffic Shark was thrilled to see some returning performers for 2018, especially the strong Christopher/Oliver/Joyce performer in RISEWELL ASYLUM, with an even stronger and more developed performance. Also the rat-wrangling maid who so charmingly banters about how difficult her job is at the bed and breakfast as she pawns her pet rats off to unsuspecting Guests is back as well.
The Cast for 2018 seems to be further developed and more skilled at creeping and scaring Guests, overall, especially in RISE HAUNTED HOUSE. These performers have absolutely perfected the tease scare, providing a characterized sneak peek at the end of a hallway before exiting into their rooms to setup for their real scare. These fleeting glances at certain characters, some of which seem to disappear into the walls, not to be seen again for several scenes, builds suspense and tension leading to the eventual scares.
It was great to see such an improvement in performance in just one year’s time, especially from a Cast that was already incredibly strong last year.
Costuming: 9.03
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?: 9.13
(25% of Costuming Score) How creative / detailed were the costumes?: 9
(20% of Costuming Score) Was their makeup creative? Detailed? Realistic?: 8.75
(15% of Costuming Score) How effectively did they use masks (if used)?: N/A
(25% of Costuming Score) How appropriate were the costumes for their scene/s & theme/s?: 9.25
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Costuming is detailed, thorough, and realistic at RISE. RISE HAUNTED HOUSE runs a wide gamut of character types, and all are very unique and detailed, including makeup, with personal favorites being the voodoo New Orleans themed characters.
RISEWELL has characters in realistic, distressed asylum-themed costumes, which work with the realistic asylum theme very well.
Makeup for the close-range, lingering interactions is a bit rough around the edges, breaking the illusion slightly. A more realistic, subtle approach could better match the goal of an authentic experience.
Besides that slight concern, RISE does an incredible job of costuming their wide variety of characters and large number of performers.
Customer Service: 9.48
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?: 9
(30% of CS Score) How safe was the attraction?: 9.5
(25% of CS Score) How professional, helpful and friendly were the staff members?: 9.5
(20% of CS Score) How easy was it to find their information before* arrival?: 10
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RISE HAUNTED HOUSE’S staff is always incredibly friendly, helpful, and engaging, making for a great experience leading up to the main attractions.
Safety is of high focus at RISE, with extra focus on making the walk through attractions safe to traverse for all Guests, without any uneven surfaces or trip hazards. The entire area, including the parking lot, is reasonably well-lit as well, making for a safe experience overall.
Of special note was the host for the escape games. He interacted with the crowd waiting for the main attractions to garner excitement for the games, and was also very helpful in explaining the games, including their backstory.
Atmosphere: 8.65
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?: 8.75
(40% of Atmosphere Score) How well did the atmosphere prepare you for what you experienced inside?: 8.5
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RISE HAUNTED HOUSE and RISEWELL ASYLUM both have impressive facades, creating a themed entrance to the attractions. The lighting and sound in the general area create a spooky atmosphere to get people ready to experience the haunted attractions.
RISE could benefit from having more performers roaming the common areas. This would create a stronger atmosphere and haunted feel prior to entering the indoor attractions.
Special Effects: 9.09
How Did We Get This Score?
Special Effects Scores (15% of Final Score):
(20% of SFX Score) How effective were the sound effects?: 9
(20% of SFX Score) How creative / original were the scenes & props?: 9.13
(20% of SFX Score) How well were the scenes detailed?: 9.25
(25% of SFX Score) How well did they achieve & maintain the suspension of disbelief?: 9.13
(15% of SFX Score) How effective were the SFX at providing scares / entertainment?: 8.88
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RISE utilizes a strong combination of practical ‘old-school’ effects along with state-of-the-art special effects to entertain and scare. The performers and the special effects partner to create startling scares and memorable moments throughout the attractions.
Scenes are highly-detailed and lit well to make sure that details can be seen, not letting that hard work go to waste in the dark. RISE artists have a knack for creating wonderfully-textured scenic pieces, creating realistic environments and highly-themed areas for their walk through attractions.
A particular favorite is the New Orleans-style cemetery, taking advantage of the region with a locally-themed section of the attraction. RISE does a great job of creating ‘silence’ through this portion, allowing for scares to pop out of the soundscape, and screams to be clearly heard from the other side of the cemetery, adding to the suspense and anticipation.
Theme: 9.6
How Did We Get This Score?
Theme Scores (5% of Final Score):
(30% of Theme Score) Could you tell what the theme was?: 9.75
(50% of Theme Score) How well was the theme carried throughout the attraction/s?: 9.75
(20% of Theme Score) How well does their location authenticate the theme?: 9
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RISE HAUNTED HOUSE passes through several different themes within the same attraction, and while not following one overall theme, the individual themes are well-defined and executed at a high level.
On the other hand, RISEWELL ASYLUM follows one hyper-realistic theme. It takes Guests through a unique theatrical-style haunted attraction, room by room, as guided by performers, which is a unique take on the standard haunted house.
Details and distressing in this attraction are also really well done, creating a realistic run-down asylum featuring all its different inhabitants inside its doors.
Scare Factor: 8.77
How Did We Get This Score?
Scare Factor Scores (15% of Final Score):
(30% of Scare Factor Score) How scary was it?: 8.5
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How well did they provide scares to the entire group?: 9
(25% of Scare Factor Score) How predictable were the scares?: 8.75
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How well did they provide a wide variety of scares?: 9
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How strong was the ending / finale?: 8.88
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RISE packs some great scares into its two (and now three) large attractions. Talented and dedicated performers work hard to scare in multiple locations, and the design and direction utilize the performers to their maximum ability, getting as much effect out of the same performers as possible.
Special effect scares are also in abundance, between sound effects, practical effects, puppets/animatronics, and other special effects. The combination of these is highly effective in getting maximum scares from its Guests.
Families were also in attendance and older, brave kids seemed to enjoy the attractions as well as their parents, though it is definitely too scary for young kids.
Entertainment & Value: 8.71
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?: 8
(30% of E&V Score) How appropriate is/are the ticket price/s?: 8.75
(15% of E&V Score) Have they effectively used their available space?: 9.25
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RISE offers combination tickets for its three attractions, saving Guests money who choose to experience all RISE has to offer. There are also VIP options available for those who choose to make the most of their evening at RISE. With lengthy experiences, the ticket price is certainly fair, and well worth it for the high quality entertainment available.
There are also inexpensive snacks available for purchase, including hot dogs, chili dogs, and beverages. Three mini five minute escape games are available (and lots of fun!) as well as a bull riding setup for those looking for a little adventure for their evening.
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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Promo Images:
Click to Enlarge
Awards:
2018
Best Escape Game Located at a Haunt
