Scream Acres at Fritzler Corn Maze Review (2024)

The cast at Scream Acres packs a punch, beginning with the creatures who come out to greet guests waiting in the queue line, interacting with folks, posing for pictures and, of course, setting the mood for the haunt itself. The cast inside of the haunt keeps that mood high, some with an unsettling sense of inner calm and others opting for a more obviously aggressive approach. There was also a good variety of characters throughout the haunt, ranging from nondescript dark, hooded figures lurking in the shadows to a digitally enhanced man wielding a chainsaw to a man-sized lizard emerging with some realistic reptilian movements. There were a few spots, particularly on the path to and from the haunt, that would have benefitted from more actors, but the cast we encountered was roundly effective and energetic!

The costumes at Scream Acres were all well-fitting and appropriate for their respective scenes, with some featuring some truly unique and detailed masks, and well-done makeup. The gore, while somewhat present, isn’t over the top either, with the haunt relying more on creating immersive settings and characters than fake blood and viscera. The lizard man mentioned above, for instance, wore an incredibly cool and unique mask, with enough detail that you could make out individual scales in the dark. The queue line cast probably had the most detailed of all of the costumes, including the yellow-haired jester whose face has become synonymous with the attraction, and his tiny companions.

Finding the haunt is as easy as using the map app of your choosing to find the place, which is located just off of US 85. There are also signs along the road on the approach pointing visitors toward the entrance. Parking was a snap, with an attendant guiding folks to open spots, though the parking lot itself is a bit bumpy for both wheels and feet. The non-haunt crew at Scream Acres was also terrific, helpful and happy to interact with folks. It would be helpful to include more information on the website about the other seasonal activities, or even on signs throughout the farm park, but we didn’t discover until we were on the way out that the those seasonal activities that pack the farm park property were largely free to guests. Nevertheless, whether you’re talking to a ticket taker or borrowing a photo op attendant’s photography skills, the customer service at Fritzler Farm Park, including within the confines of Scream Acres, is terrific!

The autumnal entertainment begins as soon as guests approach the attraction from the parking lot. The huge pick-your-own pumpkin patch is dotted with shades of orange, white and the sickly green that graces some gourds, as the sound of the pumpkin chuckin’ cannons blast in the distance. The variety of vendors and games along the way to the haunt entrance further carry the essence of fall. The haunt area is set off from the rest of the activities, being first contained within some wood lined walls that contain the queue line, a number of portapotties, a small tent selling drinks for all ages, and a stage with fire dancers performing to some great metal classics from the last few decades. That vibe carried throughout the queue line area, intensifying as guests get closer to the actual haunt entrance. While the immersion was lost in some spots, including most notably the walk from the haunt entrance to where the show actually begins, it remained high otherwise. The terrific vibe that builds before the haunt continues afterward as well, though the exit to the haunt puts guests on the outside of the farm park’s central area, but guests can either reenter with their wristbands or stop at the haunt’s souvenir shop at the end.

The special effects throughout Scream Acres were good and impressively effective. The sound effects, whether piped in or created by the cast, created a nearly constant cacophony that was embellished upon by the screams of guests within earshot. The sets were designed well, and fleshed out well with props and cast fitting the various settings. Though the sets were somewhat repetitious in structure, it’s what each might feature that brings additional menace to the mechanical, optical and sound effects. A split path, complete darkness or an unassuming giant skeleton all working in concert with the cast to fill the haunt.

Scream Acres certainly lives up to its name! When we weren’t screaming, we could hear a group before or after us wail almost all of the time. The packed nature of the attraction, however, seemed to neuter a lot of the scares as there was no time for an actor or scare to reset. Nevertheless, when the timing worked in our favor, haunt did a great job of sending shivers down our spines with a variety of approaches. The finale was also a lot of fun, structured to give the actors multiple ways to attack visitors on their way back out to the corn.