On Friday the 13th, we returned to Sweet Dreams Scare House for their opening night. Though there had been rain earlier in the day, that worked to our advantage by slimming down some of the crowds that usually visit this unique South Carolina haunted attraction. This year’s evolution of this haunt continues a tradition of growth and refinement that promises visitors a great visit full of screams and frights.
Of note, this haunt offers an “R-rated” version that is slightly more vulgar as well as being full-touch. We have done both the standard and the R-rated versions during our numerous previous visits to Sweet Dreams. In our team’s opinion, the R-rated version is something that fellow haunt enthusiasts (if they’re physically able) should experience. Over the years, many interactions and conversations with the owner and many of the staff at Sweet Dreams have built up our trust in the actors here and their training, and we feel safe in saying that the full-touch experience at this haunt is safe and enjoyable. While we wouldn’t recommend it for every visitor, we think that those who are willing and able should definitely opt for the R-rated experience. As one of the few touch-haunt experiences in South Carolina, Sweet Dreams Scare House continues to be a highly recommended destination for our team.
During our visit to Sweet Dreams, we felt like there were more actors on the trail than there had been in prior years. Though there were a few places where we knew there had been actors in prior years that were empty during our visit, rarely did it feel like there weren’t enough. Having a few spaces to catch our breath or regroup after being separated was helpful. During the R-rated show, the cast was interactive in a huge variety of ways. During our trip through the haunt, members of our team were forced into dog kennels, refrigerators, and electric chairs. We were manhandled, shoved, lightly pushed, and, on one occasion, briefly carried.
In addition to the rough and rumble, fierce, bloodthirsty hulks that pushed us around, there was also a tall and silent Jason character that communicated to us with simple hand signs when he seemingly magically popped up over and over again during the first part of the haunt. Additionally, many fellow victims were being held by the brutes that terrorized us; we even managed to free one of these actresses, and while remaining in character she popped up to give one of our team members a hug before vanishing. We also encountered an ‘amputee’ victim who suggested we carry her to freedom before one of her tormentors pushed us from the scene.
We also passed through a desecrated church and graveyard and ended our journey at a demented carnival, where one of our team members came away with a small toy.
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)
While there were a few masks scattered around the cast, such as the aforementioned Jason character, most of the cast were decked out in makeup and tattered costumes to fit their respective scenes. The accoutrements of the various actors really helped set the scenes pulling us (sometimes literally) into the action as we moved along the trail.
Unfortunately, there was little pre-haunt entertainment per se during our visit. Instead of being present in the queue area, all of the actors were along the trail inside the attraction.
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)
The staff at Sweet Dreams was welcoming and inviting. They provided friendly faces and affable conversation with us from the gift shop to the drink stand. We were even able to get our car jumped after the battery died after we arrived at the haunt.
The trail is safe and easy to navigate. If a visitor opts for the R-rated show as we did, there is a chance of getting a bump or small bruise from the light contact. Our group of three had maybe two small bruises between all of us and that was with one of us in a knee brace. Visitors choosing the more intense show get a glowing necklace to signify to the actors that they have permitted physical contact; however, these necklaces are easy to pop off if a guest decides to change their mind while along the trail. Too, we found a couple of monsters along the trail who also had one or more of these necklaces – trophies from other guests who had removed them after chickening out.
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)
There were no queue actors during our visit, but there were some themed-out photo-op sites in the Compound, as the waiting area at Sweet Dreams is called. The haunt is one attraction, a single trail through a variety of scenes and structures. Different video screens before the haunt feature a skeleton welcoming guests and talking about the rules in a style very reminiscent of the old Crypt Keeper from the show Tales from the Crypt.
There’s also a small piece of the trail near the very back of the attraction where we crossed from one section of woods to another. It was quiet and peaceful, which was a nice moment between the intensity of the scenes both before and after.
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)
While a lot of the special effects at Sweet Dreams seemed to be actor-driven – bangs and booms of things striking sets and the like – there were also moments of music and sounds coming from cunningly hidden speakers that helped ease us into some of the various scenes. Additionally, one of our team was “electrocuted” during a scene; obviously, this wasn’t actual live electricity but heavy vibration, lights, and some sparks.
The various fridges that members of our team were shoved into (as well as the dog kennel) were quite realistic. Where Sweet Dreams found so many empty fridges, cages, and loose toilets remains a mystery, but we laughingly discussed the number and variety of them on our way home. The overwhelming physicality of the extreme version of the show created a heightened sense of danger and excitement, making the visit a thrilling one.
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)
Our team loves the extreme show at Sweet Dreams. In the past, we’ve done the general show as well, but we find the R-rated version to be more entertaining because it feels so primal and raw. Scares are interspersed with some calmer scenes that aren’t as viscerally frightening but work to build tension and horror in other ways. Additionally, there were some places where things were much calmer. As an example, one creepy witch gave each of us a small piece of candy, and one of our team members got a small rubber duck as a “prize” from one of the clowns.
While some of the shouting and growling and shoving and ‘help me’s from the victims can seem a little repetitive in the beginning, the scenes change up enough as we moved through the haunt that things seemed fresh. One of our team members this year had never been to Sweet Dreams before. In fact, it was their first time visiting a touch haunt – their fresh eyes and previously untouched skin gave a different perspective on the unexpected fear that a touch haunt can bring to the uninitiated.
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)
We enjoyed our visit to Sweet Dreams Scare House. It took us around 25 minutes to navigate the haunt, which did include a few brief stops to reassemble our group after one or more of us were taken away by monsters or killers.
Sweet Dreams is open on Fridays and Saturdays. Friday nights are slightly less expensive than Saturdays. Tickets for children under 10 are even less, though visitors of that age cannot go through the extreme version. On nights that the haunt is busy, guests can purchase fast pass tickets to get to the front of the line more quickly. Sweet Dreams is cash-only on-site, but it is possible to buy tickets online before a visit.
250 Saco Lowell Road, Easley, South Carolina 29640
