For more than 30 years, the family behind Terror Maze has been serving up frights deep in the dark woods of Springfield, Ohio. This outdoor trail twists and turns through all kinds of backwoods mayhem – where the ones lurking in the dark aren’t afraid to chase, scream, and try to cut you up while you’re running for your life!
Each corner revealed something new and unhinged, from clowns who’d clearly downed too much giggle juice to bloodthirsty Barbies and butchers who looked a little too comfortable with their knives. This is a very actor-driven haunt, and the unpredictability of what (or who) would leap from the darkness kept us on edge from start to finish. One thing’s for sure – don’t trust anyone running wild in these woods!
As we said above, this is a very actor-driven haunt. That gives the actors center stage in every scene, and they absolutely take advantage of that opportunity! The cast always brought the energy in every scene, making this trail intense! This is also a very interactive haunt. When we weren’t running for our lives, we enjoyed the banter with some of the characters (even when they were threatening to turn us into leather for their new furniture!) If you’re lucky enough to run into Bobo, the mayor of Clown Town, don’t keep him waiting; you just might walk away with his signature on your forehead!
Having so many scenes and characters meant we got to see a wide variety of behavior on our visit. Characters lunging over the railing to get to us, to soft-spoken yet loud screaming cannibals offering us some brain pudding, to clowns gleefully making us lose The Game (by the way, you’ve lost now too; sorry!), we were delighted to see all the different characters brought to life along the path.
Additional stand-outs include Cupcake and Kandy as they entertained those waiting in line, Hank (when we all knew the Muffin man, that was great!), and Sprinkles for their dialogue and interaction.
Each character at Terror Maze had their own distinct look that fit their personality and scene. We spotted a good mix of masks and makeup, with some truly unique masks that stood out among the bunch. Makeup leaned toward the grease-paint style, but it worked well for the characters who used it – especially the clowns in the waiting line area.
Most monsters were dressed in overalls, coveralls, or jackets, typical woodsman wear, but a few opted for hoodies, and we did notice a couple of logoed pieces sneaking through. (A little wardrobe tweak there would help keep the realism intact.)
Props were plentiful and added extra punch to the scares, from a sparking shock stick to a giant hook and even a brain! BoBo sported a delightfully deranged clown look, River Bones’ face was a mouthful of teeth, and Spangles brought the red, white, and boo with his patriotic flair and colorful chainsaw!
Making our way to the haunt was easy, with GPS leading us straight there. Free parking was available out front in a grass field, where they directed us right to a spot. From there, it is a short walk to the ticket booth and on into the queue line.
Once you’re on the trail, make sure to keep an eye out for walnuts that have fallen! There are signs to remind guests of this at the entrance to the trail, too. We appreciate the heads up for customers! All the staff we spoke to during our stay were friendly and helpful, guiding us to the ticket booth and on into the queue area.
Finding information before visiting was easy. They have a lot on their website and Facebook page. We would like to see an FAQ page added to the site answering commonly asked questions.
Before we even entered Terror Maze, the atmosphere was already setting the tone. Spooky décor surrounded the waiting area, and several roaming clown characters, Cupcake and Kandy, were out keeping the crowd entertained while we waited. They really like to sing the Happy Birthday song, but the haunting sounds echoing through the air added to the tension and had us second-guessing what we were walking into.
Once inside, the outdoor trail setting really pulled us in. The darkness, the trees, and the unpredictable paths created a strong sense of isolation and unease. However, the see-through wire fencing did pull us out of the moment a few times, as we could occasionally see other groups navigating nearby scenes.
Rather than following a single storyline, Terror Maze treats guests to a chaotic mix of scenes and characters, so you never know what’s coming next. And just when you think you’ve made it out alive, the trail spits you right back out where it all began near the ticket booth.
Walking through the trail took us through a multitude of scenes, each one featuring a distinct theme. A doll house (or maybe more accurately a house of dolls) for some uncanney valley action, a drill press operator that we made the mistake of staring at a bit too long, and a strobe-lit chainsaw maze (more on that later) were some standout moments that left us screaming. The scenes were a perfect stage for their actors, letting them take charge of the scenes but still being interesting to peruse on our way through.
We would’ve liked to see more scene details in some places, though, which would be an excellent opportunity for more sensory effects to thrill guests in multiple ways. Sound effects were utilized well, adding depth to scenes and providing a good background for our screams!
Watch out for several giant monsters that will try to eat you! We loved seeing these on the trail, along with a few thrashing animatronics, and lots of dead and fresh bodies of both animals… and humans!
21. How scary was it? (35% of score): 7.63
22. How well did they provide scares to everyone in the group? (15% of score): 8.13
23. How predictable were the scares? (25% of score): 8.13
24. How well did they provide a wide variety (types) of scares? (10% of score): 8.13
25. How strong was the ending / finale? (15% of score): 7
Navigating darker woods is unnerving on its own, but these woods were filled to the brim with watchers – creatures hiding just out of sight, waiting for the perfect moment to strike! The actors here knew how to use timing, space, and sound to keep us constantly on edge.
The scares came fast and from all angles: weapons swung, actors lunged over walls at us, sudden noises erupted, and large animations soared toward us, snapping and trying to bite. One standout moment was when a gurney came rolling straight at us, forcing everyone to want to scatter, but there was no place to go!
Our most intense moment came when we were trapped in a grueling maze with roaring chainsaws closing in from every direction. We couldn’t find the way out to save our lives, and apparently, we weren’t the only ones, as other guests were still talking about that scene long after escaping!
Something rather large tried to take a bite out of us for the finale, but a bit more of a final bang here would really help the show end on the same high note that some of the other scenes delivered.
Our jaunt through Terror Maze took our team 24 minutes. With tickets being only $20, this resulted in a 1.2 minutes per dollar (higher than average for haunts!) Based on this figure, this haunt offers an excellent value for a solid horror experience. If you’re so inclined, you can even spring for the Zombo Combo, which includes a t-shirt and glow bracelet in addition to an admission ticket.
While you’re waiting in line for that admission, you can take a gander at the Halloween decorations and bask in scary vibes before you start down the trail. If you’re lucky, you can even have a chance to earn some candy from the clowns prowling the queue line (word to the wise, though, make sure to bring your corniest jokes; the clowns love them!)
If you crave that gritty, old-school haunt vibe with a dash of high-tech flair and some unexpected twists, then make sure to check out Terror Maze – the longest-running haunt in the Miami Valley!
6988 Springfield Jamestown Road, Springfield, Ohio 45502
