Features:
✓-Free Parking✓-Restrooms/Porta Potties On-Site✓-Handicap Accessible✓-Food/Concessions✓-Gift Shop/Souvenirs✓-You may be touched✓-You will NOT be touched✓-Original Characters✓-Indoor/Outdoor Waiting Line✓-All-Indoor Attraction✓-Family Friendly
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: 7.84
How Did We Get This Score?
Final Scores:
(15% of Final Score) Cast: 8.08
(15% of Final Score) Costuming: 7.88
(10% of Final Score) Customer Service: 8.3
(10% of Final Score) Atmosphere: 7.7
(15% of Final Score) Special Effects: 7.83
(5% of Final Score) Theme: 7.95
(15% of Final Score) Scare Factor: 7.65
(5% of Final Score) Entertainment & Value: 7.53
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Summary:
Where is a newly uprising haunt gem? Why in Jackson, Georgia! Terror Mills Haunted House has only been open for a few years and they are growing by leaps and bounds. Their secret for success? They have haunt passion in spades and an eye for detail. Our group predicts this haunt to just continue getting more and more amazing and we are hoping to be there every step of the way to watch this haunt grow!
Terror Mills Haunted House started as a small haunt within an old pillow factory, now they have a larger location with access to a larger building and a spooky woods. Not only did we love their current haunt enough to go through twice, but we anticipate that they are only going to get bigger and better as they progress over the next few years. Our group went through twice because the first time was the standard haunt and the second was something called ‘full tilt’, which turned the haunt into a full touch haunt. In speaking with the owner, yes, they have some BIG plans for the future. We are pumped to see all that is to come!
Cast: 8.08
How Did We Get This Score?
Cast Scores (15% of Final Score):
(20% of Cast Score) Did it seem like there were enough actors?: 7.5
(30% of Cast Score) How creative, believable and convincing were the actors?: 8
(20% of Cast Score) How interactive were the actors (verbally and physically)?: 8.5
(15% of Cast Score) How creatively & appropriately did they use dialogue?: 8.5
(15% of Cast Score) Was there a good variety of characters?: 8
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Terror Mills Haunted House had a very energetic and passionate group of actors of all ages. The first time we went through the haunt, we were blown away with their animated acting. The actors played ‘rage zombies’ and each one was unique from the other while still being all the same type of zombie. Each zombie was clearly a specific person before they were turned, which is an amount of detail we appreciate with characters. Each of the zombies also had a unique zombie sound and ‘dialogue.’ Hissing, growling, snarling, manic laughter, and silence were heard as we went through the haunt.
The actors were very interactive in the first pass as we went through. They followed our group and even one zombie in the swamp area separated us with a creepy back bend. Obviously, with the full tilt, the interactivity and energy drastically increased (which meant that the actors were insane in a good way) and our group got touched, pushed, and pulled.
Costuming: 7.88
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?: 7
(25% of Costuming Score) How creative / detailed were the costumes?: 7
(20% of Costuming Score) Was their makeup creative? Detailed? Realistic?: 9
(15% of Costuming Score) How effectively did they use masks (if used)?: 8.5
(25% of Costuming Score) How appropriate were the costumes for their scene/s & theme/s?: 8
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Terror Mills Haunted House has a crazy talented makeup crew. They have in their ticket booth some custom made masks and some hand made key chains that are creepy severed fingers. Those talents are also displayed on the faces and bodies of all the characters within the haunt.
While the makeup was really outstanding, some of the costumes appeared to be just street clothes. It’s possible that the zombies are in street clothes because they are freshly turned people, but it still stood out some. Other characters were head to toe in costume. Jackson was the first character that people meet and he was very, very well done with full makeup, costume, and a great accent. The masks were few in number and were typically for just the clown zombies. That made the clowns fit together with each other within the zombie-infested carnival.
Customer Service: 8.3
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?: 7
(30% of CS Score) How safe was the attraction?: 8
(25% of CS Score) How professional, helpful and friendly were the staff members?: 9
(20% of CS Score) How easy was it to find their information before* arrival?: 9.5
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Terror Mills Haunted House has a great amount of information online. They really want people to know about them, and they have an active Facebook and Instagram along with a well-designed website to get their information to the masses.
As we drove up to the haunt, the GPS led us right to them. But even if it hadn’t, they had signs up along the road and fun zombie mannequins at their entrance. Once parked, it was fairly easy to find the ticket booth, we just needed to follow the music. We met several of the cast and crew and all of them were so nice and friendly and welcoming. This wasn’t just because we were reviewers, because we saw them treat multiple other people the same way, these people are just that nice. The crew is also really good at having answers or getting answers to any questions we had.
Atmosphere: 7.7
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?: 7.5
(40% of Atmosphere Score) How well did the atmosphere prepare you for what you experienced inside?: 8
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Terror Mills Haunted House had a cute Halloween feel from the moment that we pulled into the parking lot. They had a fun little cemetery set up by the parking lot, haunt themed music playing, and some actors who floated from the haunt to the line area.
Our favorite part of the atmosphere was right before entering the haunt which is the group staging area. This area was built to feel like a stone tunnel and was set up so that the Jackson character can bust through the wall to get the first scare and introduce the story of what people were about to see.
Special Effects: 7.83
How Did We Get This Score?
Special Effects Scores (15% of Final Score):
(20% of SFX Score) How effective were the sound effects?: 8
(20% of SFX Score) How creative / original were the scenes & props?: 8
(20% of SFX Score) How well were the scenes detailed?: 7.5
(25% of SFX Score) How well did they achieve & maintain the suspension of disbelief?: 8
(15% of SFX Score) How effective were the SFX at providing scares / entertainment?: 7.5
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Terror Mills Haunted House had some well-executed, fun special effects. Some of the sets were very detailed and the effects within those sets were on point to scare. Our favorite set was the haunted house within the haunt. It was so clever to have a haunted house within the haunt, that was obviously run by people who ended up being turned. The way the haunt was built, it caused us to be looking up, down, and all-around to see everything going on. This haunt used sound very well and even knew to stop the sound when the group had moved on so that the sets didn’t bleed over. Our group loved the use of sounds to make some places loud and chaotic and others quiet and creepy.
They also had a 3D area for the carnival and it was pretty well done. There was a bridge that was great because it had hanging objects that were also painted to be 3D. Within the 3D area were also the moving floors which were created in an effective fashion and very safe.
Theme: 7.95
How Did We Get This Score?
Theme Scores (5% of Final Score):
(30% of Theme Score) Could you tell what the theme was?: 8.5
(50% of Theme Score) How well was the theme carried throughout the attraction/s?: 8
(20% of Theme Score) How well does their location authenticate the theme?: 7
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Terror Mills Haunted House had a very simple and straight-forward theme of a zombie outbreak within a small town. The town was complete with a carnival, a hospital, a town shop, and even a prison. Customers are traveling through this zombie-infested area, then they are saved by the army, or are they? The theme is very clear and concise. Each set was a different part of the town, but it is all the town, and every zombie fits in with their set and the overall theme. There was even a zombie at home in pajamas watching Nightmare Before Christmas, which is how this reviewer would be found as a zombie too.
Scare Factor: 7.65
How Did We Get This Score?
Scare Factor Scores (15% of Final Score):
(30% of Scare Factor Score) How scary was it?: 7.5
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How well did they provide scares to the entire group?: 8
(25% of Scare Factor Score) How predictable were the scares?: 7.5
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How well did they provide a wide variety of scares?: 8
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How strong was the ending / finale?: 7.5
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Terror Mills Haunted House is a family-friendly haunt and as such, they don’t do extreme gore or adult situations. But the scares they do have are effective. They have scares from every direction and that made them really unpredictable. Our favorite scare was the haunted house zombie who was climbing over the set to get the guests. It was definitely not where we were expecting the scare to come from and it got us good!
Once we were in the full tilt, it was even more intense scares. One of our group was literally snatched behind scenes! It was amazingly fun and really added another dimension to the already spooky haunt.
Entertainment & Value: 7.53
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?: 8.5
(25% of E&V Score) How satisfied were you with the entertainment that’s available with* the ticket price, excluding the main attraction/s?: 7
(30% of E&V Score) How appropriate is/are the ticket price/s?: 7
(15% of E&V Score) Have they effectively used their available space?: 7.5
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Terror Mills Haunted House was a great deal of fun both in its classic form and its full-tilt form. Our group averaged about 15 minutes to go through the haunt. Tickets were $17.00 (though there are constant sales on their Facebook and discounts) so the minutes per dollar ratio was 0.88 which is a little low. However, the passion and energy customers get thrust at them as they pass through the haunt makes it more valuable.
They also have fire pits, fun music, souvenirs, and a yummy hotdog stand that people can enjoy before and after their haunt journey. Additionally, they have actors that float out and play with people in the line area and fire pit area.
Our group had a blast at Terror Mills Haunted House and we are definitely looking forward to seeing what they have to offer in 2020!
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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