Just east of Charlotte, North Carolina, in Monroe, The 13th Acre Haunted House and Trail has been giving thrill-seekers chills since 2018. Covering 25 acres of pure mayhem and expanded in 2023, this haunt drops you right into eerily silent woods where creatures lurk just out of sight. Once the sun goes down, they come alive to stir up chaos, and it’s up to you and your friends to find out what’s waiting in the dark.
The atmosphere hits you before you even step inside, with a large pond and a fence screaming “Horrorwood” in big blood-red letters. Once you cross that line, you get one chance to turn back. After that, you’re in for it. Around every corner, the dead and dearly departed wait to drag you deeper into their nightmare world.
And then there’s Coffin Creek. More than a century ago, heavy rains washed coffins out of a nearby cemetery, scattering them across the land. That’s where the legend of Coffin Creek was born, and now it’s an attraction of its own where the restless dead aren’t staying buried. Just past it lies the Forbidden Acre, a twisted trail where unspeakable horrors play out in the shadows. Together, they will put even the bravest to the test.
When you finally make it out, the midway has plenty of ways to recover or keep the fun going with a bar, food, a general store, and even a retro 50s-style ice cream parlor. Both Coffin Creek and Forbidden Acre exit back into the midway, so you’re getting two haunts wrapped up in one unforgettable night of fear and fun.
The cast at The 13th Acre truly brought the haunt to life, with an impressive crew of 100 actors delivering scares, suspense, and plenty of personality. Guests encounter a wide range of characters, from the quietly lurking to the outrageously interactive. Some actors preferred to creep in the shadows, creating an unsettling suspense, while others engaged physically and verbally, keeping us on our toes throughout the night.
A few performers really stood out for their energy and banter. Diane, the diner hostess played by Marie Dresser, was a delight, skillfully mixing humor and creepiness with her guests, and the Asylum Nurse impressed with her chilling presence and sharp interaction. Notable characters included Pickles, a clown with a rubber chicken; Basher, wearing a striking “hand on face” mask; Snortz and Squeelz, the pig butcher duo; Unstitched, a red-and-black clown; The Skinner, a large Viking-esque figure with skinned faces; Husk Reaper and The Watcher, a duo haunting the cornfield; Nicholas and Pogo, a crazy clown and puppet team with Pogo showing remarkable talent; Mr. Crowly, carrying a lantern with an ominous presence; Nurse Nell, terrifying with a needle in the eye; Gemini Jane, the multi-faced doll; and Indra, devilish with red wings. The announcer, Zero, set the tone perfectly as guests entered, adding to the overall atmosphere.
The commitment and creativity of the actors elevated the haunt, making the experience immersive and memorable, and their mix of scares, personalities, and interactions turned the night into a wild ride from start to finish.
The costuming at The 13th Acre was a major highlight, with some of the most unique and creative characters we’ve seen. The costumes and accessories were detailed and complete, fitting perfectly with their respective scenes. It’s clear that a lot of attention was paid to the details and originality of the masks and makeup, which were both realistic and creative.
The queue actors were a perfect example of this, as they were fantastic at bantering with the crowd and lurking for scares while we waited. Every costume was appropriate for its theme, making each scene feel authentic and believable.
The customer service at The 13th Acre was top-notch. Locating the haunt was very easy, and the parking was well-organized. Staff members were unbelievably friendly and professional, creating a safe and welcoming environment. The premises felt very secure, and we felt safe during our visit.
We also found it incredibly easy to find all the information we needed before our arrival on their thoroughly detailed website. Overall, the customer service was fantastic from start to finish.
The immersion at The 13th Acre begins before you even enter the haunt. The pre-haunt area, with music blasting over the PA system, immediately gets you in the Halloween spirit. You’re greeted by a variety of ghouls who lurk to scare you, creating a lively atmosphere. Zero the Ring Master made sure to introduce everyone to the ghouls before the haunt opened, and we loved watching Pickles chase victims and Van Buren the Nordic Warrior threaten to skin us alive.
While there isn’t a specific storyline, the haunt is mostly immersive, with a few bare transition areas and some spots that could use sound effects to maintain the vibe. The haunt is separated into two sections, with a short, vibe-breaking walk between the two. However, once you’re inside, the detailed scenes and committed actors keep you on edge and consistently pulled into the horror.
The special effects at The 13th Acre were not only effective but also helped create some of the most unique and original scenes we’ve come across. Every detail felt intentional, pulling us deeper into the story with sights, sounds, and atmosphere that worked together to keep us on edge.
The sound effects were especially strong, echoing through the woods and inside the scenes to amplify tension at just the right moments. A few animatronics were worked in sparingly, but when they appeared, they were perfectly timed and highly effective. One of the standout touches was their incredibly creative chainsaw design, easily one of the coolest we’ve ever encountered at any haunt.
The set design itself deserves a lot of credit. The Crematorium was a major highlight, with layers of detail and immersive elements that made it feel truly sinister. Other areas like the Honey Combs, Kids Toy Room, Diner, Asylum, and Frozen section were each impressively thought out, offering variety while still keeping a consistent level of creativity. The Frozen scene, in particular, gave us an eerie chill that stuck with us well after we left.
Lighting and sensory effects added even more to the atmosphere. Strobes and fog were used to full effect, helping disorient and heighten tension, while subtle scents in key scenes created an extra layer of immersion. For the future, we think adding tactile elements, like shock pads in the Alien area, could push the experience even further and give guests a surprising jolt to match the visuals.
If there was one area that pulled us out of the moment, it was in scenes where the lighting felt a little too bright, especially in the Autopsy Room. A darker, moodier setup there could easily increase the intensity and help keep the immersion seamless.
Overall, the effects at The 13th Acre show a level of creativity and thought that makes the haunt stand out, offering a mix of classic scares, clever innovations, and memorable designs that left a lasting impression.
21. How scary was it? (35% of score): 8
22. How well did they provide scares to everyone in the group? (15% of score): 8.5
23. How predictable were the scares? (25% of score): 9
24. How well did they provide a wide variety (types) of scares? (10% of score): 9.25
25. How strong was the ending / finale? (15% of score): 7
This haunt definitely delivered on the scare factor, getting us several times with some perfectly timed jump scares. We especially appreciated how unpredictable the scares were. Actors in convincing costumes often blended in as props until they suddenly sprang to life, sending shocks through our group. Everyone in our crew got their fair share of frights, which speaks to how well the cast spread out their scares and kept us on edge.
They also mixed in a variety of scare styles, from loud and startling to eerily quiet and creeping, which kept things fresh throughout the walkthrough. That said, we felt the finales of both attractions could hit harder to leave guests walking out on an adrenaline high. Coffin Creek wraps up with the alien scene, and while the set looked great, the finish felt a bit anticlimactic. Forbidden Acre closed with the classic chainsaw chase, which is always fun but felt a little predictable compared to the originality we saw in other parts of the haunt.
A bigger, more explosive finale in each section would take The 13th Acre to the next level, giving guests that last unforgettable scare before they spill back into the midway. Even so, the overall experience was packed with creative moments, effective scares, and a constant sense of unease that kept us guessing until the very end.
The entertainment and value at The 13th Acre were top-tier. The main attraction provided a very satisfying experience, coming in at 43 minutes in length, and the midway was a ton of fun. Included with your ticket price is a gift shop full of merchandise and a 50s-style diner serving milkshakes, sundaes, and floats. The pricing is very appropriate, with General Admission at $30, a Fast Pass at $45, and VIP at $65, all with free parking.
The VIP ticket at The 13th Acre is an unbelievable value and a must for any haunt fan. It grants access to a private lounge complete with a clever trick mirror, where you can secretly press buttons to trigger scares on unsuspecting guests as they pass through the haunt without them ever realizing it’s you. This interactive perk adds a whole new layer of fun and makes the experience stand out from other VIP upgrades we’ve seen. On top of that, VIP guests enjoy their own private bar and bathroom, making the upgrade both entertaining and convenient.
3718 Plyler Mill Road, Monroe, North Carolina 28112
