Features:
✓-Free Parking✓-Restrooms/Porta Potties On-Site✓-Food/Concessions✓-Gift Shop/Souvenirs✓-Optional Games/Midway✓-“Hi-Tech” Attraction✓-You will NOT be touched✓-Original Characters✓-Celebrity Appearances✓-Uncovered Outdoor Waiting Line✓-Indoor/Outdoor 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: 8.03
How Did We Get This Score?
Final Scores:
(15% of Final Score) Cast: 7.6
(15% of Final Score) Costuming: 8.05
(10% of Final Score) Customer Service: 9.09
(10% of Final Score) Atmosphere: 8.36
(15% of Final Score) Special Effects: 8.02
(5% of Final Score) Theme: 7.9
(15% of Final Score) Scare Factor: 7.71
(5% of Final Score) Entertainment & Value: 7.92
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Summary:
This past weekend we stopped in at the Fear Farm (FF) in Blacksburg, SC. Fear Farm is a growing, old-school haunt nestled in the mountains of upstate South Carolina. Since 2011, FF has been seeking out ways to elicit screams with shocks and startles. If they don’t get you scared, they’ll do their best to entertain you. This year, a journey through the Farm will take you from the darkness of the Abyss, into a circus school, down into a mineshaft, out into a dentist’s office, and then through the cemetery and farmhouse of a cursed local family. What frights lurk within? Come along as we recount our own journey through the Farm and learn what seeds of fear were planted.
Cast: 7.6
How Did We Get This Score?
Cast Scores (15% of Final Score):
(20% of Cast Score) Did it seem like there were enough actors?: 8.5Explanation:
50+
Not many dead zones, great actors in dark maze, more room for actors to pass could be good
clusters of actors interspersed with props
(30% of Cast Score) How creative, believable and convincing were the actors?: 7.4Explanation:
dark maze was great, clown guide entertaining
mine was awesome, muttering miner
lots of screamers – just screaming.
tall clown/stilts
dental patient with shock prod/lolli-stick
(20% of Cast Score) How interactive were the actors (verbally and physically)?: 7.9Explanation:
some few were highly interactive
great with props
(15% of Cast Score) How creatively & appropriately did they use dialogue?: 6Explanation:
Lots of screamers
A few individuals were good – clown guide, gatekeepers, the twins in the circus
others were just one liners or screaming
(15% of Cast Score) Was there a good variety of characters?: 8Explanation:5 areas, all themed
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There were about fifty costumed staff spread across the five internal haunts, but it honestly felt like there were more. If you tried to convince us that there were an average of ten actors for each zone, we’d say that you had surely miscalculated somewhere. Actors tended to be clumped together in groups with static props or animatronics interspersed between, so there were no dead zones that left us feeling lost.
The actors across the Haunt are very interactive, sometimes with the group going through and sometimes with their props. We highly enjoyed talking with some of the gatekeepers before each of the zones. Though they’re there for line control, but most of them were also costumed and in-character for the haunt behind them. Likewise, the actors in each area were appropriate for their locations ‘ you didn’t see any clowns falling into the mine shaft. Within each section there was some minor variety of roles, but each of those belonged in their respective places.
The clown who led us through the Abyss to the clown school was great. We also enjoyed some of the circus employees ‘ the twins were good at responding to dialogue and the stilt-walker was fun as well. The muttering miner who gave us vaguely prophetic warnings was a great little bit that added tension and a sense of suspense, while the dental patient with a lollipop stick was a frighteningly humorous chance for a break in the tension. Actors who can manipulate the emotions of visitors with more than just startles and screams is a great bit of theatricality that we highly enjoyed at Fear Farm.
Costuming: 8.05
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?: 7.7Explanation:
90F out and humid.
OMG tall/stilt clown
(25% of Costuming Score) How creative / detailed were the costumes?: 7.6Explanation:
some seemed off the rack, all weathered fairly well
(20% of Costuming Score) Was their makeup creative? Detailed? Realistic?: 7.9Explanation:
too hot and humid for make-up to work well. masks had to be very hot
(15% of Costuming Score) How effectively did they use masks (if used)?: 7.9Explanation:
masks in the dark maze were used very well. even though they were simple store bought masks, they were used very effectively
(25% of Costuming Score) How appropriate were the costumes for their scene/s & theme/s?: 8.9Explanation:all themed out
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While we did have the misfortune of visiting FF on a swelteringly hot and humid night, the crew at the Farm did an admirable job with their make-up and masks given the sweaty conditions. We’re sure that the Fear Farm cast will be just as eager for cooler nights to come as we are.
The stilt-walker kept her make-up on remarkably well for the night’s conditions ‘ since we got to see her up close several times, it was easy to see the level of care that had been taken to get the make-up right. Our guide through the Abyss may have been clowning around, but his mask and costume fit right in with his over-the-top personality.
There were some costumes that could have been fitted out slightly better ‘ but given the size of the cast and the heat of the evening, the Fear Farm did an admirable job of getting things right. Many of the costumes and masks are comparatively simple ones, but there are some individual instances that jump out (sometimes right at you) with some great costuming and props.
Customer Service: 9.09
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?: 8.9Explanation:
lots of lights, people direct, great signage
(30% of CS Score) How safe was the attraction?: 8.6Explanation:
lots of trip hazards in dark maze
stairs were lit, some scares near stairs
outdoor trail
(25% of CS Score) How professional, helpful and friendly were the staff members?: 10Explanation:
everyone was helpful and friendly
(20% of CS Score) How easy was it to find their information before* arrival?: 8.9Explanation:
all online. easy to navigate
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The Fear Farm is outside of Blacksburg, up in the mountainous countryside. GPS and cell signal comes and goes when one is visiting such remote places, as we discovered on our rambling trip up the mountainside. We’d advise being sure of your GPS directions ‘ some devices will let you download a route in case of signal loss. Not a bad idea when traveling the country to find these great haunts.
Once we got close, we easily found the haunt. The parking lot attendants had lights to direct parking and the entrance to the trail leading to the haunt was clearly lit. The non-costumed staff were friendly and wonderful to deal with. Too, we found plenty of signs to point us to the prominent spots along the way (merchandise, tickets, and so on). All of the information for the haunt was easily found online; they have a dedicated website and an active Facebook page.
The Fear Farm is essentially a walking trail, though you are venturing into structures along the way. Be sure to wear appropriate shoes!
The only negative we could find was that there were a few trip hazards that we inadvertently kicked while navigating the Abyss and, on a couple of occasions, there were some scares that hit the back of our group while the front of the group was heading down a set of stairs. This didn’t cause any issues for our seasoned crew, but we know that if we had some of our own screamers with us, they might have bowled us down the stairs to get away.
Atmosphere: 8.36
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?: 8.6Explanation:
lots of signs, festive feel
(40% of Atmosphere Score) How well did the atmosphere prepare you for what you experienced inside?: 8
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The anticipation for Fear Farm builds from the parking lot to the front door. The parking lot is lit along the edges, but towering, dark trees surround it. We then venture down a darkened trail to find the ticket booth set up at the edge of an occupied carnival-styled set. Within the bounds of this area, we not only find the ticket booth and entrance to the Abyss, but also the Fear Farm escape room, mini-golf, and a carnival game. With some searching, we can spot the entrance to the mine shaft tucked away as well as the exit from the farmhouse. All of that adds up to some great anticipation for the scares that the FF has tucked away out of sight. While a DJ blasts music over our heads and some of the costumed creatures prowl around, we can definitely tell that we are in for a treat.
Special Effects: 8.02
How Did We Get This Score?
Special Effects Scores (15% of Final Score):
(20% of SFX Score) How effective were the sound effects?: 7.8Explanation:
some sound bleed, actor driven sounds
dentist (drills), mine (knocking and sound effects), music (dr feelgood)
(20% of SFX Score) How creative / original were the scenes & props?: 8.4Explanation:
Animatronics were well timed
(20% of SFX Score) How well were the scenes detailed?: 8Explanation:
Pieces on ceiling.
Lots of static mannequins
(25% of SFX Score) How well did they achieve & maintain the suspension of disbelief?: 7.9Explanation:
short but immersive
(15% of SFX Score) How effective were the SFX at providing scares / entertainment?: 8Explanation:Left us wanting more – as in we wanted it to continue.
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We enjoyed the scares at FF. While there was some sound bleed from one scene to the next, it wasn’t distracting in most cases. In other cases, like the dentist’s office, it even added to the suspense-filled anticipation. There were a lot of effects that were either actor-driven or props held by actors, but they were used to a good effect.
Each of the internal haunts were relatively short ‘ our fear-hounded feet counted the shortest one at about four minutes, for example. But, they are each detailed enough to give visitors a good glimpse of the skill at FF from sets and props to sounds and screams.
Keep your eyes peeled in all directions, too! Fear Farm has learned to tuck some things away in multiple places. There could be something lurking above you instead of just along your line of sight. They’ve also done a fantastic job on the timing of their animatronics ‘ they don’t just pop out for the front person in a group but are managed to spring out in different locations as they are triggered. That is a level of skill and detail that some larger places still struggle with in our experience, so it was great to see someone doing it well.
Theme: 7.9
How Did We Get This Score?
Theme Scores (5% of Final Score):
(30% of Theme Score) Could you tell what the theme was?: 8.2Explanation:
Each area with separate apparent themes
(50% of Theme Score) How well was the theme carried throughout the attraction/s?: 7.7Explanation:
some were sparse
(20% of Theme Score) How well does their location authenticate the theme?: 7.95Explanation:
farm and mines
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There isn’t a singular theme for Fear Farm. Instead, each of the five sections that we traveled through had their own individual theme. These were carried out well through set design, d������cor, props, and costuming.
Some of the internal haunts are great for the location. The mineshaft and the farmhouse are both very appropriate for the area as Blacksburg was once known for its mines and there are plenty of old farmhouses in the region.
Scare Factor: 7.71
How Did We Get This Score?
Scare Factor Scores (15% of Final Score):
(30% of Scare Factor Score) How scary was it?: 8.1Explanation:
Lots of scares from a variety of angles
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How well did they provide scares to the entire group?: 8.5Explanation:
well covered for our group of 3
animatronics timed well
(25% of Scare Factor Score) How predictable were the scares?: 7Explanation:
lots of jump scares, started to be formulaic
clown and dark maze were good
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How well did they provide a wide variety of scares?: 7.8Explanation:
Actor driven, lots of jump scares and screaming
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How strong was the ending / finale?: 7.2Explanation:
other parts were more memorable
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When we ventured through FF, we had a very small group ‘ only three people. For the small size of our group, the actors did a great job of spreading the fear about. Again, the animatronics’ timing was geared to not just hit the front of our group, which was nice. A group with five to six people might still have some issues where the individual in the rear might miss out on seeing a prop deploy; but, in those cases, we’re sure the actors would more than make up for the loss.
There were a lot of jump scares at Fear Farm, possibly too many. Some of the actors do manage to bring the jump scares from different angles, but by the time you reach the very end, the jump scares start to almost seem formulaic. However, we are reminded that FF is also a fairly young haunt. We feel that it’s a great place to visit, and we’re hopeful that its actors will grow with the haunt and hone their skills as time goes on.
Also, we should mention that there is a strong chance of contact with the actors ‘ from props to squeezing through narrow passages, we couldn’t always avoid being touched at least a few times. While this isn’t as intense as something you would experience in a full-contact haunt, some guests might not be expecting the close proximity. It was something that we found fun and entertaining.
Entertainment & Value: 7.92
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?: 8Explanation:
26 min, $20 admission
(25% of E&V Score) How satisfied were you with the entertainment that’s available with* the ticket price, excluding the main attraction/s?: 7.5Explanation:
escape rooms, putt putt, game
music + queue actors
(30% of E&V Score) How appropriate is/are the ticket price/s?: 8
(15% of E&V Score) Have they effectively used their available space?: 8.3Explanation:room to grow
space used well
sound bleed to waiting areas
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We spent about 26 minutes inside each of the five haunts at Fear Farm. On a busy night, be aware that there are small holding areas before the haunts ‘ if the parking lot is full, consider a fast pass. Remember that there are some other attractions on site ‘ the carnival game, the escape room, and a 9-hole mini-golf course. These additional attractions are outside of the waiting line, but their inclusion can easily give a group an entire night of entertainment out on the farm. Fear Farm has a variety of ticket options (general, RIP, and VIP) as well as special discounts depending on the night of a visit ‘ be sure to check their webpage for specific details. Add in concessions and FF merchandise and there’s plenty to enjoy and experience.
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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