Features:
✓-Free Parking✓-Restrooms/Porta Potties On-Site✓-Handicap Accessible✓-Food/Concessions✓-Gift Shop/Souvenirs✓-You will NOT be touched✓-Indoor Waiting Line✓-Indoor/Outdoor Attraction
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: 7.08
How Did We Get This Score?
Final Scores:
(15% of Final Score) Cast: 6.95
(15% of Final Score) Costuming: 7.2
(10% of Final Score) Customer Service: 7.45
(10% of Final Score) Atmosphere: 7
(15% of Final Score) Special Effects: 7.3
(5% of Final Score) Theme:
(15% of Final Score) Scare Factor: 7.33
(5% of Final Score) Entertainment & Value: 6.4
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Summary:
The Fright Factory is a haunted attraction located in Buckley, WA that has been operating for over 20 years. Taking up what looks like an old livestock farm, this haunt looks to overwhelm patrons with their scares. Most of the haunt is located indoors, which is nice during October in Washington. Despite visiting on what is sure to be one of the quietest days in the season, we got scared more than a few times and were quite delighted at both the skill of the actors as well as the layouts of the sets. The intensity of the scares and atmosphere are sure to be a treat for both locals and haunt enthusiasts looking for a thrill.
Cast: 6.95
How Did We Get This Score?
Cast Scores (15% of Final Score):
(20% of Cast Score) Did it seem like there were enough actors?: 7.33
(30% of Cast Score) How creative, believable and convincing were the actors?: 7Explanation:
The cast brought lots of great energy that did a lot to make the experience fun.
(20% of Cast Score) How interactive were the actors (verbally and physically)?: 7.67Explanation:
Lots of well-timed, effective scares.
(15% of Cast Score) How creatively & appropriately did they use dialogue?: 5.67Explanation:
The cast wasn’t particularly chatty though there were a couple of actors that engage with our team.
(15% of Cast Score) Was there a good variety of characters?: 6.67
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The Fright Factory cast is composed of local volunteers. Overall, the cast did a great job in blending with their environments and timing out their scares. More than once they were able to startle our entire group with simple but effective scares.
Our team particularly loved one of the pirates (nicknamed ‘the one in a tricorn’) who managed to appear out of nowhere. He managed to make our entire team of veteran haunters scream by slamming down a stool on the wooden dock. Despite how simple the actual scare was, it was so well-timed and executed that it was the most memorable scare of the night for us.
There were portions that felt like they were lacking actors. However, our visit was on their first Sunday of the season, so it was not surprising that the cast felt a little light being so early in the season on a much quieter day.
Costuming: 7.2
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?: 7.67
(25% of Costuming Score) How creative / detailed were the costumes?: 6.67
(20% of Costuming Score) Was their makeup creative? Detailed? Realistic?: 6.67
(15% of Costuming Score) How effectively did they use masks (if used)?: 7
(25% of Costuming Score) How appropriate were the costumes for their scene/s & theme/s?: 8
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Costumes did their job of blending actors into their environments and fitting into the theme of each scene. Though the mad scientist was simply dressed in scrubs and a lab coat, there were layers and distressing that added to the character. One makeup look that stood out to our group was on the masked witch. Her makeup incorporated the mask with her face to appear as if she had a cavernous mouth.
With each character we encountered, nothing ever looked out of place. Costumes were consistently complete with appropriate makeup and masks accompanying them. It is possible that more detailed costumes are reserved for queue line actors or happened to be missing that particular night, which would have been a real shame but also completely understandable if that were the case.
Customer Service: 7.45
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?: 7.33
(30% of CS Score) How safe was the attraction?: 7
(25% of CS Score) How professional, helpful and friendly were the staff members?: 7.67
(20% of CS Score) How easy was it to find their information before* arrival?: 8
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The Fright Factory was quite easy to find via GPS and parking was clearly marked and lit. Strangely, Google Maps had a strange glitch that told us to turn into the correct lot but incorrectly marked the haunt’s location on the other side of the street. Be aware of this possibility while approaching the haunt’s location.
From the parking lot, it wasn’t completely obvious where to go to find the entrance to the attraction. However, once we rounded the corner, we were directed via signs and ropes. The staff was extremely helpful and mostly easy to locate if we had any questions.
The website for The Fright Factory has all the information that you would need to plan out your visit and a fairly robust FAQ page that is worth checking out.
Atmosphere: 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
(40% of Atmosphere Score) How well did the atmosphere prepare you for what you experienced inside?: 7
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There are a few picnic tables decorated with fun Halloween lights but it was mostly eerily quiet on the night we visited – save for the few groups headed toward the ticket booth. Once we approached the ticketing area, we were treated to a few cool vignettes that were set up on either side of the queue line. One of our teammates was a particular fan of the chicken coop vignette right next to the ticket taker, as there was something really fun about its kitschy aesthetic.
We were also assured by the owner that on busier nights there would be a number of queue line actors that would help entertain guests as they wait to enter the attraction as well as give them someplace to congregate after they went through.
Special Effects: 7.3
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?: 7
(20% of SFX Score) How well were the scenes detailed?: 7.67
(25% of SFX Score) How well did they achieve & maintain the suspension of disbelief?: 6.67
(15% of SFX Score) How effective were the SFX at providing scares / entertainment?: 7.33
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Each scene blended into the other and didn’t adhere to a specific theme. Instead, each scene played upon a wide range of phobias and fears. As we passed an aged ticket booth to a row of abandoned carnival game stalls, the scene provided a playground for two troublemaking clowns. The floor of the Egyptian room was covered with sand that crunched underfoot as we gawked at some great-looking props.
Our entire team enjoyed the pirate ship and dock with all of its marvelous detail and beautiful decoration from the well-worn planks of wood flanking the dock to the blue glowing water. We later learned that the owner has a particular love for pirates which was obvious with the amount of detail crammed into that particular scene. While we were there, it was hard not to think that there wasn’t something just lurking in the water.
Sounds were blasted into every scene and helped keep us disoriented and just worked. Animatronics were also used extensively to good effect, both in providing scares as well as distracting from the actors wanting to jump out. The combination of the two just somehow works for this haunt.
Theme: N/A
How Did We Get This Score?
Theme Scores (5% of Final Score):
(30% of Theme Score) Could you tell what the theme was?:
(50% of Theme Score) How well was the theme carried throughout the attraction/s?:
(20% of Theme Score) How well does their location authenticate the theme?:
This score is left “N/A” when we believe the haunt is trying to target a random variety of themes or phobias, rather than a single overarching “Theme” or “storyline.”
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Scare Factor: 7.33
How Did We Get This Score?
Scare Factor Scores (15% of Final Score):
(30% of Scare Factor Score) How scary was it?: 7.67
(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?: 7.33Explanation:
The Fright Factory proves that you don’t need anything fancy, just well-trained actors in well-designed sets.
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How well did they provide a wide variety of scares?: 7
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How strong was the ending / finale?: 6.33
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The Fright Factory provides good quality scares in a unique environment. As mentioned before, The Fright Factory follows the philosophy of completely overwhelming you from every angle, and this is used to great effect. There were a few things that scared us that we were not expecting.
Actors are well situated within their scenes to provide scares and did a great job of making sure to hit every member of our group, not just the front or the back of our group. They were even able to get us a few times even though we knew exactly what the scare was going to be, which impressed all of us greatly!
Entertainment & Value: 6.4
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?: 7.67
(25% of E&V Score) How satisfied were you with the entertainment that’s available with* the ticket price, excluding the main attraction/s?: 1Explanation:
There wasn’t any entertainment apart from the haunted house. This is reflective of the night that we visited and would be improved by roaming actors or other forms of entertainment on busier nights.
(30% of E&V Score) How appropriate is/are the ticket price/s?: 8.67
(15% of E&V Score) Have they effectively used their available space?: 8.33
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The ticket price comes in at $15 for general admission and $25 for fast pass. You can get $1 dollar off the admission price if you bring a canned food donation. Our visit lasted just about 10 minutes. (Please do note that The Fright Factory is a cash-only business and ATMs are available on site.) This brings the minute per dollar value to 0.67, a bit lower than the local average of .75 minutes per dollar.
A mini donut/espresso stand is available as well as a small concessions stand should you need a snack on your way into the haunt. With the addition of queue line actors, there is ample room for them to dart between groups or among the picnic tables. It would make a fun space in addition to the haunt.
The Fright Factory has a nice mix of old-school and hi-tech scares. Haunt enthusiasts will get a real kick out of their visit here. We can’t wait to see what The Fright Factory has in store in future years.
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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