Features:
✓-Free Parking✓-Restrooms/Porta Potties On-Site✓-Handicap Accessible✓-Food/Concessions✓-Gift Shop/Souvenirs✓-You will NOT be touched✓-Original Characters✓-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: 7.45
How Did We Get This Score?
Final Scores:
(15% of Final Score) Cast: 6.94
(15% of Final Score) Costuming: 7.53
(10% of Final Score) Customer Service: 7.62
(10% of Final Score) Atmosphere: 8.1
(15% of Final Score) Special Effects: 7.26
(5% of Final Score) Theme: 8.25
(15% of Final Score) Scare Factor: 7.39
(5% of Final Score) Entertainment & Value: 7.35
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Summary:
Deep in the dark areas of Pleasantville, Ohio sits The Watson’s Farm. The Watson family actually lived there until things went from bad to worse. Structures on the Farm were built in the 1800’s. Some say only if the walls could talk or maybe… they just scream.
The lane at the farm brings some deep hidden secrets to life each weekend night. In the last few years, The Haunted Farm has went through hell but they lived to tell about it. This year makes their 22nd year in operation and they are still serving up Farm Fresh Fear!
The Haunted Farm offers a haunted barn, a haunted hayride, and a corn maze. They will also be offering live entertainment on select nights.
Cast: 6.94
How Did We Get This Score?
Cast Scores (15% of Final Score):
(20% of Cast Score) Did it seem like there were enough actors?: 6.5
(30% of Cast Score) How creative, believable and convincing were the actors?: 6.75
(20% of Cast Score) How interactive were the actors (verbally and physically)?: 7.5
(15% of Cast Score) How creatively & appropriately did they use dialogue?: 7.6
(15% of Cast Score) Was there a good variety of characters?: 6.5
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The Haunted Farm on an average night has 30 beastly creatures roaming around to smell your fear and make sure no one hears you scream. Unfortunately, the hayride covers so much area that there does not feel like there are enough actors in that area. However, the actors you do come across are very interactive and like to conversate with you. They do not have a script so many of them come up with their dialogue on the fly and can still make you feel awkward.
The actors make for some great characters within their scenes and some also followed us through transition areas and stayed in character providing frightful scares in unexpected places. One of the most notable cast members is only 10 years old. All the elements align to her and her patience and timing are creepily amazing.
Costuming: 7.53
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?: 7.25
(20% of Costuming Score) Was their makeup creative? Detailed? Realistic?: 7
(15% of Costuming Score) How effectively did they use masks (if used)?: 8
(25% of Costuming Score) How appropriate were the costumes for their scene/s & theme/s?: 8.25
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The Haunted Farm is an outside haunt except for the Barn section. With that being said, many of the costumes we came across were put together to withstand many hours outside. We found very few characters that were wearing makeup as masks are heavily utilized at this haunt and they’re not the cheap everyday Walmart masks either. I found myself oohhhing and ahhhing over some of the masks as I tried to get even closer to see all the details without coming off like a weirdo. They were also fit well to the characters themselves and edges were hidden to make them seem more realistic.
In general, most costumes and attire fit their scenes and helped the characters create the story. We didn’t notice any costumes in majorly wrong places as they all seemed to belong in their respective areas.
Customer Service: 7.62
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?: 7.25
(30% of CS Score) How safe was the attraction?: 7.5
(25% of CS Score) How professional, helpful and friendly were the staff members?: 8
(20% of CS Score) How easy was it to find their information before* arrival?: 7.8
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An initial search for The Haunted Farm on the internet will easily bring you to their Facebook page and website. The website seems dated but does have all the correct information on it. Their Facebook page offers a few additional details.
The Haunted Farm is just that, a farm in a rural area. This means to be prepared to drive on country roads that are not well-lit. Also, it will feel like your GPS and cell service is going through a rough break up at times. There are a few signs along the way, but we didn’t see anything that was lit or large to grab our attention. There is an area near the haunt that provides parking but it is a grassy lot and can be muddy on rainy nights. Do yourself a favor and don’t wear good shoes and dress warmly. It is helpful for you to have your phone charged so you can use your flashlight to help light the way through the parking lot.
If you have any questions or concerns, Kim and her crew can handle it right away. They are very efficient in safety protocols and being ready for anything. It is easy to designate the staff from the actors. The staff is very courteous and can’t wait for everyone to have a good time.
Atmosphere: 8.1
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
(40% of Atmosphere Score) How well did the atmosphere prepare you for what you experienced inside?: 8.25
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The Haunted Farm is on Millersport Road in Pleasantville, Ohio. It is exactly what you would expect; old, windy country roads getting you lost deeper and deeper into the rural area.
Just pulling up you will see the charm of the white 1800’s home. As you creep closer you will hear the screams of those who have entered for a night of fright. You will see the rickety old barn and hear the music escaping it. At this point, you will know you are in for frightening delight. This attraction is outside so the crisp fall nights add additional elements that are hard to man make.
Special Effects: 7.26
How Did We Get This Score?
Special Effects Scores (15% of Final Score):
(20% of SFX Score) How effective were the sound effects?: 7
(20% of SFX Score) How creative / original were the scenes & props?: 7.35
(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?: 7.25
(15% of SFX Score) How effective were the SFX at providing scares / entertainment?: 7.15
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The special effects at The Haunted Farm are not your run-of-the-mill special effects. You also won’t see a lot of the “trending” special effects being used here. Instead, they believe in human interaction and grass roots scares versus the expensive machine and animated scares. When you visit the farm, expect to see things you haven’t before.
The effects they utilize are original and creative. They had just the right amount of sounds and sound effects to beef up their scenes – without it being overdone. Their creative ability makes for some realistic effects!
One of the most impressive and detailed scenes was the children’s play room with the girl dressed as a doll.
Theme: 8.25
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?: 8.5
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The Haunted Farm has a theme that is consistent throughout the haunt. If you go to the website or do a search on YouTube, you can easily find the story of The Watson Family, their farm, and of The Great Depression.
When you step foot onto the farm, you will become part of their story. Each scene is worked into the overall story line so you get an idea of what happened to this family.
Just remember, sometimes when crops flourish, it is the ingredients that may be giving it life!
Scare Factor: 7.39
How Did We Get This Score?
Scare Factor Scores (15% of Final Score):
(30% of Scare Factor Score) How scary was it?: 7.25
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How well did they provide scares to the entire group?: 7.5
(25% of Scare Factor Score) How predictable were the scares?: 8
(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?: 6.95
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The Haunted Farm is a great family-friendly haunted attraction. Everyone of all ages will get a good scare or encounter great entertainment. You will come face-to-face with beastly creatures and who knows, you might even goes missing from the wagon ride to never return! Remember, no one can hear your screams if you’re out in the middle of nowhere!
There are a variety of frightful delights for everyone and they will work hard to serve up fresh fear just for you. Some of the scares during the wagon ride were a bit lackluster due to the noise they created coming through the corn which gave them away.
We don’t want to ruin anything but the finale was a little disappointing and we hope that next year this is changed up.
Entertainment & Value: 7.35
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?: 7.25
(25% of E&V Score) How satisfied were you with the entertainment that’s available with* the ticket price, excluding the main attraction/s?: 7.5
(30% of E&V Score) How appropriate is/are the ticket price/s?: 7.5
(15% of E&V Score) Have they effectively used their available space?: 7
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General Admission at The Haunted Farm includes the Barn Maze, the Corn Maze and Hayride. General Admission for an adult is $16. For those under the age of 10, general admission is $13.00. Another option is the Fast Pass which includes a free hot chocolate or cider. The price of this is $25 for adults and $20 for people under the age of 10.
It took our group about 15 minutes to get through the barn and this will give or take some time as your group will be self-guided. The wagon ride was another 20 minutes, bringing the total to about 35 minutes of haunting delight. If you average that out, you are getting about 2.19 minutes of entertainment for each dollar that you spend. That is a great haunt value for today’s rates.
While at the farm, you can also enjoy their live bands, the gift shops, bon fire, and so much more while you wait. Oh, and speaking of waiting, when you get to the ticket booth, your group will be given a number. This allows you to be able to wander around and enjoy the sights and surroundings instead of being stuck in a line. When it’s your group’s turn, they will yell out your number. Do listen closely as they do not use a PA… they just yell it.
Group pricing is also available but on a call-ahead basis only.
If you’re looking for a haunt that won’t break the bank and can provide entertainment to the whole family, visit The Haunted Farm where they offer, ‘More screams per acre than anywhere else around!’
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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