According to Merriam-Webster, a slaughterhouse (noun) is an establishment where animals are butchered. But what do you get when it’s more than just animals on the chopping block? You get The Industrial Slaughterhouse in Fancy Farm, Kentucky!
Chainsaw fumes and shadowy figures filled the air as we stepped onto the grounds, and it was clear we were in the right (or wrong!) place. Reanimated from 15 years of fear, this haunt oozed an industrial vibe that’ll leave even the bravest of souls racing for the exit before they become the next ‘item’ on the butcher’s menu!
Run fast, though; countless twisted characters wander, willfully waiting for anyone who dares to fall prey to their macabre antics. It’s not just the butcher that you need to look out for!
The cast of the Industrial Slaughterhouse worked tirelessly to bring the fear to life in this sprawling haunt. The large layout could use a crowd of eerie characters to keep every corner filled with unease. While the cast managed to cover many of the spaces, a bit more distribution would have helped with consistency, as there were stretches where we went unaccompanied by any lurking figure and others where we had up to three in one spot.
Standout characters like Granny (she’s part of the cast, too!), Roadkill, Jack, and Asmodeus added a memorable touch, especially when paired with the lively gravedigger who jumped around on a hearse. The butcher and his crew, however, were the most aggressive performers. They radiated intensity, locking into character well before we even stepped foot into their grim domain – once inside, it was clear we were in his house, and it was time to get the hell out of there!
The cast mixed things up with varied vocalizations, from unsettling squeals to guttural growls, and there was no shortage of screamers – though, at times, the screaming was so constant that it leaned a bit repetitive. Still, some knew how to add unpredictability with sudden movements rushing toward us. There was also some generic dialogue, such as, “Where are you going?” and “Get out of here!” A few more personalized frights and a spread-out setup would dial the cast to top-level terror, but they still managed to keep us on edge throughout.
How complete, unique, detailed were the costumes, accessories? – (35% of score)
Were the masks, makeup creative, detailed, realistic? – (30% of score)
How appropriate were the costumes for the respective scenes, themes? – (20% of score)
How believable-, detailed-looking were the queue actors? (See Note if N/A) – (15% of score)
We were impressed by some of the costumes we saw on our trek through the haunt. Immediately upon entering, we encountered some creatures whose only features on their head were wide, gaping maws with massive teeth that could easily have ripped us to shreds. That, paired with the actor’s movement, made for a terrifying creature coming after us.
Other high points included the Butcher and his crew; as soon as we laid eyes on him, we knew exactly who he was and what he aimed to do with us (we insisted we wouldn’t taste good, but he assured us it’d be alright. We recommend coming for the haunt, but maybe buy your steaks somewhere else).
While there were definitely some high points, there was also some opportunity for growth. The actor in the gorilla costume had excellent movement to replicate a gorilla’s movements, but we would’ve liked to have seen a full gorilla costume or something other than street clothes. Some other characters had noticeably clean clothes that didn’t blend into the scenes they were in. Overall, though, the cast had excellent costuming that really elevated their scenes.
The actors who weren’t in scenes roaming around in the queue area had excellent costumes. If you’re lucky enough to encounter Asmodeus, we definitely recommend taking a moment to admire his work, if you’re brave enough to stare at him that long, at least!
How easy was it to locate, park at, navigate the premises? – (25% of score)
Safety (Only dock points for TRULY DANGEROUS hazards!) – (30% of score)
How professional, helpful, friendly were the staff members? – (25% of score)
How easy was it to find pertinent information before arrival? – (20% of score)
As we followed our GPS to the Slaughterhouse, we noticed that there weren’t many signs advertising the haunt or how to get there, but it was fairly easy to locate on our map, and their website definitely assisted with us finding it. Once we arrived, the large building almost appeared out of nowhere, and we nearly missed our turn into the parking lot! This haunt had plenty of space to park and even had a flagger to assist visitors with finding a good spot. It was pretty easy to find our way around the haunt once we got out of the car, with plenty of signage for the ticket booth, queue lines, merch, concessions, etc.
There were a few notable hazards we encountered during our visit, such as the parking area in front of the building that had vehicles coming in and leaving rather close to customers and queue actors alike who were either standing in line or making their way to a different area. Within the haunt were some steps and uneven ground that wasn’t well-lit, which caused a few of us to trip, and could do the same for others.
The staff at this haunt couldn’t have been more welcoming and friendly to our group! Everyone made the process super easy. We learned a bit of spooky history about the building, and you could just feel the good energy from the staff; everyone clearly wanted to be there and was having a good time!
All the information you could possibly need about Industrial Slaughterhouse can be found on its (super cool and easy to navigate) website, including ticket prices, directions, hours and dates of operation, theme/storyline, a detailed FAQ, and more!
How well did the pre-haunt areas ("vibe") prepare you for the attraction/s? – (25% of score)
How obvious, creative, believable was the storyline? (See Note if N/A) – (20% of score)
Were you completely, consistently immersed inside the attraction/s? – (40% of score)
How well did the "vibe" flow after, between the attraction/s? – (15% of score)
The moment we left our vehicles, creepy characters made their way over to greet us, even going as far as to bother one member of our team who was using the porta-potty! The actors didn’t let up in the queue lines either, making it quite obvious we were in for some good scares that night. There was also plenty of ominous lighting, some ambient sounds and music, revving chainsaws, screams of others, and spooky decorations to prepare us. Once we were briefed on the rules, it was time to see what was hidden inside those walls!
Given we were in an old legitimate slaughterhouse, we came face to face with plenty of scenes representing just that (for example, the entirety of the butcher’s area)! There were also many scenes that hinted towards the interior of an old farmhouse, complete with a bathroom, kitchen, basement, etc. But there were a few scenes here and there that felt a tad out of place as well, such as the blackout area and children’s rooms. However, even if they didn’t exactly match the themes that came before and after them, they were still well executed. Some exposed sound speakers and water bottles were spotted a couple of times during our walkthrough as well, but the playful yet menacing actors didn’t allow anything to feel empty or boring!
Near the end of our haunt experience, we were chased out of the attraction and into the parking lot by, you guessed it, chainsaws! While there were areas to purchase merchandise and concessions, they seemed easier to access beforehand while waiting in line to enter the haunt. We’d love to see some expansion in the future after all the scares, like a larger merch area, photo ops, or a midway of some sort!
How effective were the sound effects? – (20% of score)
How realistic were the scene designs, details? – (30% of score)
How effective, realistic were the props, animatronics? – (30% of score)
How well did they use creative, special, sensory effects? – (20% of score)
A mystery of this haunt that we may never uncover is how they fit so much into their space. Looking at the slaughterhouse from the outside doesn’t do it justice; you’ll soon get sucked into the labyrinth like we did, where the fear feels neverending. With every twist and turn, you’ll never know what to expect next!
Different colored lighting not only illuminated our way but also served as a great effect for many of the scenes. Red lighting in multiple spaces gave a haunting feeling, while green lighting and fog were utilized to create not only a swamp effect but a vortex we didn’t know if we should step foot into (it also managed to hide actors very well). Sounds also played a role in the realism, such as frogs and crickets in the swampland and carnival music in the funhouse area. We did hear a bit of metal and dubstep instrumentals on occasion, which would have potentially been heightened with more ambiance instead. And on the other end, there were some areas that were oddly silent. However, large machinery, barrels, and sirens were used strategically to scare us with sudden loud noises!
Tons of claustrophobic hallways and even moving floors were scarily disorienting to our group in the best of ways. We did spot some plain black walls and curtains but then were quickly thrown back into very detailed scenes, such as the spider web cave and cemetery. We encountered a few animatronics, like the skeleton launching itself at us from the wall and the jumping spider beneath the webs, but we would’ve loved to have seen more in that realm.
There were times we could see other sections of the haunt through openings in the walls that we later got to actually walk through, which was an interesting and very effective way of spooky foreshadowing. And finally, we rounded out the evening with the butcher and all of his dead pigs. It reminded us a little too well where we were, and really drove home the slaughterhouse vibe!
How scary was it? – (35% of score)
How well did they provide scares to everyone in the group? – (15% of score)
How predictable were the scares? – (25% of score)
How well did they provide a wide variety (types) of scares? – (10% of score)
How strong was the ending / finale? – (15% of score)
As we tip-toed through the Slaughterhouse, trying to avoid the same fate that had befallen so many before us, we knew one thing for sure: we had to keep our heads on a swivel if we wanted to make it out in one piece! The cast ensured no one in our group was safe by continuously targeting different members or submerging the entire group into pitch-black darkness. We knew the Butcher and his crew were out there waiting for us, and that thought was on our mind the entire time, even as the walls were closing in on us in those black halls. If the claustrophobia wasn’t enough, the Industrial Slaughterhouse used intense sound blasts at points and even tried to smash us with metal drums!
The team’s energy and passion were impossible to miss on our journey through the Slaughterhouse. They always kept us guessing where they’d come from, seeming to appear from places we didn’t even think possible. By the time we finally met the butcher and his crew wielding chainsaws, aiming to carve us up, we were already running for our lives!
How satisfied with the entertainment provided by the MAIN attraction/s? – (50% of score)
How satisfied with OTHER entertainment INCLUDED with the ticket price? – (25% of score)
How appropriate is/are the ticket price/s? – (25% of score)
For $24, you’ll get entry into the Industrial Slaughterhouse – if you dare. They only take cash at the box office, so be ready for a more old-school entry experience (though there’s a coupon on their website if you want to save a bit). Those brave little souls ages six and under can get in for free, but it’s probably wise to ensure they’re up for the madness!
On our journey, it took us about 26.5 minutes to find our way out, giving a minutes-per-dollar (MPD) value of 1.1, which sits nicely in the range we love to see for a haunt that packs scares and atmosphere!
While waiting to enter, a horde of haunt creatures prowled the queue, keeping guests on their toes and stirring up plenty of laughs and screams! If you’re looking for photo ops, there are several to take advantage of, including a run-in with Granny – just be warned, she drools, so keep your distance unless you want a soggy souvenir! Speaking of souvenirs, they also had a stand in the waiting area where they sold tumblers, shirts, and other items.
If you’re looking for a family-friendly, frightfully fun experience that won’t break the bank, we’d recommend visiting this one! And while you’re at it, tell the Butcher The Scare Factor sent ya – he just might spare you a limb or two!
10537 KY-80, Fancy Farm, Kentucky 42039