The Terrortorium Review (2023)

The cast at Terrortorium is pretty great! They know it’s not about monsters and gore; it’s about having fun. They are there at every turn to startle and surprise you. We loved the mournful bride who beckoned, “Stay with us!” Likewise, the seamstress who was silently busy at her vintage Singer sewing machine (actually sewing!) still managed to be creepy! Did we notice an eerie resemblance to Coraline’s “other mother”!?!

Since the rooms and hallways are often tight, you can expect to be close and personal with at least a few actors during your journey. The cast makes the most of this as they boldly interact with you while staring you in the eyes.

Overall, the cast was fun and energetic and definitely kept us wondering what was coming next!

We saw a lot of great costumes inside the haunt. The Master of Ceremonies, who welcomed us into The Terrortorium and told us its history, was clad in a distressed and shredded ringmaster-like outfit. Inside, we met the aforementioned bride in a full white (but disheveled) wedding gown. In the dining room, even the young ‘main course’ was clad in a fine dress. Each of these notable costumes were very appropriate for their respective rooms.

Several of the encounters with actors occurred quickly from the shadows, giving us very little time to fully appreciate the detail of their attire.

Characters sported a mixture of makeup and masks. Once again, each option appeared to match the theme of the room or scene.

The Terrortorium’s website easily provides you with dates and times of operation as well as a pricing schedule for attractions and rides. Please note the ticket booth only takes cash, so plan to bring cash! There is an ATM, but it had actually run out of money when we tried to use it… and dang it, we still want to taste that Witches Brew. Food vendors are also cash-only!

The pricing schedule gives you a variety of options. The Terrortorium and Dark Castle ride have their own colored tokens for entry. The other amusement rides use tickets for entry. You can purchase attractions individually, or purchase a variety of combo tickets that will allow you to try out all that Terrortorium Haunted House and Amusements has to offer. It’s definitely worth it to go for the full package and do it all!

You can find The Terrortorium on Facebook, where you can like & follow for current updates.

With the provided street address, your GPS will get you to the small town of Oxford, and once there, you can see the lights and a huge skeleton atop a building. We found street parking with no problem then simply followed the green glowing lights, lively music, and boisterous people to the Halloween festival and haunt.

As you wait in line, you can’t help but smile as the fun Halloween dance music booms and the giant mirror ball spins inside the large custom-made chandelier overhead! You know you’re in for a fun time. You are greeted by the ‘Master of Ceremonies,’ who invites you to step through a coffin-shaped door and into the realm of The Terrortorium. Once inside his inner sanctum, this ‘spooky man’ provides you with a bit of the haunt’s history and warns of what you are about to experience.’Terror lurks down every corridor!’

From this point of entry, the only break for your senses are the dark hallways, but even then, you are trying to predict what might lie ahead. We didn’t note any unpainted walls or odd props that drew us out of the haunt experience. We didn’t feel removed from the setting at any point. You get the experience of descending into the graveyard on which The Terrortorium was built, then ascend back up to hopefully make your escape.

Special sound effects alter the voice of the Master of Ceremonies. His unearthly tones help to set the mood and forebode of the terror soon to come. The evil comes to life using smoke and light as you are sent on your way into the darkness.

Lighting and sound, in general, added to the effectiveness of the haunt. We noted some very effective use of a thunder and lightning effect. All the while, ominous music provided an undercurrent as we traversed the rooms.

Vortex tunnels aren’t our favorite thing in a haunt, but The Terrortorium has created one that is different from all others we’ve seen… and it definitely fits the castle vibe! Be warned, if you keep your eyes straight ahead to try to avoid disorientation, that will only make the effect worse! Your sense of balance will also be tested at times by corridors with shifting floorboards and a room with a floor that spins!

The Terrortorium definitely provides surprises and scares, and it does so without the use of gore or excessive bloody scenes. Its many rooms, mazes, and corridors make great use of the space with a lot of dark hallways and narrow passages that lead you into rooms where you are forced into close proximity with the haunt’s creatures and deranged inhabitants. Expect a couple of truly unique hiding spots from which the actors can emerge.

The Terrortorium doesn’t want to gross you out or give you nightmares… they want to give you a fantastic, fun night of thrills and chills. There are jump and startle scares as well as characters who will make you shiver when you end up face-to-face. Expect to get turned around and misdirected often. If you are observant, you might even find an opportunity to scare yourself!

The Terrortorium attraction ticket price is $15. We spent 7.5 minutes weaving our way through its dark corridors. This results in a value of .5 MPD (minutes per dollar), which may seem low, but The Terrortorium packs in a lot of encounters in that period of time.

The overall experience isn’t just about the haunt; it’s a whole festival of fun! For $40, you can experience every ride and activity available. We think it’s a value for all the fun available on site. It was a treat to just watch all the patrons having a great time! There are also rocking chairs and picnic seating when you need to take a break and people-watch.

As you wait in line or roam the grounds, you can enjoy a horror movie shown on a cool LED truck. And make sure to grab a pic for Instagram at the boardwalk-style photo op!

The venue has a food truck on site with very reasonably priced food, snacks, and canned drinks. You will also find a cart with a special ‘Witches Brew’ non-alcoholic drink, a pizza cart, and a merch wagon-kiosk with hats and T-shirts.

Ultimately, The Terrortorium Haunted House and Amusements is a great way for family or friends to spend a fun, spirited fall evening!