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: 8.16
How Did We Get This Score?
Final Scores:
(15% of Final Score) Cast: 8.03
(15% of Final Score) Costuming: 7.48
(10% of Final Score) Customer Service: 9.75
(10% of Final Score) Atmosphere: 9.6
(15% of Final Score) Special Effects: 8.25
(5% of Final Score) Theme: 9
(15% of Final Score) Scare Factor: 7
(5% of Final Score) Entertainment & Value: 7.75
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Summary:
Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum Haunted House is a well-known area with a well-known past. What better place to play host to a seasonal haunted house than to choose one on the site with a history of so much madness and despair? Dubbed the most haunted place in West Virginia, the electricity in the air is palatable. Very few things in this world compare to that walk you take toward the main building in order to get to the haunt. The architecture is jaw-dropping and stays with you long after you are gone.
Delirium is the name of the haunt here, and it tells the story of a demented doctor who is doing unimaginable experiments and procedures on those unlucky enough to find themselves on the premises. Not only do the patients and staff suffer at the hands of the doctor, but they, in turn, try to inflict suffering on those who enter. You have been warned!
General admission tickets cost $25, or you can upgrade to a fast pass for $50. Parking is free.
Cast: 8.03
How Did We Get This Score?
Cast Scores (15% of Final Score):
(20% of Cast Score) Did it seem like there were enough actors?: 8.5
(30% of Cast Score) How creative, believable and convincing were the actors?: 8.5
(20% of Cast Score) How interactive were the actors (verbally and physically)?: 8
(15% of Cast Score) How creatively & appropriately did they use dialogue?: 7.5
(15% of Cast Score) Was there a good variety of characters?: 7
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While walking through, it seemed as though there was an adequate number of cast members. We spotted one large puppet that wasn’t in use, but everything else was moving as it should. We entered spaces with one actor in the set, and others with two or three actors interacting with each other. We were kept moving along with a cast that ‘scared us forward.’
The vast majority of the actors were wearing patient or nurse attire. They each displayed a slightly different affliction; and their words, mutterings, screaming, and other actions demonstrated this to a trained eye with experience with them. They did a great job of staying in character after our group left their spot, and were prepared for us before we got to each of them. Depending on the affliction, the actors banged props, screamed at us, laughed uncontrollably, or silently judged us.
We did enjoy some interactive dialogue as a clown told us jokes or when a manic patient was muttering about the headless victims not taking their medicine and answer the question we posed, ‘Did you take your medicine?’ with ‘I would never.’ In addition to nurses and patients in gowns, we saw some clowns, some form of mutated rat-man, a hazmat-wearing deviant, and a chainsaw-wielding maintenance man wearing overalls.
Costuming: 7.48
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?: 8
(25% of Costuming Score) How creative / detailed were the costumes?: 7
(20% of Costuming Score) Was their makeup creative? Detailed? Realistic?: 7
(15% of Costuming Score) How effectively did they use masks (if used)?: 7.5
(25% of Costuming Score) How appropriate were the costumes for their scene/s & theme/s?: 8
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The gowns, lab coats, and scrubs were dead giveaways that we were dealing with a lot of patients and staff. Makeup seemed simple and appropriate, or what we were able to see. We spotted some colored contacts. We saw evidence of injury. The clothing appeared to fit as it should; distressed, and realistic. We saw masks that appeared to also fit as they should and matched the character. The clowns wore clown costumes and the mutated rat sure did look furry. We did appreciate the creative style of the mask on the clown with their sharp teeth protruding out.
Customer Service: 9.75
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?: 10
(30% of CS Score) How safe was the attraction?: 10
(25% of CS Score) How professional, helpful and friendly were the staff members?: 9
(20% of CS Score) How easy was it to find their information before* arrival?: 10
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GPS took us directly to the haunt with no trouble. We knew to look for the massive main building on the complex to serve as a marker for the actual haunt in a side building to the left. Not only that but Delirium is beautifully displayed across the pillars of the haunt itself. The ticket booth is located conveniently near the main building, which takes care of tickets to the haunt further left, or the paranormal activities to the right. While the paranormal activities are not included in the cost of tickets to the seasonal haunt, they are also offered on-site for those who want to look for a ghost or two (at an additional cost).
Safety measures are expected and followed to a T. Customers must get a temperature check at the main entrance, must wear masks while in line outside the attraction, and also while inside. The actors also must take the same precautions. Air filtering systems are also in use inside the building. The building and haunt itself appeared completely safe, with no obvious issues or trip hazards.
We were able to speak with the owner and lead acting coach for a while. Both were polite and answered any questions we had. They were a pleasure to meet and to get to talk to. Ticketing staff and souvenir staff seemed a bit quieter in nature, but were polite and also answered any questions we had.
There is a Facebook page and website available for information about the haunt. Basic information was provided and online ticketing was available through the website. Mask requirements were also included on the website to let people know what to expect once they arrive.
Atmosphere: 9.6
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?: 10
(40% of Atmosphere Score) How well did the atmosphere prepare you for what you experienced inside?: 9
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The iconic main building and the lighting of the lawn and front of the actual haunt told everyone to take notice. We spotted a messy lady wearing a nurse uniform, a clown, and a patient out front. Some were walking around the customers in line while waiting their turn to go inside. The patient ushering us in was clearly dressed as such and went over the rules before we could enter. He was friendly enough as he wished us luck as we crossed the threshold.
Special Effects: 8.25
How Did We Get This Score?
Special Effects Scores (15% of Final Score):
(20% of SFX Score) How effective were the sound effects?: 8.5
(20% of SFX Score) How creative / original were the scenes & props?: 7.5
(20% of SFX Score) How well were the scenes detailed?: 8
(25% of SFX Score) How well did they achieve & maintain the suspension of disbelief?: 9
(15% of SFX Score) How effective were the SFX at providing scares / entertainment?: 8
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We heard a mixture of music and sound effects along with moments of quiet. We saw rooms and hallways with furniture and equipment, and in other places, we saw bloodied and dirty sheets hanging over the walls and a spotlight over the actor in their set. Some were in the dark with a spotlight above to bring focus to them. We met a stiltwalker who got especially close to us demanding to know what we were doing. We walked through two mannequin areas. One hallway or tiny room had mannequins lined along the wall, which of course, we expected to find a real person stealthily waiting to get us. We were right. While the mannequins were shifting and moving, she waited for those of us at the end of the line to sneak up on. The next mannequin room was a little eerier, as nothing moved. We thought we were going to get it again, but we managed to make it out alive and in one piece.
We were surprised a few times with hidden air cannons and vibrating walls. We came across several moving animatronics. Some were huge and took us by surprise as they came at us, while others were smaller and rocked or shook violently. We saw a clearly unhinged nurse strapped to a track on the wall, allowing her to run back and forth on it, and we saw another suspending herself on a dangling hula hoop. We were approached by extra-large puppets and witnessed a large spider shake itself at us as though to warn us we just might be the next meal. We found a really nicely painted section of the haunt in reactive colors to black lights, and also some black and white rooms.
Theme: 9
How Did We Get This Score?
Theme Scores (5% of Final Score):
(30% of Theme Score) Could you tell what the theme was?: 9
(50% of Theme Score) How well was the theme carried throughout the attraction/s?: 9
(20% of Theme Score) How well does their location authenticate the theme?: 9
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The theme was clear: patients and staff having a series of adverse reactions. The theme matched the building it was housed in. The other characters provided a little break from the continuous series of hospital gowns and scrubs and could have been played out a little more.
Scare Factor: 7
How Did We Get This Score?
Scare Factor Scores (15% of Final Score):
(30% of Scare Factor Score) How scary was it?: 7
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How well did they provide scares to the entire group?: 7
(25% of Scare Factor Score) How predictable were the scares?: 7
(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?: 7
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We received a series of different scares including: animatronics coming at us, darkness, winding paths, air cannons, excessive laughing, rantings and yelling of the patients and staff, threats of bodily harm, chainsaws, and jump scares. For most of the haunt, the scares were directed toward those in front. Later on in the haunt, those of us in the back received a little love.
Once safely outside, we were given a final chainsaw scare that is often used as a finale.
Entertainment & Value: 7.75
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?: 8
(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
(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
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With general admission being $25 and the minutes inside also coming to 25, our minutes per dollar ratio is a solid 1, meaning 1 minute of entertaining costs a dollar. This is not a bad price at all.
There were no midway games or other entertainment provided outside the haunt, but the nurse and clown walking around a little bit and the natural beauty of the building to admire. We did enjoy ourselves walking through to find out what was around the next corner, as we just never knew for sure what to expect and were kept guessing the entire time.
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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