Haunted Attraction Reviewed: Land of Fear
Website: www.thelandoffear.com
Location of Attraction: Taneytown Maryland
Date of Review: Friday October 18th 2019
Total Number of Attractions Available: ONE
Overall Haunted Attraction Rating: 7.5/10
Entertainment and Food Rating: 6/10
Atmosphere Rating: 6/10
Overall Costume and Make Up Rating: 7/10
Overall Cast and Crew Rating: 8/10
Overall Props, Animatronics and Set Design Rating: 7.5/10
Overall Scare/Thrill Factor Rating: 8/10
Overall Feedback: Land of Fear is located in the backwoods of Taneytown Maryland. These woods have a dark and eerie vibe, perfect too house a haunted attraction. Land of Fear caught our attention last season, their first year in operation, but unfortunately due to crummy weather we were never able to visit. We made it a priority to visit these folks this season. On Friday October 18th we did just that. We rolled into the parking lot around 7:30pm and took note only a small crowd was on hand at the time. As we made our way to the midway area we took note of the ominous entrance facade to the haunt. A purple glow on the facade walls with “The Land of Fear” in large lettering at the top of the facade. The midway area itself possessed the ticket booth, small bonfire, set of cornhole boards and a few roaming scare actors - not much to get excited about. After a long work day our crew was hungry but was bummed to see Land of Fear did not have a food vendor onsite the evening we attended (the food vendor had an emergency). We hopped in line for our tickets, which run $20 a person. At that point we learned Land of Fear has a “opt-in” experience. Guests can choose to wear a glow necklace which signifies they are “opting-in” for the full experience. Guests who wish not to be touched and prefer a slightly more laid back experience should forgo the glow necklace! We’d later learn that Land of Fear definitely needs to better clarify their version of “touch”, as it was definitely a hands on and physical experience.
Land of Fear itself is an outdoor trail attraction lasting about 25-30 minutes. All guests wait in the same initial queue line for the attraction. We were pleased to see that even with about 100 guests onsite they were only admitting groups of 4-6 at a time. Smaller groups allow for a more intimate experience with the scare actors. We can truly say we never once encountered a group in front or behind us. As we entered through the large ominous facade we weren’t quite sure what to expect from the experience that lies ahead. We quickly learned it was going to be an exhilarating and hands on experience. The attraction itself possessed countless scenes, all featuring an old school constructed vibe, with little to no animatronics and tons of hand built props! We loved the variety in scenes, ranging from a mental hospital, carnival, zombieland, gypsy parlor, cemetery, and MUCH more! Several of these scenes possessed an interactive experience for our members. Such as swinging on the swings in the carnival, having our fortune read by the gypsy, receiving some medical treatments in the hospital, among many others! They definitely capitalized on the dark woods and used this to their advantage. Numerous pop scares and a consistent thrill were noted throughout the attraction. Overall, the simplistic nature of the scenes worked perfectly for Land of Fear. The woods themselves provided a general creep factor which set the tone for the entirety of the attraction.
Now onto the scare actors. These folks were the true definition of RELENTLESS! We give them tons of credit for being energized and ready to deliver a fright. They have no second thoughts on providing a hands on experience. Our members were pushed, pulled, slapped, restrained and even choked at one point. We were definitely NOT expecting this level of “touch” experience and were truly caught off guard. It’s not that we didn’t enjoy this type of “touch” experience, we just felt it was poorly advertised as this extreme of touch. For avid haunt goers such as ourselves this type of extreme experience is no big deal. But for general haunt patrons, they might be significantly caught off guard by this type of experience. Land of Fear is definitely a haunt that relies HEAVILY on their scare actors to bring the haunt to life. These folks did just that! And unlike most haunts, Land of Fear had NO shortage of actors! Zero dead space to be had as this place was crawling with spooks! Normally we’d recognize a few standout actors but there were numerous standout actors who provided phenomenal skits. Great job Land of Fear scare acting team!
Land of Fear may not possess movie quality scenes or top notch costuming and makeup. But what they do possess is a scare acting team full of energized and engaging spooks! These said spooks provide no shortage in entertainment and scare/thrill factor! The Land of Fear experience is truly a unique one, although it may not be for everyone, most will appreciate its interactive and hands on nature. If you are feeling brave and wish to experience a hands on, interactive and physical haunt experience then definitely pay Land of Fear a visit and “opt-in” for the full experience. At $20 a ticket you’ll certainly receive your money’s worth of entertainment and scares. And don’t forget that Land of Fear is only in their 2nd year of operation… we’re sure they have lots of tricks up their sleeves as they continue to expand and enhance the experience. We will definitely be back in the future to keep tabs on this haunts growth and to get our fix of their “opt-in” touch experience. Happy Hauntings Folks!
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