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Todd - Reviewing Land of Illusion (LOI) is a bit of a daunting task. Not only because of the obvious - there's 6 attractions - but also because it has become a nearly year-round entertainment center. We of course focus on the haunts, but it's worth noting that Land of Illusion is now a certifiable concert venue, water park and drive-through Christmas attraction which is adding a few rides this holiday season. LOI's size and overhead sit well above the average haunt (even multi-haunt attractions) and while in some respects it's now more adequately compared to an amusement park at a macro scale, it still operates in its seasonal segments desperately, concerts aside.
So, here we are - the best time of year and LOI is running in haunt mode, it's original bread and butter. Here's what we found throughout the attractions:
Temple of Terror - The star of this haunt seems to be the darkness. The actual actors leave a lot to the imagination since they don't really say much. Their primary role, evidently, was to jump between the narrow corridors and or faintly yell in attempt of a jump scare. That said, the whole thing is advantageously chaotic. It's dark, loud and disorienting. Most of the trek is barely wide enough for two people side by side so claustrophobics beware - and by all means avoid Phobia. More on that later. Unfortunately, there's no strong theme carried throughout. All of the actors were wearing robes, so it certainly had ritualistic overtones, yet outside of one specific room, it wasn't presented as such. In my opinion, Temple of Terror is due for a refresh. It certainly has its moments, but it doesn't play off of its strongest assets enough to make a point.
Dr. Psycho's Haunted Estate - A classic, traditional theme that we can count on! While there were no radical changes this year, Dr. Pyscho's was still an enjoyable experience. The actors within had a LOT of energy and and dialed the pressure up a notch. One of the things I appreciated the most was the inclusion of young actors. We saw a little girl playing a living doll and a little boy wielding a dental drill (so it appeared) that totally gave off some Gage / Pet Semetary vibes. While the actors were good, they were fairly sparse - so much so that we found some of the same people in different scenes as we went through. With indoor and outdoor settings, Dr Psycho provides a wealth of eye candy to look at. I do wish the title character was featured more. In fact, I couldn't tell you if the doctor was in or not. Dr Psycho should be the feature; the final boss; the one character you hope you don't run into. Either he was out to lunch or didn't stand out among his experiments enough to be noticed. Either way, this haunt has a great backdrop but there really should be more focus on the central character's maniacal need to experiment on you.
Killer Klowns - KK still reigns as one of the better clown haunts I've been to. While I did prefer the years where this haunt went dark with less use of blacklights and chromadepth glasses, KK seems to now have the best of both worlds - psychopathic clowns and some innovative novelty visuals. Last year's human pinball area really stood out and they've expanded on that a bit. While it's more something to see than experience, it still is a great idea. The infamous fence maze still sits in the middle, which also had a perfect mix of fog and disorientation. No longer can you attempt to pre-plan your escape route; you can't see that far. The actors in this one were the best-casted clowns yet. They all kept a consistent, deranged facade about them. They presented themselves more as truly disturbed people than clowns and it worked - especially the outright batsh!t crazy guy towards the end. Between the vile jokes, threat of bodily harm and the psychedelic artwork, Killer Klowns could be the most underrated haunt in the park. While it's not all that scary, it's highly entertaining.
Haunted Trail - As always the Haunted Trail is packed with a wide range of experiences and it had the most apparent changes as well. While there more scenes that I could name here, standout changes include the spider infested area, pumpkin patch and better use of the cave. The spiders remain in approximately the same area but the pathway has been constricted and covered bringing you much closer to the webs' inhabitants. While not overly scary, the new pumpkin patch displays a great deal of enormous pumpkins and menacing tree trunks which I'm sure a number of people may use as an impromptu photo op. The cave has been turned into some sort of witch or vampire den a-la The Lost Boys but with girls that look like they're ready for a rave. No complaints here but it could use more backdrop unless vamp chicks really do just hang out in barren caves. Crazy kids. Actors were hit and miss, which is to be somewhat expected. The trail so so long and varying that not all roles are equal. Victims in the bunker did a great job pleading for assistance while some more generalized roles (raver vamp girls in caves, for example) didn't do much other than play a living prop. It would be nice to bring a little more chaos back into the mix. I remember 4-5 years ago, the hillbilly area was entirely chaotic. It seemed like every other person had a chainsaw. By comparison it's very docile now. Regardless, the Haunted Trail is something to be experienced since it offers so much on its nearly mile-long path. It's a fun spectacle I look forward to every year.
Phobia - In its sophomore year, after we lost the VooDoo Bayou Shanty, Phobia still feels incomplete. Last year, Phobia was put together under some very challenging time constraints. For what it offered on a short time table last year, I saw a lot of potential. This year, unfortunately, I didn't really notice any changes at all. The 'face your fears' theme is clear. You will come across some of the most common sources of fright in the average person - spiders, snakes, bugs, darkness...the problem is that those scenes feel like the only make up 20% of the haunt. The other 80% you'll be in complete (or nearly) darkness slowly navigating your way around by touch. Now, for those scared of the dark, especially knowing that you are not alone in these twists and turns, void of light, are certain to be uncomfortable - I guarantee it. It works quite well. The problem is, there's simply too much of it. One concern I did have was the uneven ground. I found myself treading very carefully in the pitch black as the ground had a number of dips in it. Such obstacles are hazardous when you can't see where you're going so take caution. The darkness is at its best at the very end, when things get VERY claustrophobic. It works fantastically there. However, the other areas where there are scenes are just to weak to carry the haunt as a whole. The Haunted Trail has a much better spider area than Phobia, which should be much more effective at playing off of said Phobia. Each scene feels lacking, unfortunately, and given this haunt had a season to improve and build, I left very disappointed.
Zombie Sniper Patrol - Now at no extra cost! If you never felt like forking out the extra cash for this paintball bus ride, you're in luck. This is now included in the admission price. It's everything it sounds like. A bus takes you back in the woods, driving through a number of scenes leading up to the final chase. There's plenty to shoot at - both static props and well-padded actors. For those on a budget - pace yourself! Paintball refills are $5 extra. In previous years the bus would stop at each scene giving a little shooting gallery moment for the riders. This year, while the bus slowed a bit, it continuously moved making for a shorter ride. I haven't been on a plethora of these paintball rides, but I will say among the ones I've done, this one is the best.
The unique factor of Land of Illusion is that it still remains an all-night event during haunt season. There's always some form of live entertainment on the stage, full bar, amazing fire pit and plenty of room to kick back and have a good time. The professional aesthetics and facilities continue to show that LOI has an immense amount of potential to grow as a landmark attraction that can offer something for everyone.
So, here we are - the best time of year and LOI is running in haunt mode, it's original bread and butter. Here's what we found throughout the attractions:
Temple of Terror - The star of this haunt seems to be the darkness. The actual actors leave a lot to the imagination since they don't really say much. Their primary role, evidently, was to jump between the narrow corridors and or faintly yell in attempt of a jump scare. That said, the whole thing is advantageously chaotic. It's dark, loud and disorienting. Most of the trek is barely wide enough for two people side by side so claustrophobics beware - and by all means avoid Phobia. More on that later. Unfortunately, there's no strong theme carried throughout. All of the actors were wearing robes, so it certainly had ritualistic overtones, yet outside of one specific room, it wasn't presented as such. In my opinion, Temple of Terror is due for a refresh. It certainly has its moments, but it doesn't play off of its strongest assets enough to make a point.
Dr. Psycho's Haunted Estate - A classic, traditional theme that we can count on! While there were no radical changes this year, Dr. Pyscho's was still an enjoyable experience. The actors within had a LOT of energy and and dialed the pressure up a notch. One of the things I appreciated the most was the inclusion of young actors. We saw a little girl playing a living doll and a little boy wielding a dental drill (so it appeared) that totally gave off some Gage / Pet Semetary vibes. While the actors were good, they were fairly sparse - so much so that we found some of the same people in different scenes as we went through. With indoor and outdoor settings, Dr Psycho provides a wealth of eye candy to look at. I do wish the title character was featured more. In fact, I couldn't tell you if the doctor was in or not. Dr Psycho should be the feature; the final boss; the one character you hope you don't run into. Either he was out to lunch or didn't stand out among his experiments enough to be noticed. Either way, this haunt has a great backdrop but there really should be more focus on the central character's maniacal need to experiment on you.
Killer Klowns - KK still reigns as one of the better clown haunts I've been to. While I did prefer the years where this haunt went dark with less use of blacklights and chromadepth glasses, KK seems to now have the best of both worlds - psychopathic clowns and some innovative novelty visuals. Last year's human pinball area really stood out and they've expanded on that a bit. While it's more something to see than experience, it still is a great idea. The infamous fence maze still sits in the middle, which also had a perfect mix of fog and disorientation. No longer can you attempt to pre-plan your escape route; you can't see that far. The actors in this one were the best-casted clowns yet. They all kept a consistent, deranged facade about them. They presented themselves more as truly disturbed people than clowns and it worked - especially the outright batsh!t crazy guy towards the end. Between the vile jokes, threat of bodily harm and the psychedelic artwork, Killer Klowns could be the most underrated haunt in the park. While it's not all that scary, it's highly entertaining.
Haunted Trail - As always the Haunted Trail is packed with a wide range of experiences and it had the most apparent changes as well. While there more scenes that I could name here, standout changes include the spider infested area, pumpkin patch and better use of the cave. The spiders remain in approximately the same area but the pathway has been constricted and covered bringing you much closer to the webs' inhabitants. While not overly scary, the new pumpkin patch displays a great deal of enormous pumpkins and menacing tree trunks which I'm sure a number of people may use as an impromptu photo op. The cave has been turned into some sort of witch or vampire den a-la The Lost Boys but with girls that look like they're ready for a rave. No complaints here but it could use more backdrop unless vamp chicks really do just hang out in barren caves. Crazy kids. Actors were hit and miss, which is to be somewhat expected. The trail so so long and varying that not all roles are equal. Victims in the bunker did a great job pleading for assistance while some more generalized roles (raver vamp girls in caves, for example) didn't do much other than play a living prop. It would be nice to bring a little more chaos back into the mix. I remember 4-5 years ago, the hillbilly area was entirely chaotic. It seemed like every other person had a chainsaw. By comparison it's very docile now. Regardless, the Haunted Trail is something to be experienced since it offers so much on its nearly mile-long path. It's a fun spectacle I look forward to every year.
Phobia - In its sophomore year, after we lost the VooDoo Bayou Shanty, Phobia still feels incomplete. Last year, Phobia was put together under some very challenging time constraints. For what it offered on a short time table last year, I saw a lot of potential. This year, unfortunately, I didn't really notice any changes at all. The 'face your fears' theme is clear. You will come across some of the most common sources of fright in the average person - spiders, snakes, bugs, darkness...the problem is that those scenes feel like the only make up 20% of the haunt. The other 80% you'll be in complete (or nearly) darkness slowly navigating your way around by touch. Now, for those scared of the dark, especially knowing that you are not alone in these twists and turns, void of light, are certain to be uncomfortable - I guarantee it. It works quite well. The problem is, there's simply too much of it. One concern I did have was the uneven ground. I found myself treading very carefully in the pitch black as the ground had a number of dips in it. Such obstacles are hazardous when you can't see where you're going so take caution. The darkness is at its best at the very end, when things get VERY claustrophobic. It works fantastically there. However, the other areas where there are scenes are just to weak to carry the haunt as a whole. The Haunted Trail has a much better spider area than Phobia, which should be much more effective at playing off of said Phobia. Each scene feels lacking, unfortunately, and given this haunt had a season to improve and build, I left very disappointed.
Zombie Sniper Patrol - Now at no extra cost! If you never felt like forking out the extra cash for this paintball bus ride, you're in luck. This is now included in the admission price. It's everything it sounds like. A bus takes you back in the woods, driving through a number of scenes leading up to the final chase. There's plenty to shoot at - both static props and well-padded actors. For those on a budget - pace yourself! Paintball refills are $5 extra. In previous years the bus would stop at each scene giving a little shooting gallery moment for the riders. This year, while the bus slowed a bit, it continuously moved making for a shorter ride. I haven't been on a plethora of these paintball rides, but I will say among the ones I've done, this one is the best.
The unique factor of Land of Illusion is that it still remains an all-night event during haunt season. There's always some form of live entertainment on the stage, full bar, amazing fire pit and plenty of room to kick back and have a good time. The professional aesthetics and facilities continue to show that LOI has an immense amount of potential to grow as a landmark attraction that can offer something for everyone.
Teresa - For those who have never been to Land of Illusion, imagine an amusement park that focuses on haunts with concessions (Creepy Cafe), drinks (including adult beverages at the Voodoo Lounge), and a lot of live music. It's a large place with events happening year round, including fireworks, concerts (these are some big names), a big Aqua Park, Christmas lights, and too many more to name. Also note, the facilities are very nice. No lines of people waiting for porta potties here. There are many options for tickets, starting at $40.00 for the general admission ticket and $60.00 for general admission plus fast pass. If you live nearby, you may really want to consider the Season Pass. If you enjoy having something to do throughout the year, it's a nice place to hang out, and the bonfire helps with those chilly nights. Also, there are lots of special discount tickets available often, so give them a follow on social media or check out the website and you can snag some of those. For your entrance price you get a lot of bang for your buck. There are 6 haunted attractions/rides, there is live entertainment, and there are wandering performers/actors. One of these creepy fellows was making balloon animals for children on the night we were there. And, you can go through the haunts as many times as you like! That means you should really plan on making an evening of this, because there is a lot to do and enjoy here!
For this review, I'm just going to focus on the haunts. The haunts opened on Labor Day, and they started the season with concerts and events galore. We attended the following weekend, and being early in the season (or maybe due to a bit of luck?) it wasn't at all crowded. It was really amazing to just be able to go through all these haunts without having to wait in huge, long lines, kind of like going to an amusement park and walking right onto all the rides. There was a deejay playing music, the bonfire was roaring, and people were enjoying the perfect weather, watching all the creepy characters roaming the grounds. These horrible-looking guys and gals (the actors, not the patrons!) were more than happy to interact with us. One of my favorites from last year was back in the rolling hospital bed. You have to see her! She is so creepy and fun! There was a giant screen showing Halloween III and I almost wish the lines had been longer so I had more time to watch it! There is something here to scare (or entertain) pretty much anyone in your party, from children to older folks, from scaredy-cats to horror fans. And since they open so early in the year, it's a great way to get into that Halloween spirit!
The first haunt we went through was Temple of Terror. This one has some notable updates since last year. A character by the name of Sandman was happy to let us in. Imagine a ruined temple with all kinds of creepy-crawlies, bones, and evil characters, and you've got the idea. Inside we encountered giant bats, some cool scenes with water that made it feel like a dank cave, moving floors, and some crazy Indiana Jones-like effects that really scared some people in our group. There are some seriously large scares in here!
Next we went through Dr. Psycho's Haunted Estate. This is one psycho doctor! I loved walking through all the rooms and grounds of his estate. The actors in this one were great! They were really in character. The hillbillies were especially fun. And there was one creep who had so much fun with us that he followed us through most of the haunt. He was swinging around on things, laughing, stalking, and really entertaining us. Just when we thought we'd lost him, he'd pop out again with a shriek. There were some child actors who did a great job, too! I think my favorite part was the area with the dolls made with human parts and chains. And speaking of chains, there are some ruthless chainsaw guys! And kudos to whichever one of these monsters that got me on a jump scare before I found my way out.
As we approached Killer Klowns a butcher blocked our path with his stained overalls and bloody cleaver. Then, wandering in front of the Klown building, an escaped clown spotted us and motioned for us to come with him inside. If you've ever seen the movie, Killer Klowns from Outer Space, you will definitely feel some of those vibes in here. I was really impressed with this one this year! Grab those 3D glasses they offer, as the 3D effects are quite good. I always love the spinning tunnels and giant cotton candy cocoons. I was fascinated at the blood bath and one clown who actually appeared to be bleeding. It's hard not to have fun in here with the whole funhouse-like atmosphere and the games throughout. The giant pinball is so cool! The clowns loved messing with us in the maze. And this one was obviously pretty scary as people were going through so fast they kept passing us. Poor clowns! No one wanted to stay and play? Coulrophobia, anyone?
Speaking of phobias...Phobia is still the newest of the attractions. It is full of dark. Lots of dark. And mazes. Also bugs, spiders, snakes and creepy crawlies. They did a really good job making sections feel claustrophobic. I liked the spider-guy (man-spider?). Whatever you call him, he's creepy! Also one of the characters was making these crazy snarling sounds, which I think turned out to be metal claws rubbing on the corrugated walls. It was fairly unnerving.
We saved the Haunted Trail for last. This is always one of my favorites here. I just love outdoor trail haunts. Ironically, one of my favorite parts is always one of the simplest. It's the dark, foggy trail where you can feel things brushing against your face, but it is too dark to see. And you just know Michael Myers or someone is stalking you. I love the atmosphere! Also fantastic are the caves and aliens. One of my other favorite parts of this one is the pumpkin patch with giant jack-o-lanterns and Headless Horseman. So much Halloween! I want it for my yard! Also rather ominous and awe-inspiring is the bus standing on end. It's just weird and wrong to be looking at a bus towering over you with evil creatures stalking around. There were some new areas here as well, but I don't want to spoil too much. This is a looong trail, so be sure you're up for a hike!
And if you want something a little different to do between all these haunts, besides the live music, bonfire, and refreshments, there's a mechanical bull (with lots of padding around for obvious reasons), and don't miss the Zombie Sniper Patrol! You get on a bus with paintball guns attached to the sides, don some safety glasses, take a seat, and prepare to blast some zombies! I don't care who you are, shooting at zombies with paintball guns is fun! There were a decent number of scenes we drove through and plenty of live zombies. Some of them move pretty fast, so it's great target practice! Fun for the whole family!
For this review, I'm just going to focus on the haunts. The haunts opened on Labor Day, and they started the season with concerts and events galore. We attended the following weekend, and being early in the season (or maybe due to a bit of luck?) it wasn't at all crowded. It was really amazing to just be able to go through all these haunts without having to wait in huge, long lines, kind of like going to an amusement park and walking right onto all the rides. There was a deejay playing music, the bonfire was roaring, and people were enjoying the perfect weather, watching all the creepy characters roaming the grounds. These horrible-looking guys and gals (the actors, not the patrons!) were more than happy to interact with us. One of my favorites from last year was back in the rolling hospital bed. You have to see her! She is so creepy and fun! There was a giant screen showing Halloween III and I almost wish the lines had been longer so I had more time to watch it! There is something here to scare (or entertain) pretty much anyone in your party, from children to older folks, from scaredy-cats to horror fans. And since they open so early in the year, it's a great way to get into that Halloween spirit!
The first haunt we went through was Temple of Terror. This one has some notable updates since last year. A character by the name of Sandman was happy to let us in. Imagine a ruined temple with all kinds of creepy-crawlies, bones, and evil characters, and you've got the idea. Inside we encountered giant bats, some cool scenes with water that made it feel like a dank cave, moving floors, and some crazy Indiana Jones-like effects that really scared some people in our group. There are some seriously large scares in here!
Next we went through Dr. Psycho's Haunted Estate. This is one psycho doctor! I loved walking through all the rooms and grounds of his estate. The actors in this one were great! They were really in character. The hillbillies were especially fun. And there was one creep who had so much fun with us that he followed us through most of the haunt. He was swinging around on things, laughing, stalking, and really entertaining us. Just when we thought we'd lost him, he'd pop out again with a shriek. There were some child actors who did a great job, too! I think my favorite part was the area with the dolls made with human parts and chains. And speaking of chains, there are some ruthless chainsaw guys! And kudos to whichever one of these monsters that got me on a jump scare before I found my way out.
As we approached Killer Klowns a butcher blocked our path with his stained overalls and bloody cleaver. Then, wandering in front of the Klown building, an escaped clown spotted us and motioned for us to come with him inside. If you've ever seen the movie, Killer Klowns from Outer Space, you will definitely feel some of those vibes in here. I was really impressed with this one this year! Grab those 3D glasses they offer, as the 3D effects are quite good. I always love the spinning tunnels and giant cotton candy cocoons. I was fascinated at the blood bath and one clown who actually appeared to be bleeding. It's hard not to have fun in here with the whole funhouse-like atmosphere and the games throughout. The giant pinball is so cool! The clowns loved messing with us in the maze. And this one was obviously pretty scary as people were going through so fast they kept passing us. Poor clowns! No one wanted to stay and play? Coulrophobia, anyone?
Speaking of phobias...Phobia is still the newest of the attractions. It is full of dark. Lots of dark. And mazes. Also bugs, spiders, snakes and creepy crawlies. They did a really good job making sections feel claustrophobic. I liked the spider-guy (man-spider?). Whatever you call him, he's creepy! Also one of the characters was making these crazy snarling sounds, which I think turned out to be metal claws rubbing on the corrugated walls. It was fairly unnerving.
We saved the Haunted Trail for last. This is always one of my favorites here. I just love outdoor trail haunts. Ironically, one of my favorite parts is always one of the simplest. It's the dark, foggy trail where you can feel things brushing against your face, but it is too dark to see. And you just know Michael Myers or someone is stalking you. I love the atmosphere! Also fantastic are the caves and aliens. One of my other favorite parts of this one is the pumpkin patch with giant jack-o-lanterns and Headless Horseman. So much Halloween! I want it for my yard! Also rather ominous and awe-inspiring is the bus standing on end. It's just weird and wrong to be looking at a bus towering over you with evil creatures stalking around. There were some new areas here as well, but I don't want to spoil too much. This is a looong trail, so be sure you're up for a hike!
And if you want something a little different to do between all these haunts, besides the live music, bonfire, and refreshments, there's a mechanical bull (with lots of padding around for obvious reasons), and don't miss the Zombie Sniper Patrol! You get on a bus with paintball guns attached to the sides, don some safety glasses, take a seat, and prepare to blast some zombies! I don't care who you are, shooting at zombies with paintball guns is fun! There were a decent number of scenes we drove through and plenty of live zombies. Some of them move pretty fast, so it's great target practice! Fun for the whole family!
Paul - One of the many things that I've come to realize I enjoy about being able to visit so many haunts on a yearly basis is seeing how they change things up from year-to-year. Seeing what's new, how things function, and all of the upgrades (both major and minor) made in the year since we've visited last. Our 2019 visit to Land of Illusion showed off quite a few changes, but mostly to the bones of the park.
Land of Illusion (or LOI) is unlike any haunt in the area. It's a haunt theme park really, and the entire focus through September and October is providing the best facility possible for bringing people in to enjoy an entire evening of haunted entertainment. It's a massive property with 6 featured attractions and enough to do that you'll want to spend an entire evening there. It's clean, well-kept, safe, and has some great scares!
Arriving at the park we noticed one of the big improvements... Parking lot access is much improved. There was a lot of concrete poured, and a big re-design on the entrance line. There were many times that parking traffic would back up onto the road out front, so this should eliminate much of that. Once inside, we were greeted with the incomparable environment we enjoy so much. There's an enormous paved central area with a fire pit, stage, bar/concession stand, the cleanest/nicest restrooms of any haunt we visit, a couple of side attractions, and many really good roaming actors. On a lot of Saturday nights there are even well-known bands there performing concerts! The whole area is a great place to spend time hanging out, watching the roaming actors sneak up on unsuspecting victims, and catching your breath between haunts. Even if you come on a rainy night there's plenty of shelter, and every haunt is under cover except parts of the Middletown Haunted Trail.
As for the haunts...
What a collection! As I previously mentioned, LOI has 6 haunted attractions included in your admission. There are 4 separate indoor haunts with varying themes:
Temple of Terror is themed to an ancient temple you've discovered, and there are a whole lot of beings who aren't happy that you're there. You'll pass through tombs, jungles, and crypts, all while avoiding the wrath of the locals.
In Dr Psycho's Haunted Estate you'll encounter a whole lot of the Dr's botched experiments. The Dr has done a good job of keeping a lot of these experiments alive, but he probably shouldn't have. Some of them want your help in escaping, some make sure to let you know you shouldn't be there, and some are doing their best to make sure you stay and become an experiment yourself.
Killer Klowns may have been my favorite this year. It's a maze of craziness with brightly colored floors, walls, and ceilings with some really cool 3D effects. The creepy-factor isn't from darkness, it's from the wild sets and the great actors. There was one room that was especially memorable to me where it looked like the inhabitant was there for quite some time...
Phobia is a collection of different scenes, all catering to different fears that people have. You'll pass through several different sets, all with different themes, and travel between them through some of the darkest passages of any haunt I've experienced. It was probably the haunt with the fewest props, but they still managed to do a good job with it.
The main attraction is the Middletown Haunted Trail. This is the area where I always notice the biggest changes from year to year, and this trip was no exception. This is one of the longest haunt experiences we go through each year, and they somehow pack more into it every time. You'll go through everything from a massive radioactive fallout bunker to a very dysfunctional school, to some backwoods property where the residents want nothing more than to serve their guests... AS dinner. Excellent job here.
The final attraction you get access to is Zombie Sniper Patrol. Your group will load up in a paintball gun equipped military transport truck and head out into the woods in search of some zombies to exterminate. I'll admit that zombie paintball attractions aren't my favorite things, but this one is the best one I've experienced. The pace keeps it pretty exciting and the zombies do a pretty good job of being entertaining.
All in all LOI is a good experience. There is a huge amount to do, and you get a lot of content for your money. It really is a place where you could easily spend an entire evening, and still want to come back another couple of times before the season is up. Quite a few of the improvements that have been made in the last few off-seasons have revolved around adding attractions that will make LOI a year-round destination. There's already a large water park for the summer months, and it sounds like there are some other exciting things in the works that will keep people coming in all year long. While I'm always happy to see places be successful, the haunt is definitely my #1 focus and I'm glad to see it's still a worthy destination in that world.
Land of Illusion (or LOI) is unlike any haunt in the area. It's a haunt theme park really, and the entire focus through September and October is providing the best facility possible for bringing people in to enjoy an entire evening of haunted entertainment. It's a massive property with 6 featured attractions and enough to do that you'll want to spend an entire evening there. It's clean, well-kept, safe, and has some great scares!
Arriving at the park we noticed one of the big improvements... Parking lot access is much improved. There was a lot of concrete poured, and a big re-design on the entrance line. There were many times that parking traffic would back up onto the road out front, so this should eliminate much of that. Once inside, we were greeted with the incomparable environment we enjoy so much. There's an enormous paved central area with a fire pit, stage, bar/concession stand, the cleanest/nicest restrooms of any haunt we visit, a couple of side attractions, and many really good roaming actors. On a lot of Saturday nights there are even well-known bands there performing concerts! The whole area is a great place to spend time hanging out, watching the roaming actors sneak up on unsuspecting victims, and catching your breath between haunts. Even if you come on a rainy night there's plenty of shelter, and every haunt is under cover except parts of the Middletown Haunted Trail.
As for the haunts...
What a collection! As I previously mentioned, LOI has 6 haunted attractions included in your admission. There are 4 separate indoor haunts with varying themes:
Temple of Terror is themed to an ancient temple you've discovered, and there are a whole lot of beings who aren't happy that you're there. You'll pass through tombs, jungles, and crypts, all while avoiding the wrath of the locals.
In Dr Psycho's Haunted Estate you'll encounter a whole lot of the Dr's botched experiments. The Dr has done a good job of keeping a lot of these experiments alive, but he probably shouldn't have. Some of them want your help in escaping, some make sure to let you know you shouldn't be there, and some are doing their best to make sure you stay and become an experiment yourself.
Killer Klowns may have been my favorite this year. It's a maze of craziness with brightly colored floors, walls, and ceilings with some really cool 3D effects. The creepy-factor isn't from darkness, it's from the wild sets and the great actors. There was one room that was especially memorable to me where it looked like the inhabitant was there for quite some time...
Phobia is a collection of different scenes, all catering to different fears that people have. You'll pass through several different sets, all with different themes, and travel between them through some of the darkest passages of any haunt I've experienced. It was probably the haunt with the fewest props, but they still managed to do a good job with it.
The main attraction is the Middletown Haunted Trail. This is the area where I always notice the biggest changes from year to year, and this trip was no exception. This is one of the longest haunt experiences we go through each year, and they somehow pack more into it every time. You'll go through everything from a massive radioactive fallout bunker to a very dysfunctional school, to some backwoods property where the residents want nothing more than to serve their guests... AS dinner. Excellent job here.
The final attraction you get access to is Zombie Sniper Patrol. Your group will load up in a paintball gun equipped military transport truck and head out into the woods in search of some zombies to exterminate. I'll admit that zombie paintball attractions aren't my favorite things, but this one is the best one I've experienced. The pace keeps it pretty exciting and the zombies do a pretty good job of being entertaining.
All in all LOI is a good experience. There is a huge amount to do, and you get a lot of content for your money. It really is a place where you could easily spend an entire evening, and still want to come back another couple of times before the season is up. Quite a few of the improvements that have been made in the last few off-seasons have revolved around adding attractions that will make LOI a year-round destination. There's already a large water park for the summer months, and it sounds like there are some other exciting things in the works that will keep people coming in all year long. While I'm always happy to see places be successful, the haunt is definitely my #1 focus and I'm glad to see it's still a worthy destination in that world.