It’s been interesting to watch Twisted Trails grow since its first year four or so years ago. When it first started, this haunt was nothing more than a lone trail with a trailer for a merch facility. Today, an entire paved midway welcomes guests, offering all sorts of things – food and drink, merchandise, miniature golf, gel soft target shooting and photo ops. The area is well decorated and has a few camp fires to keep warm at as time passes.
There are now three haunts – two trails and the “indoor” Muck Manor. We started our night on the upper trail, which was my personal favorite of the three. The path was diverse and very twisted (no pun intended). It also contained a first for us – a camper! We’ve been on haunts that have shipping containers, busses, EMS vehicles, but never a camper – talk about close quarters. The majority of the trail was lined with cornstalks and hay bales with the occasional fence. The ambiance is VERY creepy; it’s very dark and you can only see what they intend you to see via strategically positioned LED panel lights. This leaves a lot of room for actors to hide in wait. The upper trail is much more condensed compared to the lower trail so there’s not a lot of emptiness between props and scenes. There are a surprising number of animatronics on display now, given it being an outdoor haunt. The trail also uses a fair amount of fog and on cooler nights adds wonderfully to the areas it carries to. With all of its twists and turns and plentiful decorations, it could have used more actors for sure, however with the sheer length of either trail, I can’t begin to imagine how many actors ideally they would need on any given night.
Our second stop was Muck Manor. This is partially an indoor haunt which starts off well enough. We were greeted in a sitting room accompanied three living portraits and provided some back story as to how the manor came to be in its state of disrepair. We then walked down a long hallway into a manned elevator where the story continued. Of course, this elevator was last inspected 50 years ago, by my guess, as it was a bumpy ride. The remainder of the “inside” section of this haunt consists of a few decorated shipping containers of varying themes that carried only minimal detail of decoration (they’re narrow so I suppose only so much can be done). It then opened up to the wide open fog swamp that we vividly recalled from our last visit. Though it appeared some unintentional jostling cause the lasers to become misaligned and separated, it is still an impressive display and the largest take on a fog swamp that I can recall. A few actors were creeping below the surface of the visible surface but otherwise few props were integrated into the spacious area.
Lastly we went through the lower trail which as best as I can recall is the section we have walked before, though no doubt changes have been made since. The highlight of this trail was right at the beginning – a fantastic actor portraying the “keeper” of the souls that roam about. His performance was terrific and easily a contender for best actor of the year. He contributed even more context to the story backing Twisted Trails before sending us on our way. The lower trail feels more spread out and segmented than the upper trail, though it offers a more diverse experience. This trail is much darker overall since there are longer stretches between each area. Again, these areas of void would be prime areas for actors to catch passersby, but none were to be found apart from one lone werewolf. The largest and most memorable area of the lower trail was surely the clown area that contained a sizeable maze that the actors effectively kept popping in and out of and the world’s shadiest ice cream trick advertising “free puppies” on the windshield.
Twisted Trails is certainly coming along, solidifying itself as an all-night haunt attraction. It’s a family-friendly haunt in my opinion. It may be a bit overwhelming for young children, but it’s not over-the-top gory or violent as other haunts can be. Having an outdoor experience is a nice change of pace for the haunt scene, especially on a cool fall night. The actors are a mixed bag of those that engage well with visitors and others that simply aim for the startle scare. Overall Twisted Trails could certainly benefit from more actors. Muck Manor could also use some refinement. The theme has a lot of potential, but the shipping crates just don’t do a whole lot for me, though I have no idea if there is a limitation (both with space and financially) for actual construction. Of course, the trails are the bread and butter of this haunt and there’s a lot of content there. I think the optimization of the space on the upper trail works much better than the spread-out approach of the lower trail. The two could easily be condensed into a single, evenly paced trail, however splitting them does work to their benefit for line management. If Twisted Trails can keep on this trajectory of growth, it really could become a rival to the other long-standing outdoor attractions in the area.
There are now three haunts – two trails and the “indoor” Muck Manor. We started our night on the upper trail, which was my personal favorite of the three. The path was diverse and very twisted (no pun intended). It also contained a first for us – a camper! We’ve been on haunts that have shipping containers, busses, EMS vehicles, but never a camper – talk about close quarters. The majority of the trail was lined with cornstalks and hay bales with the occasional fence. The ambiance is VERY creepy; it’s very dark and you can only see what they intend you to see via strategically positioned LED panel lights. This leaves a lot of room for actors to hide in wait. The upper trail is much more condensed compared to the lower trail so there’s not a lot of emptiness between props and scenes. There are a surprising number of animatronics on display now, given it being an outdoor haunt. The trail also uses a fair amount of fog and on cooler nights adds wonderfully to the areas it carries to. With all of its twists and turns and plentiful decorations, it could have used more actors for sure, however with the sheer length of either trail, I can’t begin to imagine how many actors ideally they would need on any given night.
Our second stop was Muck Manor. This is partially an indoor haunt which starts off well enough. We were greeted in a sitting room accompanied three living portraits and provided some back story as to how the manor came to be in its state of disrepair. We then walked down a long hallway into a manned elevator where the story continued. Of course, this elevator was last inspected 50 years ago, by my guess, as it was a bumpy ride. The remainder of the “inside” section of this haunt consists of a few decorated shipping containers of varying themes that carried only minimal detail of decoration (they’re narrow so I suppose only so much can be done). It then opened up to the wide open fog swamp that we vividly recalled from our last visit. Though it appeared some unintentional jostling cause the lasers to become misaligned and separated, it is still an impressive display and the largest take on a fog swamp that I can recall. A few actors were creeping below the surface of the visible surface but otherwise few props were integrated into the spacious area.
Lastly we went through the lower trail which as best as I can recall is the section we have walked before, though no doubt changes have been made since. The highlight of this trail was right at the beginning – a fantastic actor portraying the “keeper” of the souls that roam about. His performance was terrific and easily a contender for best actor of the year. He contributed even more context to the story backing Twisted Trails before sending us on our way. The lower trail feels more spread out and segmented than the upper trail, though it offers a more diverse experience. This trail is much darker overall since there are longer stretches between each area. Again, these areas of void would be prime areas for actors to catch passersby, but none were to be found apart from one lone werewolf. The largest and most memorable area of the lower trail was surely the clown area that contained a sizeable maze that the actors effectively kept popping in and out of and the world’s shadiest ice cream trick advertising “free puppies” on the windshield.
Twisted Trails is certainly coming along, solidifying itself as an all-night haunt attraction. It’s a family-friendly haunt in my opinion. It may be a bit overwhelming for young children, but it’s not over-the-top gory or violent as other haunts can be. Having an outdoor experience is a nice change of pace for the haunt scene, especially on a cool fall night. The actors are a mixed bag of those that engage well with visitors and others that simply aim for the startle scare. Overall Twisted Trails could certainly benefit from more actors. Muck Manor could also use some refinement. The theme has a lot of potential, but the shipping crates just don’t do a whole lot for me, though I have no idea if there is a limitation (both with space and financially) for actual construction. Of course, the trails are the bread and butter of this haunt and there’s a lot of content there. I think the optimization of the space on the upper trail works much better than the spread-out approach of the lower trail. The two could easily be condensed into a single, evenly paced trail, however splitting them does work to their benefit for line management. If Twisted Trails can keep on this trajectory of growth, it really could become a rival to the other long-standing outdoor attractions in the area.
It's been two years since our last visit to Twisted Trails, and wow! What a transformation! It feels like a completely different place even from our last trip. The number of changes from year to year have been impressive, but the difference from the first year to this one is almost unbelievable. This has gone from a one-and-done haunted trail walk to a 3-haunt park with food, drinks, games, photo ops, and more.
After you make your way to Wilmington Ohio (use your GPS and turn when it says to or you'll blow right by it), park and get your wristband, you enter into their midway area- which is a place where you can spend an entire evening. There are games, food, souvenirs, craft booths, black light mini golf, fire pits, photo ops... It's a really fun environment to just hang out and enjoy the night, and I believe it's brand new for this year. Then once you're ready, there are 3 haunts to go through and test your scare reflexes.
We started off with the Upper Trail and this was by far my favorite attraction of the night. It started out with one of the best acting performances we've experienced all year, then we walked a dark, twisty, cramped path through a huge number of props, scenes, and actors. At one point you even end up going through some sort of mobile home! The upper trail alone is worth the admission price, and is 100% the one you shouldn't miss.
After we somehow survived the upper trail we visited the chaos that is Muck Manor. This portion feels a little more like a traditional haunt, but there are definitely some unique portions, including the 2D room, and one of the best laser-fog swamps that I've ever seen.
The final part we went through was the Lower Trail. This is the longer of the two trails, and that means things are a little more wide-open and you get a bit more recovery time between the scares. I'd say as of this writing that this is the mildest of the three haunt attractions here, but don't go thinking it's a kiddie haunt. It still gets your heart pumping and gives plenty of jumps.
Overall, I'm blown away by the changes and how far things have come in the short time it's been open. It's become a truly great haunt in a fairly short time, and I hope more people discover it. Make your way to Wilmington and take a hike through Twisted Trails.
After you make your way to Wilmington Ohio (use your GPS and turn when it says to or you'll blow right by it), park and get your wristband, you enter into their midway area- which is a place where you can spend an entire evening. There are games, food, souvenirs, craft booths, black light mini golf, fire pits, photo ops... It's a really fun environment to just hang out and enjoy the night, and I believe it's brand new for this year. Then once you're ready, there are 3 haunts to go through and test your scare reflexes.
We started off with the Upper Trail and this was by far my favorite attraction of the night. It started out with one of the best acting performances we've experienced all year, then we walked a dark, twisty, cramped path through a huge number of props, scenes, and actors. At one point you even end up going through some sort of mobile home! The upper trail alone is worth the admission price, and is 100% the one you shouldn't miss.
After we somehow survived the upper trail we visited the chaos that is Muck Manor. This portion feels a little more like a traditional haunt, but there are definitely some unique portions, including the 2D room, and one of the best laser-fog swamps that I've ever seen.
The final part we went through was the Lower Trail. This is the longer of the two trails, and that means things are a little more wide-open and you get a bit more recovery time between the scares. I'd say as of this writing that this is the mildest of the three haunt attractions here, but don't go thinking it's a kiddie haunt. It still gets your heart pumping and gives plenty of jumps.
Overall, I'm blown away by the changes and how far things have come in the short time it's been open. It's become a truly great haunt in a fairly short time, and I hope more people discover it. Make your way to Wilmington and take a hike through Twisted Trails.
Twisted Trails in Wilmington, Ohio, has evolved from a modest haunted trail into a multi-attraction park, featuring an impressive array of entertainment options and three distinct haunt experiences. The incorporation of a well-equipped midway area, comprising various recreational activities and amenities, contributes to the overall festive atmosphere of the venue. The Upper Trail, with its immersive and intense path, stands out as a highlight among the attractions, offering a captivating and memorable journey for visitors. Muck Manor, while showcasing unique elements, could benefit from further thematic refinement and more engaging set designs. The Lower Trail, although providing a more spacious layout, could enhance the overall scare factor with the inclusion of more actors and detailed scenes. Twisted Trails has made significant strides in its expansion and transformation, establishing itself as a prominent haunt destination in a relatively short span of time. However, there remains room for improvement in terms of refining thematic elements and optimizing the scare experiences throughout the attractions.
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