Todd - Twisted Trails is one of Ohio's newest outdoor haunts partnering with Matthew 25 Ministries. Aside from a welcome tent, the entire haunt is 20% trailer ride and 80% walking through the dark woods. For the less physically fit, be advised that it's a fair amount of walking on gravel spread across uneven ground. There are mild hills to conquer as well so haunt aspects aside, your step counter will be proof enough that you came.
The haunt's theme is fairly basic - a bunch of bad entities have been released and it's your job to find them. While there's no interaction as far as a hide-and-seek objective, be prepared as the ghouls are certainly hiding, waiting for you. The experience begins with a nice trailer ride offering a mix of character interaction and props to get you started. Some of the actors may come aboard the trailer to toy with those obviously bothered with them, while others will walk along side. After a brief ride, you'll exit the trailer and it's time to hoof it from here all the way back from where you began.
Along the way you'll counter a wide array of characters, some of which will speak and interact with you. Others will simply wait to jump out of the complete darkness for a quick shock. Some with walk with you for a good distance just to keep you from feeling too complacent between scenes. It's not just thick brush you'll wind through, but structures too - big and small. You'll come across little shacks that serve more as decor and some larger constructions that you'll go inside, albeit, briefly. These structures are mostly basic constructed from wood. Initially I was not overly impressed with them, however once we finished I did appreciate how they all fit into the wooded environment naturally. I suppose a neon-lit building would feel a bit unnatural in this atmosphere.
The thick woods on either side of the walking path provide ample darkness and cover for the actors to pounce. As if the darkness wasn't enough to put you at a disadvantage, the small amount of artificial lighting that is present is typically arranged so it's facing you, literally blinding you from seeing what is ahead. The trail is windy enough that even if you could see, you can't anticipate what's ahead anyway. Generally, each of the bigger scenes are separated enough on the path so they feel distinct without melding together. A few of the memorable scenes was the witch-burning bonfire and the cleverly constructed and close-quartered harvest path. Not all of the props were what you would expect outdoors. Without giving away anything, I was happy to see some effects and contraptions implemented that I would never have expected to see outside, especially in the woods.
The actors did a pretty good job executing their task (again, some were positioned for a quick scare while others lingered around). Since the path is so long and wide, the group of people on your trailer are naturally going to spread out. The actors did well with ensuring that they didn't just jump out at the first people to cross their line of sight. We were in the front of our group and we heard consistent screams from behind us throughout.
As with any first year haunt, 2019 will be a learning year for Twisted Trails. Being an outdoor attraction not only brings a whole different set of logistics but challenges as well - nature will dictate what can and can't be done sometimes. For a first year haunt with a LOT of required prep work to make the season happen (like literally installing electricity throughout), Twisted Trails put on as good of an outdoor experience as others who have been established for years. It was a fun experience, well-leveraged by the natural, spooky woods. I have a strong feeling that the next few years will bring even more to experience along these Twisted Trails and I'll definitely be one to check it out.
The haunt's theme is fairly basic - a bunch of bad entities have been released and it's your job to find them. While there's no interaction as far as a hide-and-seek objective, be prepared as the ghouls are certainly hiding, waiting for you. The experience begins with a nice trailer ride offering a mix of character interaction and props to get you started. Some of the actors may come aboard the trailer to toy with those obviously bothered with them, while others will walk along side. After a brief ride, you'll exit the trailer and it's time to hoof it from here all the way back from where you began.
Along the way you'll counter a wide array of characters, some of which will speak and interact with you. Others will simply wait to jump out of the complete darkness for a quick shock. Some with walk with you for a good distance just to keep you from feeling too complacent between scenes. It's not just thick brush you'll wind through, but structures too - big and small. You'll come across little shacks that serve more as decor and some larger constructions that you'll go inside, albeit, briefly. These structures are mostly basic constructed from wood. Initially I was not overly impressed with them, however once we finished I did appreciate how they all fit into the wooded environment naturally. I suppose a neon-lit building would feel a bit unnatural in this atmosphere.
The thick woods on either side of the walking path provide ample darkness and cover for the actors to pounce. As if the darkness wasn't enough to put you at a disadvantage, the small amount of artificial lighting that is present is typically arranged so it's facing you, literally blinding you from seeing what is ahead. The trail is windy enough that even if you could see, you can't anticipate what's ahead anyway. Generally, each of the bigger scenes are separated enough on the path so they feel distinct without melding together. A few of the memorable scenes was the witch-burning bonfire and the cleverly constructed and close-quartered harvest path. Not all of the props were what you would expect outdoors. Without giving away anything, I was happy to see some effects and contraptions implemented that I would never have expected to see outside, especially in the woods.
The actors did a pretty good job executing their task (again, some were positioned for a quick scare while others lingered around). Since the path is so long and wide, the group of people on your trailer are naturally going to spread out. The actors did well with ensuring that they didn't just jump out at the first people to cross their line of sight. We were in the front of our group and we heard consistent screams from behind us throughout.
As with any first year haunt, 2019 will be a learning year for Twisted Trails. Being an outdoor attraction not only brings a whole different set of logistics but challenges as well - nature will dictate what can and can't be done sometimes. For a first year haunt with a LOT of required prep work to make the season happen (like literally installing electricity throughout), Twisted Trails put on as good of an outdoor experience as others who have been established for years. It was a fun experience, well-leveraged by the natural, spooky woods. I have a strong feeling that the next few years will bring even more to experience along these Twisted Trails and I'll definitely be one to check it out.
Paul - I wasn't sure what to expect with Twisted Trails (TT). Their advertisements started popping up around town in early September, but it's brand new for 2019 and there wasn't a lot of information about it on their website. It could have been an over-advertised pile of garbage for all we knew, but we decided we should head out to Wilmington, Ohio and see what they were bringing to the party.
Arriving at TT was easy enough other than they could use a little more lighting on their sign out on the main road. The parking lot was well lit, the lot attendants were literally the friendliest parking lot workers I've ever encountered at a haunt, and it was easy to find the ticket booth. One of the odd things about TT though is that there wasn't anything else to see outside of the haunt itself. No signs, no photo ops, no roaming actors, just a parking lot, ticket/merch/snack booth, some porta-potties, and the line. I guess if you're going to drop money on building a haunt, you have to pick and choose where that money goes.
And here at Twisted Trails the money obviously went into the haunt itself.
When you first get through the line you'll enter into a tent to meet the Collector. He explains why you're there and the things you'll see as you voyage through the trail. From there you load onto a truck-drawn wagon and head deep into the woods. You'll pass a few fairly detailed scenes on the wagon, but it's really just taking you to the starting point of the trail itself. Once you unload, I hope you brought some comfortable shoes, because you and the entire wagon of people start walking.
The trail back is the main attraction. I'm not sure exactly how long it is, but it's a gravel path that winds all over in those woods before finally reaching the end. I would guess we were out there for a good 20-30 minutes, experiencing creep show after freak show for the whole voyage. I was pretty surprised how much stuff they were able to build for their very first year, and how well they managed to execute it. There are times along the trail where you're amidst total chaos and times where it'll be complete silence. There are periods of wide-open trail, and some fairly tight mazes. There are freaks coming at you in the light, freaks coming at you in the dark, freaks from above, and freaks below. The collector apparently enjoyed collecting disturbed beings more than just about anything! I think my favorite scenes were the dollhouse, the wolves, and the harvest... some excellent scares there.
TT is fantastic! There is an enormous amount of content along the path, and some very unique scares. The actors were well above average, the props and sets were great, the lighting was just right, and you even get some exercise and fresh air with your scares! I haven't visited a haunt quite like this one before and I really had a great time. I was a little worried that having this big group of people all walking through at once would take away from the haunt, but the group spreads out so much over the length of the hike it actually ended up working out really well.
Thankfully, Twisted Trails was not an over-advertised pile of garbage at all! It was one of the creepiest jaunts through the woods of Southwest Ohio I could have imagined, and I'm really glad we took the trip to visit them. Bring some sturdy shoes, dress for the weather, and be prepared to get terrified on Twisted Trails!
Arriving at TT was easy enough other than they could use a little more lighting on their sign out on the main road. The parking lot was well lit, the lot attendants were literally the friendliest parking lot workers I've ever encountered at a haunt, and it was easy to find the ticket booth. One of the odd things about TT though is that there wasn't anything else to see outside of the haunt itself. No signs, no photo ops, no roaming actors, just a parking lot, ticket/merch/snack booth, some porta-potties, and the line. I guess if you're going to drop money on building a haunt, you have to pick and choose where that money goes.
And here at Twisted Trails the money obviously went into the haunt itself.
When you first get through the line you'll enter into a tent to meet the Collector. He explains why you're there and the things you'll see as you voyage through the trail. From there you load onto a truck-drawn wagon and head deep into the woods. You'll pass a few fairly detailed scenes on the wagon, but it's really just taking you to the starting point of the trail itself. Once you unload, I hope you brought some comfortable shoes, because you and the entire wagon of people start walking.
The trail back is the main attraction. I'm not sure exactly how long it is, but it's a gravel path that winds all over in those woods before finally reaching the end. I would guess we were out there for a good 20-30 minutes, experiencing creep show after freak show for the whole voyage. I was pretty surprised how much stuff they were able to build for their very first year, and how well they managed to execute it. There are times along the trail where you're amidst total chaos and times where it'll be complete silence. There are periods of wide-open trail, and some fairly tight mazes. There are freaks coming at you in the light, freaks coming at you in the dark, freaks from above, and freaks below. The collector apparently enjoyed collecting disturbed beings more than just about anything! I think my favorite scenes were the dollhouse, the wolves, and the harvest... some excellent scares there.
TT is fantastic! There is an enormous amount of content along the path, and some very unique scares. The actors were well above average, the props and sets were great, the lighting was just right, and you even get some exercise and fresh air with your scares! I haven't visited a haunt quite like this one before and I really had a great time. I was a little worried that having this big group of people all walking through at once would take away from the haunt, but the group spreads out so much over the length of the hike it actually ended up working out really well.
Thankfully, Twisted Trails was not an over-advertised pile of garbage at all! It was one of the creepiest jaunts through the woods of Southwest Ohio I could have imagined, and I'm really glad we took the trip to visit them. Bring some sturdy shoes, dress for the weather, and be prepared to get terrified on Twisted Trails!
Teresa - Twisted Trails is a brand new haunted trail located in Wilmington, Ohio (which is between Cincinnati and Dayton). However, when I say "new", that isn't to say "amateur" in any way. The people designing this place have spent years in the industry, most recently at USS Nightmare in Covington. And it really shows. The location is at a summer camp, so they couldn't really get started on the trail too early in the year. I was completely amazed at what they put together in just a few months. We're talking clearing the trail and putting in power and the works. And "the works" is some pretty fantastic sets, lighting and effects. More on those later.
Finding the right place to turn in to get to the haunt was a little tricky, but the parking lot attendants were very friendly. There are port-o-lets next to the parking lot, and they were selling fun refreshments next to the ticket booth. I say fun, because they had these IV bags with different colored liquids in them, and I naturally had to ask what they were (various juices, FYI). I was more interested in the coffee and hot chocolate as it was a chilly night. There was a pretty decent line that night, so I'm sure I wasn't the only one wanting something hot. I do love the chilly fall woods at night though! The ticket prices are pretty standard at $20 general admission and $30 for skip-the-line. You can check the website for specials for First Responders and Vets or group discounts.
The trail consists of an introduction, a wagon ride out, and a trail hike back to the start. All of this should take 30-40 minutes, depending on how scared you are and what kind of shape you're in! When it is your turn, you enter The Collector's cabin. He explains to you that he has been traveling the world and collecting all kinds of evil monsters and now they have escaped into the woods and he needs help rounding them up. While I feel I really shouldn't be supporting this kind of negligence, he had me at "evil monsters". So we leave the cabin and climb onto the wagon to search the woods. The special effects, lighting, and sounds are really well done. You stop at different points along the trail to look at scenes and the escaped specimens inhabiting them. One wanted our souls pretty badly. They even got on the wagon with us! How exactly was I supposed to go about catching them when they were trying to catch me? We saw some creepy spiders and a huge spider-demon! You can try imagining what that might look like, but you should just go see it. Some of the actors here are very good. There wasn't always a lot of dialogue, but some would just get up into your personal space and give you the creeps. There were lots of cool props to look at as we were hauled through the foggy woods. And lots of the creatures would follow us for quite a long way. You felt like you were never really rid of them. When we finally stopped and got off the wagon, we were in a really fantastic fall scene chock full of autumn goodness, and monsters attacking us from every side!
The trail is pretty fresh gravel, but it can still be a little treacherous as far as footing goes. Having said that, there were some characters that seemed to not even feel it as they crawled around on it. I don't even know how a human being could do that. Oh, that's right, they are escaped monster specimens. That explains it! It's quite a little jaunt from where they drop you off back to the beginning. Most of it is along the trail, but when you get to a scene, sometimes you walk through a building or structure of some kind. There was a super-cool scene of a witch burning on a great pyre of wood. The effects here were so good. Then there was a really chilling doll house with what may be the longest, tightest air tunnel I've ever been in! The sound effects often gave you a clue as to what was coming up as you walked the trail to the next location. Sometimes it was dark or foggy and hard to see, but you'd hear wolves howling. Other times, characters would jump out that you had no idea were there. They did a good job of scaring the entire group and attacking all parts. A lot would wait until the front was past, scare the back, then sneak their way up to the front, so they were attacking you from behind. And they'd just keep following us! There were a couple more air tunnels, pretty much as over-the-top as the first one. It was a work-out pushing through them! Hope you aren't claustrophobic! One of my favorite scenes was a ghost woman dancing in a graveyard next to a crypt. She looked so forlorn! I don't think I've ever used that word before, but it describes her perfectly! We also went through a morgue. And out of nowhere a girl came flying at me! That was a surprise! We saw blood thirsty vampires who were pretty intent on draining us. And another of my favorite scenes was this harvest area with a man-eating jack-o'lantern!
I certainly don't want to spoil all of the surprises, but that would be hard to do in a place this size. Suffice it to say, that Twisted Trails has a lot of scary, professional-caliber scenes and effects, great costumes, engaging actors, and no expense was spared on some very well-placed animatronics and actor-driven monstrosities. It's got great ambiance, being in the spooky woods, and it made for really fun night! When you finally find your way out, there is a concession stand with snacks, candy, and one of the greatest offerings of t-shirts I have ever seen! It took me forever to pick one! Each one was designed after a character in the haunt and the artwork was really good. They also had some really cool beanies. I just wore mine tonight to go play in the freezing wind this chilling Halloween. My ears aren't frostbitten, so that's a big thumbs-up!
For a first-year haunt, I was very impressed. And they've got lots of room, so even though they'll have to take it down between seasons, I think we can expect some big things from them next year. Now that they've got the big stuff in place (like power and gravel), they can just concentrate on filling the space and designing scenes. I hope you got a chance to see them yourself this year. If not, look for them in 2020! I can't wait!
Finding the right place to turn in to get to the haunt was a little tricky, but the parking lot attendants were very friendly. There are port-o-lets next to the parking lot, and they were selling fun refreshments next to the ticket booth. I say fun, because they had these IV bags with different colored liquids in them, and I naturally had to ask what they were (various juices, FYI). I was more interested in the coffee and hot chocolate as it was a chilly night. There was a pretty decent line that night, so I'm sure I wasn't the only one wanting something hot. I do love the chilly fall woods at night though! The ticket prices are pretty standard at $20 general admission and $30 for skip-the-line. You can check the website for specials for First Responders and Vets or group discounts.
The trail consists of an introduction, a wagon ride out, and a trail hike back to the start. All of this should take 30-40 minutes, depending on how scared you are and what kind of shape you're in! When it is your turn, you enter The Collector's cabin. He explains to you that he has been traveling the world and collecting all kinds of evil monsters and now they have escaped into the woods and he needs help rounding them up. While I feel I really shouldn't be supporting this kind of negligence, he had me at "evil monsters". So we leave the cabin and climb onto the wagon to search the woods. The special effects, lighting, and sounds are really well done. You stop at different points along the trail to look at scenes and the escaped specimens inhabiting them. One wanted our souls pretty badly. They even got on the wagon with us! How exactly was I supposed to go about catching them when they were trying to catch me? We saw some creepy spiders and a huge spider-demon! You can try imagining what that might look like, but you should just go see it. Some of the actors here are very good. There wasn't always a lot of dialogue, but some would just get up into your personal space and give you the creeps. There were lots of cool props to look at as we were hauled through the foggy woods. And lots of the creatures would follow us for quite a long way. You felt like you were never really rid of them. When we finally stopped and got off the wagon, we were in a really fantastic fall scene chock full of autumn goodness, and monsters attacking us from every side!
The trail is pretty fresh gravel, but it can still be a little treacherous as far as footing goes. Having said that, there were some characters that seemed to not even feel it as they crawled around on it. I don't even know how a human being could do that. Oh, that's right, they are escaped monster specimens. That explains it! It's quite a little jaunt from where they drop you off back to the beginning. Most of it is along the trail, but when you get to a scene, sometimes you walk through a building or structure of some kind. There was a super-cool scene of a witch burning on a great pyre of wood. The effects here were so good. Then there was a really chilling doll house with what may be the longest, tightest air tunnel I've ever been in! The sound effects often gave you a clue as to what was coming up as you walked the trail to the next location. Sometimes it was dark or foggy and hard to see, but you'd hear wolves howling. Other times, characters would jump out that you had no idea were there. They did a good job of scaring the entire group and attacking all parts. A lot would wait until the front was past, scare the back, then sneak their way up to the front, so they were attacking you from behind. And they'd just keep following us! There were a couple more air tunnels, pretty much as over-the-top as the first one. It was a work-out pushing through them! Hope you aren't claustrophobic! One of my favorite scenes was a ghost woman dancing in a graveyard next to a crypt. She looked so forlorn! I don't think I've ever used that word before, but it describes her perfectly! We also went through a morgue. And out of nowhere a girl came flying at me! That was a surprise! We saw blood thirsty vampires who were pretty intent on draining us. And another of my favorite scenes was this harvest area with a man-eating jack-o'lantern!
I certainly don't want to spoil all of the surprises, but that would be hard to do in a place this size. Suffice it to say, that Twisted Trails has a lot of scary, professional-caliber scenes and effects, great costumes, engaging actors, and no expense was spared on some very well-placed animatronics and actor-driven monstrosities. It's got great ambiance, being in the spooky woods, and it made for really fun night! When you finally find your way out, there is a concession stand with snacks, candy, and one of the greatest offerings of t-shirts I have ever seen! It took me forever to pick one! Each one was designed after a character in the haunt and the artwork was really good. They also had some really cool beanies. I just wore mine tonight to go play in the freezing wind this chilling Halloween. My ears aren't frostbitten, so that's a big thumbs-up!
For a first-year haunt, I was very impressed. And they've got lots of room, so even though they'll have to take it down between seasons, I think we can expect some big things from them next year. Now that they've got the big stuff in place (like power and gravel), they can just concentrate on filling the space and designing scenes. I hope you got a chance to see them yourself this year. If not, look for them in 2020! I can't wait!