2006

HERE'S THE 2006 RATINGS

ADRIAN, MICHIGAN

THE HAUNTING

Lenawee County Fairgrounds (517) 264-1941 www.myhaunting.com

 ZIOPTIS 2006 rating 5 STARS!

ANOTHER BRILLIANT INNOVATION FROM A MASTER MAGICIAN WHOSE WILDEST FANTASIES COME TRUE EVERY YEAR!

WOW! What IS going on here? DOOMED will leave you scratching your head trying to figure it out! By the time you do, or more likely don't, it's too late and you land in the pokey. But it makes Wayne County Jail look like a Boy Scout camp, and is appropriately named PANIC PRISON.

This haunt has been completely remade from the ground up! The actors are always GREAT, usually harvested from the local college drama department. Also features the best conical liquid sky we've seen this year!

This is the haunt that always entertains you while in line. In past years there were astonishing magic shows, this time it's a carnival style side show. Unfortunately, we arrived just before closing and the side show was done for the night.

IF YOU WENT HERE IN 2005, GO AGAIN IN 2006! LAST YEAR WAS 5 STARS TOO, BUT THIS ONE BLEW US AWAY EVEN MORE THAN 2005! AND IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN HERE, YOU ARE MISSING OUT - GO!

ARMADA

BLAKES NIGHTTIME SPOOKY HAYRIDES & 3 LEVEL HAUNTED BARN at Blake's Big Apple on North Avenue north of 33 Mile, just south of Armada info (586) 784-8670 groups (810) 560-2730 reservations (586) 784-9710

ZIOPTIS 2006 rating 5 STARS

This has become an annual tradition of ours to come here. It's SUCH a special place full of great vibes and a FANTASTIC HAYRIDE that has spectacular special effects. The action starts out almost immediately and you are bombarded with the madness caused by "Old Man Blake."

One particularly gag that has you being charged by a spooked out dude on A REAL HORSE! Attention to detail is taken seriously here, and the theme of the ride is cleverly narrated by a tour guide and by others you will encounter.

The cart is quite comfortable with foot supports. They didn't jam too many people on, no need to with as many rigs as they had going!

ARMADA

SLAUGHTERED AT SUNDOWN

71800 Romeo Plank Road, Armada

Take M-53 to 32 Mile Road, go east 2 miles to Romeo Plank, turn left and go 1 1/5 miles - haunt is on right.

(586) 752-7669

ZIOPTIS 2006 rating 3 1/2 STARS

BELLEVILLE, MICHIGAN

THE FESTIVAL OF THE DEAD & HAYRIDE

from Detroit: take I-94 west to Belleville Road, turn left and go through town. Belleville road becomes Sumpter Road, continue south (to the right) until Harris Road. Turn right on Harris Road, Pumpkin Factory is straight ahead on left.

(734) 461-1835

ZIOPTIS 2006 rating 4 1/2 STARS

The show starts before you even get to the ticket booth with a small building near the hayride starting point. Be sure to look inside the building and make some noise to wake up the evil witch inside. She will speak to you, but don't believe what she says!

The walk thru haunt entrance has been enhanced with a corn field path lit by rope lights, a nice touch. Once inside, you'll see many strange things! The art gallery at the start has been revamped again.

Good sound and selection of noises, screams, etc. Features 2 highly effective scenes with young female actors.

Next year the walk thru haunt will be in a new pole barn. We've always liked this haunt and can't wait to see what they do with this expansion!

The hayride uses a single cart to maximize monster interaction thru a different path this year. The most effective new part is a section featuring lots of strobelights. There are spooky scarecrows, spaceships, alien creatures, and we really liked the cemetery scene, a giant something on an electric tower and the monster dude who leapt off the cart into the corn stalks! The volume produced by screaming patrons often exceeded that of the show itself!

A FAMILY FAVORITE COMES THRU AGAIN, AND STILL HAS THE BEST PUMPKIN PIE ON THE PLANET!

BRIGHTON, MICHIGAN

MOUNT FRIGHTEN

4141 Bauer Road at Mt. Brighton Ski & Golf

take I-96 to exit 145, go south on Grand River, turn right on Challis Road (1/3 mile), then turn left on Bauer Road - approx. 1 1/2 miles from exit

(810) 229-9581

ZIOPTIS 2006 rating 4 1/2 STARS

CARLETON

TENT OF TERROR & THE REAL HAUNTED HOUSE

12142 Telegraph Road  $10

ZIOPTIS 2006 rating 3 3/4 STARS

The monsters even got genuinely lost in this one! A strong first time effort with some quirky ideas, but some growing yet to do. This is something we love to see - a new haunt pops up and gives it their best try and generates some wild experiences for a relatively low price. We'll check on them again in 2007.

CHELSEA

PIGMAN'S LAIR

Chelsea Fairgrounds  (517) 214-0613 or www.pigmanslair.com

ZIOPTIS 2006 rating 4 1/2 STARS

AN EXCELLENT HAUNT AT A NEW LOCATION.

CORUNNA

McCURDY'S REVENGE

Inside the heated Commercial Building of McCurdy Park downtown  (517) 625- 7207 or www.mccurdysrevenge.net

ZIOPTIS 2006 rating 4 3/4 STARS

THE PIRATES OF McCURDYVILLE ARE AWESOME! They've been here 6 years now, why didn't we come before? If you haven't been here you should go! Corunna isn't terribly far from Detroit, and the price of gas is down right now too!

This is a 3 part haunt. The first is where you'll pick your "team captain" who will be identified later by others in a novel way. You're assigned a mission to find something where the "ancestors are waiting!"

Features strange obstacles, lots of taunting, a great flying gag and a black hole with mirrors at the end. We especially liked the strobe light room and the "Please help me!" girl.

Next is the dark maze that we ventured into only briefly for fear we would miss other haunts due to getting severely lost and delayed!

The last part is the hardest part of the test you are taking here! Be prepared to be relegated to "SCALLYWAG!" status, AHRR MATEYS! You will be FORCED to...well never mind, you'll find out!

Great live vocal effects throughout, lots of interaction and attention to detail, and some strange flexi-walls to plow thru! We especially liked the hammocks you walk thru. IT'S AN ABANDONED SHIP NIGHTMARE COME TRUE!

They set this up every year in only 6-8 weeks! It's hard to believe they can accomplish that much in that time frame! THIS WAS OUR FIRST TIME HERE BUT CERTAINLY NOT OUR LAST!

DAVISBURG

HOUSE OF HORRORS

Oakland County Fairgrounds, 12451 Andersonville Road

(248) 634-0444 or www.davisburgrotary.org

ZIOTPIS 2006 rating 4 1/2 STARS

It's only their 3rd year, and things are going great! Excellent variety of scenes, wild vocals and noises throughout, and features a larger black hole this time - 11 1/2 feet in diameter. We really liked the crazy Santa Claus, the star room, and the Children of the Corn scene will knock your socks off!

A COOL HAUNT AND A BEAUTIFUL DRIVE TO GET HERE!

FARMINGTON

HAUNTED WINERY

31505 Grand River, just west of Orchard Lake Road

(248) 477-8833

ZIOPTIS 2006 rating 4 1/2 STARS

The ambience here is great because it's naturally occurring! Follow the smokestack to a great haunt steeped in history. There's always a crowd here, if you haven't been you should go and find out why for yourself!

FLINT

THE THIRTEENTH REALM

South Dort Highway & Bristol Road

Opens at 7:30 pm October 6 & 7, 13 & 14, 20-22, 27-30

WE FOUND THE AD FOR THIS ONE AT EXIT 13.

FLINT, MICHIGAN

EXIT 13

On Saginaw just south of I-475 (take exit 13!) (810) 787-0976 or www.exitthirteen.net

ZIOPTIS 2006 rating 4 1/2 STARS

Their ad says "GET OFF SOMEWHERE A LITTLE DIFFERENT," and what a great line that is for a haunt that indeed IS off of exit 13 of the highway!

This haunt impressed us last year too and is becoming a must see for us when in the Flint area!

FOWLERVILLE, MICHIGAN

SLAUGHTER HOUSE, HAUNTED CORN MAZE & HAYRIDE

5781 Grand River Avenue (exit 133 off I-96)

(517) 223-9148 or www.slaughterhouseonline.com

ZIOPTIS 2006 rating 5 STARS

The history of this haunt goes back 15 years ago, when the operators of a farm put on a Halloween fun night for their family and friends. It was wildly popular, and they realized they should go public and the happy end result is SLAUGHTER HOUSE.

This is a highly creative, original concept that mixes humor and magic into the haunt genre in a way that will blow you away!

This year's execution victim is Osama Bin Laden, and like last year is superior to all other execution scenes we've seen! Two of the main actors here are professional comedians and it shows big time! And big time fun and amazement adds up to a haunt you should check out for sure.

The black hole has been moved to the barn for 2006. It was outside last year, this year it was too wet to keep it outside

The SLAUGHTER HOUSE leads into a walk thru a corn field where many ghoulish creatures dwell, waiting for you eagerly!

Unfortunately, we were unable to try the hayride which wasn't running due to high winds. But we've heard some really good things about it!

They also have a separate corn maze, but we were too late to try it.

GRAND BLANC

SAINT LUCIFER'S HAUNTED ASYLUM at Playland, 1/2 mile north off exit 109 from I-75. (810) 695-8200

ZIOPTIS 2006 rating 4 1/2 STARS pending a second visit we hope to schedule because of missing key performer

This one has always impressed us, and there was a giant crowd waiting to get in! If there's a giant line, there's got to be a good reason why! And LOTS of people don't even make it out of the first room, we've been told, because of a certain new female performer that couldn't be there when we went!

Excellent variety of music throughout, desperate pleadings, and we really liked the doll room and the "Wanna play?" girl who looks much too old to be in her particular situation.

Also features a unique tribute to a famous American folk song you're sure to recognize.

When we arrived, they had a FIRE BREATHING DUDE standing up high and letting loose some giant flames!

GRAND BLANC

HAUNTED TRAIL PROJECT

At Loch Lomond Golf Course, 5267 South Dort Highway 

(810) 742-1434

ZIOPTIS 2006 rating 3 1/2 STARS

GRAND RAPIDS

THE HAUNT

2070 Waldorf Northwest, Walker, MI

www.the-haunt.com

1 mile south of I-96 at exit 28 Walker Avenue

ZIOPTIS 2006 rating 5 STARS

HAZEL PARK

HOUSE OF FEAR

Hazel Park Community Center, 620 Woodward Heights

(9 1/2 Mile and I-75)  (248) 547-5535  $8 / $6

ZIOPTIS 2006 rating 4 3/4 STARS

GREAT NEW FIND - IT'S ONLY THEIR 2nd YEAR.

A team of volunteers runs this haunt that has lots of creative twists! Has some dark hallways and great variety of different rooms. One of our favorites is near the start and involves a canned goods pantry.

Then there's the kitchen where everything is wrong - from what's inside the microwave oven to the open refrigerator. Good water usage in 2 rooms, one of which involves the classic "swirly" in the, yup you know where!

Then there's a patient who apparently was abandoned during surgery, yuk! You've heard the saying "It's not over until the fat lady sings?" Well, you WILL hear her sing here, but it's not the end because other strange sounds soon mix with hers and the journey continues.

Other favorites here were a knight dude with special eyes, a down home barbeque scene, and the organ room.

This is only their 2nd year here, but the operators have 10 years of experience in the haunt industry. They told us next year will be totally different, we will be sure to go. And since it's going to be all new next year, you should go and see what they have this time! TRY IT, YOU'LL LIKE IT!

ONLY $8 for adults, $6 for kids - GREAT BANG FOR THE BUCK!

LENOX TOWNSHIP

HAUNTED SCAREFEST

61288 Gratiot at 28 Mile Road

(586) 749-6666 or www.scarefest2006.

ZIOPTIS 2006 rating 4 3/4 STARS

MOUNT CLEMENS

CASTLE OF THE DEAD

Gibralter Trade Center, 237 North River Road, I-94 exit 237

(586) 792-6641 or www.castleofthedead.com

ZIOPTIS 2006 rating 5 STARS

GREAT SHOW FROM START TOP FINISH, AND ENJOY AN ICE COLD BEER HERE TOO! Yep, they got a license to sell beer here this year! We love the surprise entrance to the first room here, listen carefully to what the "caretaker" says.

High intensity actors, many with guttural vocalizations, great lighting effects, tight passageways and so much more! We especially liked the girl sitting on the floor eating an arm, the bottomless pit, the room near the end with a lighting approach we've NEVER seen at any other haunt, and the weird circus music leading to the clown room.

ANOTHER GREAT SHOW FROM A HAUNT THAT HAS GONE THRU SEVERAL INCARNATIONS!

MOUNT CLEMENS

THE HAUNTED FUNERAL HOME AND THE FRIGHT ZONE

Mount Clemens Ice Arena, 200 Groesbeck  (586) 203-7715

ZIOPTIS 2006 rating 4 STARS for the Haunted Funeral Home only

This is a large, free standing haunt which means it's exposed to the elements. So dress warm, and prepare for an assault from a large crew of goons and goonettes straight out of your worst nightmares! They will ALL ATTACK YOU almost immediately, then scurry away to hide within their domain! Listen carefully to the strange story the girl tells at the start.

Lots of monster scares and spooky music, and features a most unique entrance to a room that will LAY YOU FLAT ON YOUR BACK, we're not kidding! Good makeup, monster interaction, clever lines from actors, and we especially liked the "Wanna play?" and "My baby brothers' room" girls. A DYNAMIC SHOW FROM START TO END!

We just barely missed this one in 2005, glad we got to them in 2006! Timing constraints prevented us from seeing the other part of this haunt "THE FRIGHT ZONE." We hope to return if we can soon.

MOUNT MORRIS

THE HALLS OF TERROR

8392 N. Saginaw Road (next to La Villa Pizza)

THIS ONE IS FROM ENCORE MAGIC.

ZIOPTIS 2006 rating 2 STARS

PONTIAC

THE REALM OF DARKNESS

79 South Glenwood (248) 338-0029 or www.therealmofdarkness.com

ZIOPTIS 2006 rating 5 STARS

How do you reinvent a spectacular haunt of monstrous proportions like this? You start early, in this case it was last February! They've developed a new theme, which is outlined in an excellent video you'll see before you embark upon your journey. Pay close attention, it's for your own good, trust us!

As usual, this haunt offers a wide variety of stunning haunt goodies and astonishing attention to detail. And the black hole is unique in that you can see thru the surface you're walking on!

We get lots of e-mails and voice messages on the phone line from happy haunters who took our advice going to various haunts. We have never used any of those messages in reviews, until now! You'll see why this particular e-mail has big time credibility, here it is:

HI ZIOPTIS!

WELL, I MADE IT TO THE REALM OF DARKNESS, THANKS AGAIN FOR THE INFO. I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT WHAT A GREAT TIME I HAD. I SPENT A GREAT MANY YEARS IN THE HAUNT BUSINESS AND THIS IS TOP NOTCH. LITTLE DID I KNOW IT WAS DENISE FROM THE OLD HOUSE OF NIGHTMARES DAYS, IT WAS COOL TO SPEND A FEW MINUTES TALKING WITH HER. HOPE THESE GUYS KEEP IT GOING. THIS IS WHAT TRUE COMMITMENT CAN DO FOR THE HAUNT INDUSTRY. I AGREE WITH YOU IN GIVING THEM #1 HOUSE IN MICHIGAN.

This haunt is in a former FARMER JACK grocery store, so there's amazing amounts of space available. This year they've used up a whole bunch more than last year - you'll be in here even longer than before even if you don't make it to the wizard! If you ARE lucky and skilled enough to reach the wizard you will see a highly dramatic new story unfold - completely different from last year!

After we exited, we hung around for a while to check the reactions of others coming out. ALL OF THEM were stoked to the gills! I told the owner, "You see that look on their faces? THAT'S how you know you did your job!" And what a job it is! To put on a high quality haunt of this magnitude is a challenge few are capable of!

PONTIAC

EREBUS

18 South Perry corner of Water Street & South Perry

(248) 332-7884 or www.hauntedpontiac.com

ZIOPTIS 2006 rating 5 STARS

Think about this for a moment: this is THE WORLD'S LARGEST WALK THRU HAUNTED HOUSE IN THE WORLD CAPITAL OF HAUNTED HOUSES! Talk about instant legendary status!

This 4 story behemoth continues to evolve and amaze us anew every year, how DO they do it? Well, for one thing it's a lot of work that continues year round! Mix in a big dose of creative genius, throw in some wild actors and great makeup, and watch the masses line up!

"THE SWAMP" is the big, new room this year and it's WILD! We won't tell what it is, you just have to go yourself and see what Ed and the boys have unleashed!

The other major scares are still in place, as is the time travel theme from last time. The super old analog electronic equipment in the 1st room is great, and there are lots of new goodies too.

STILL FEATURES THE BIGGEST TESLA COIL WE'VE EVER SEEN! WOW!!! If you don't know what a Tesla coil is, and you haven't been here before, we GUARANTEE you will freak when you experience it!

And being buried alive is just about the most intense physical gag out there we've seen so far! CAN YOU TAKE IT? You'll HAVE TO, YOU DON'T HAVE A CHOICE! If you're claustrophobic, you'll either conquer your fear or freak out! If you like high intensity haunts, this is a MUST SEE!

ANOTHER MASTERPIECE FROM "MR. HAUNTED HOUSE!"

MAUMEE (TOLEDO AREA)

TERRORTOWN

at Lucas County Fairgrounds, 1406 Key Street

(419) 897-7242 or www.terrortown.net

ZIOPTIS 2006 rating 5 STARS

The entertainment starts in line with a giant video screen displaying LIVE IMAGES OF PEOPLE FREAKING OUT INSIDE THE HAUNT! Once you make it in, WOW! You won't believe your eyes, and it's NEW EVERY YEAR HERE!

This is a 3 part haunt - THE ASYLUM, THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE and the FREAK-A-TORIUM.

The new FREAK-A-TORIUM IS UNBELIEVABLE and features the weirdest taxidermy examples you will ever see! There's a 2 headed snake, a raccoon with 2 heads and 8 legs, and much more, ALL REAL! Many freaks of nature and strange mutations are preserved in formaldehyde in large jars too, again ALL REAL!

OFF THE HOOK INSANITY AT ONE OF OHIO'S TOP HAUNTS!

TAYLOR

THE SCREAM MACHINE

21205 Eureka Road in shopping plaza next to the Gibralter Trade Center  (734) 341-3379

ZIOPTIS 2006 rating 5 STARS

WOW! A MAJOR haunt expands again and ups the ante with ambitious plans to re-open in March for weekends of laser tag and haunting! They have a 3 year deal for use of the building, and it seems like the sky is the limit with these guys!

The new "HELLEVATOR" is the BEST elevator effect out there this year! They had to get a special ride permit to run it, and the owner installed extra equipment to ensure complete safety if the system were to fail. But it's brand new, that's highly unlikely! The "HELLEVATOR" scrambles your brain, then sends you off to another physical thrill for a double dose of action to jump start your journey!

Features an expanded graveyard scene, loud scary music and sounds throughout, a black hole, air blasts, and things flying!

Also, we really liked the flashing stained glass at the church and the old time portrait gallery which reveals the worst possible alter egos of some respectful looking people. Appearances can be deceiving; can you really trust your eyes?

The 2nd part of the haunt is the "CARNEVIL OF LOST SOULS in 3D." Put on your special glasses and get ready for an amazing journey where the walls AND floors are floating! This is the most extensive 3D we've seen so far in 2006! Don't forget to look back as you leave each room, the perspective change is dramatic!

ANOTHER IMPRESSIVE SHOW FROM ONE OF THE MAJOR MICHIGAN HAUNTS!

ROMULUS, MICHIGAN

REALM OF HAUNTED MINDS

Huron Turkey Farm, 18910 Merriman - corner of Merriman & Sibley

Entrance is on Sibley (734) 753-9187

ZIOPTIS 2006 rating 4 3/4 STARS

This is an excellent haunt that we have enjoyed before. And if you need a pumpkin, they've got tons of 'em. The ticket building is part of the show, be sure everybody in your group goes in!

Many tasty goodies are available too, we especially liked the caramel nut apples, cider and the cookies have fantastic designs on them!

The short walk from the ticket building to the haunt is decorated with sparkly pumpkins and rope lights

Inside the haunt you can't figure out which way to go and you hear evil cackling laughter ahead. Features a black hole with dots, swirls and mirrors at the end. And we really liked the see thru netting with fluorescent paint in the pathway, we haven't seen that before!

Good use of strobe lights, blacklights, water and we especially liked the Frankenstein room with a great surprise you're not expecting!

The haunt leads into a maze that is tricky, but has an observation tower too to help you see your predicament! Good luck, you're going to need it!

ROMULUS

PSYCHO'S HAUNTED HOUSE & HAYRIDE

15335 Wahrman Road (I-275 & Eureka Road South)

(734) 716-2579 or www.psychoshauntedhouse.com

ZIOPTIS 2006 rating 3 1/2 STARS

A BRAND NEW EFFORT WITH BIG PROMISE! This is the perfect setup: 10 acres of wooded land about one minute from the freeway! The crew here recently obtained this land, and they're off to a good start with this double attraction walk thru haunt and a hayride.

The walk thru haunt is rather short, but still packs a lot in. Features totally black passageways, lots of noises, monster scares, and we especially liked the bathtub scene and the evil laughing dude.

This hayride is the ONLY one we've ever been to where blankets are offered to comfort the victims! 2 carts are pulled by a tractor. You'll make some new "friends" who seemed intent on smelling their victims before their "attacks!"

Great woodsy feel and jet planes passing directly overhead give a strange juxtaposition you probably won't find anywhere else!

A WELCOME NEWCOMER TO THE HAUNT SCENE!

TAYLOR

THE SCREAMATORIUM

12021 Brest Road off of Telegraph

(734) 341-3379 or www.3haunts.com

ZIOPTIS 2006 rating 4 STARS

A NEW SPIN-OFF FROM THE SCREAM MACHINE CREW. A completely different approach from THE SCREAM MACHINE, but still a worthy effort.

Features a large taxidermy that's looking at you, lots of coffins, a clown room, red lasers, wild screaming sounds and lots of action!

We wish they could've had closed tops on passageways, but the inspectors usually get in the way of that. We liked the entrance to one room that has an obstacle you must deal with at the entrance and the weird bathroom.

TAYLOR

THE EXTREME SCREAM

7834 Telegraph, 1/2 mile south of I-94 in Forest City Plaza

(734) 637-1871

ZIOPTIS 2006 rating 4 3/4 STARS pending a second visit we hope to schedule.

THIS HAUNT MAY FORCE US TO CREATE A NEW CATEGORY, "BEST LACK OF LIGHTING!" Still has LOTS of black passageways and crazy entrances, but several key additions have been made this year. Unfortunately, one of them is a set of performers who've been WOWING patrons this year that couldn't perform that night 'cuz their band had a gig.

This haunt has strobe lights, fairly common at haunts. Most run the strobe at a high speed, creating the familiar stutter-action illusion. This haunt takes the opposite approach and uses SLOW strobe rates, MUCH more effective when done just right!

Lots of great monster interaction, and as usual the SOUND IS FABULOUS!! THIS IS A HARD CORE, HIGH INTENSITY HAUNT!

We truly regret being unable to pay a return visit here in 2006. The spooky feel you experience here is second to NONE!

TOLEDO, OHIO

CHAINSAW CREEK

Westfield Franklin Park, 5100 Monroe St. (Sylvania Ave. side)

(419) 343-7478 or www.chainsawcreek.com

ZIOPTIS 2006 rating 4 1/4 STARS

Features multiple buildings to go thru, each with a different theme. One of our favorite gags has a head (REAL) that pops up and confuses you while you're trying to figure out how to get to the next area.

STRONG 1st TIME EFFORT!

TOLEDO, OHIO

NAUTICAL NIGHTMARE

The Docks at International Park

(216) 402-6116, (800) DETROIT or www.nauticalnightmare.com

ZIOPTIS 2006 rating 5 STARS

THE DEAD PAST COMES ALIVE AGAIN IN A BOB-LO BOAT!

WARREN

DEADLY INTENTIONS

20900 Dequindre, one block north of 8 mile in Warren

(248) 797-0676 or www.deadlyintentionshaunt.com

ZIOPTIS 2006 rating 4 1/2 STARS

ANOTHER WILD SHOW FROM SLOBBER ENTERTAINMENT! Lots has changed here again, this haunt reinvents itself every year! Still has HIGH INTENSITY, IN YOUR FACE gags that will DEFINITELY grab your attention!

One of our favorites was the cage girl, and beware of people wearing blood stained clothes - how do you know where that blood came from? And WHAT does he want me to do?

Also features a WHITE HOLE effect. You'll see what we mean when you go, it's simple but excellent! Good sound, lots of desperate voices, an old time portrait gallery, and a unique live TV stunt. We really liked the wildly laughing girl.

There is quite a history to the building this haunt is in! See "Macomb Cty" for their archived review to check it out.

WARNING: CONTAINS A HARD CORE, HIGH INTENSITY GAG NEAR THE END. NOT FOR THE SQUEAMISH!!!

WARREN

FEAR FACTORY

At Produce Palace, 29300 Dequindre, just north of 12 mile, Warren

(586) 216-2291 or www.thefearfactory.com

ZIOPTIS 2006 rating 4 1/2 STARS

This reliably good haunt continues to evolve and thrusts you into AN EXCELLENT BLACK HOLE and other goodies before stranding you in the room to nowhere - and everywhere!

How's your sense of direction? Ours isn't too great to start with, so coming here makes it a SURE THING TO GET LOST! And as far as what the monsters will tell you, all I can say is take it with a grain of salt! Other than that, you're on your own here - GOOD LUCK, YOU'RE GONNA NEED IT!

Also, check out the cool FLASHING GOODIES available at the ticket booth - EYE CANDY DELUXE TO GO!

WATERFORD

PANIC AT MAYHEM MANOR

Oakland Yard Athletics, 5328 Highland Road (M-59)

(248) 821-8883

ZIOPTIS 2006 rating 4 1/4 STARS

A BOLD NEW ENTRY TO THE MICHIGAN HAUNT SCENE. This haunt has an unusual look to it. It looks like a rickety wooden building made out of pallets, and many of the interior walls are like that too.

We liked the witches and skeletons looking out of windows on the front facade and the dolls on the fence. Loud sound effects, good music, flexible floors and high intensity actors who were NOT told who we were!

We know sometimes the actors are told to go all out because we're there, and that's something you need to remember if you see a lame show at a haunt that we rated high! And PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE REMEMBER: The ratings DO NOT compare haunts against each other; they indicate how well each haunt accomplished what that set out to do.

People keep asking us which haunt is best. That's a loaded question because Michigan is the HAUNTED ATTRACTION CAPITAL OF THE WORLD and here, and ONLY here, we have the modern problem of overchoice with haunted houses! It's a nice problem to have if you ask me! Already this year we've seen all sorts of crazy new creative strange goodies that spring out of some eager imaginations that just won't quit!

The reviews are intended to give you an idea of the TYPE of haunts out there, so you can go to the kind you like best. Some people want big physical thrills, some want strange eye candy and tripped out concepts, and some want a woodsy hayride thru an apple orchard, a corn maze or forest walk. Michigan has 'em all, so take your pick and have a great time!

Other favorites from here were "The Scream" room, the cannibal meat market (look carefully at the plastic wrapped packages!), a Bart Simpson headstone and 2 wrecked cars (real, full size) hopelessly entangled in each other.

THIS NEW HAUNT DESERVES YOUR BUSINESS!

WYANDOTTE

MASSACRE AT THE MOVIEPLEX

Wyandotte Theatre, 1st & Elm  (734) 284-FUN1

ZIOPTIS 2006 rating 3 3/4 STARS pending a return visit - we saw them on their 2nd night - bugs still being worked out.

We are hoping to schedule another visit here. THEY BLEW US AWAY IN 2005 AND 2004, and won BEST MAKEUP AWARD 2005.

2006: We saw them on their 2nd night, and there were some timing errors we hope have been corrected. But still there WERE moments to remember - like the dude with pins around his lips who "wants to kiss" the prettiest girl in our group!

And we liked the takeoff on "The Ring" movie, but were disappointed when one of us said "It's all because of the ring!" and the actor failed to respond.

On the other hand, we really liked the grand finale you'll experience upstairs. What's the deal with the girl above? Is she the High Priestess of Weirdness or the Queen of the Monsters? She must be because of the powers she commands, watch out!

DON'T COUNT THIS ONE OUT! THE WYANDOTTE JAYCEES HAVE DELIVERED THE GOODS FOR EONS!

WESTLAND

WESTLAND JAYCEES HAUNTED HOUSE

36651 Ford Road between Wayne & Newburg in the Bailey Center parking lot  (734) 226-0400

ZIOPTIS 2006 rating 2 3/4 STARS

We will continue to follow this effort in the coming years to see how they evolve. We really admire the JAYCEES and what they have contributed thru the years to the haunt scene!

THEY TELL US THIS IS WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE.

YPSILANTI

NIGHT TERRORS

Wiard's Orchards 5565 Merritt Road Exit 183 off of I-94

(734) 482-7744 www.wiards.com

 ZIOPTIS 2006 rating 3 3/4 STARS

We have many fond memories of trips to Wiard's thru the years, and they must be doing something right because they've been there since the 1800's! Dipping donuts in apple butter became a tradition of ours many moons ago here!

Their haunt has continued to evolve, but we hadn't been here since 2000 and thought it was important to check it out again. This is a multi-attraction haunt, and we went for the full package with all 6 events ($35 for adults). Bang for the buck is becoming more of a factor with prices rising for haunt tickets, and this is the highest we've seen this year.

We went on the hayride first because it was starting to rain.  They did have some clever gags and monster attacks on the wagon. The one we liked best is where 3 monsters gang up on the most frail looking girl available and just stare in silence at her before erupting again into their crazy antics.  The barn that plunges you into darkness is quite effective.

The other attractions have crazy interesting gags too.

WE'VE BEEN TO 36 HAUNTS SO FAR AS OF OCTOBER 29, 2006.

WE WENT TO A TOTAL OF 41 HAUNTS IN 2006, ONE MORE THAN IN 2005!

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