ARMADA, MICHIGAN

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 2000 rating 4 1/2 STARS

ZIOPTIS 2004 rating 5 STARS

ZIOPTIS 2005 rating 5 STARS

THIS IS ALWAYS A GREAT HAYRIDE! Every year they find new ways of blowing us away, and this time it's REALLY SPECTACULAR! At times the noise produced ON the wagon exceeded that of the performance! AWESOME INTERACTION AND THEME CONTINUITY.

And what a nice treat to stop for a bit so the friendly witches can bring you donuts and FRESH CIDER SECOND TO  NONE ON THE PLANET EARTH! The 3 level haunted barn is also a MUST SEE with all kinds of wild stuff happening all over and a BLACK HOLE at the end!

BRING THE WHOLE FAMILY AND DON'T LEAVE WITHOUT GETTING SOME CARMEL / NUT APPLES, THE BEST ANYWHERE! (And the fudge is awesome too - MANY flavors to choose from!) And another favorite treat here: get the donuts AND APPLE BUTTER too, then dip the donuts in it - YUMMMMMMMM!

2000 review:

A solid entry from one of the established giants "in the field!" (get it?) Plus, they feed you cider and doughnuts during the hayride. A PERENNIAL FAVORITE!

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

ZIOPTIS 2002 rating 4 3/4 stars up from 4 1/2 in 2000

Another strong performance from a perennial favorite "in the field" - get it?

Excellent hayride narration (live, not recorded). We especially liked the high intensity car fire and the running semi-truck honking and flashing lights at you. Cute, friendly witches give you donuts and cider second to none!

Good tri-level barn with excellent black hole at end. BRING THE WHOLE FAMILY TO THIS ONE, AND BUY SOME VANILLA PEANUT-CRUNCH FUDGE (or 15 other flavors) AND NUT COVERED CARMEL APPLES FROM THEIR STORE AFTERWARDS - YUM!!!

ZIOPTIS 2004 rating 5 STARS

Even more gags and an improved hayride send this one over the top! If you haven't been here, you owe it to yourself to CHECK THIS OUT!

ZIOPTIS 2005 rating 5 STARS!

THIS IS A TRULY SPECIAL PLACE! What an awesome atmosphere for a haunt, and they've added so many extra touches to the grounds as well as the hayride and barn again!  Also features an excellent food concession stand - we loved the corn on the cob and nachos.

Their trademark witch on the tall pole is still intact; the place would feel lonely without her! A tall monster dude wanders around seeking new companions to spook, or to take pictures with as we saw some doing. Another good photo opportunity is with a strange creature made primarily of a circular bale of hay.

We went on the hayride first. Excellent narration / story line delivered by girl at front of cart. Tons of monster action throughout, various explosions including flash pots (usually you only see those at rock concerts!), spooky stuff shooting out at you, a real horse, and we really liked the new "Prisoner Area" scene using circular bales of hay.

They still stop about 1/2 way thru so the friendly witches can serve you donuts & cider - YUM! At the end of the hayride we were serenaded by 3 animatronics musicians in a stagecoach playing the theme to the TV show "Bewitched."

The 3 Level Haunted Barn continues to evolve, but the best from the past is still intact. One particularly strange dude that doesn't look like he could possibly be alive screeched back at us - wow, he IS real after all! And we really liked the real, live face that appears to you in a highly unique manner and the scene near the end with the weird mama (on the left of display) & daughter wearing her Easter bonnet. Also has a BLACK HOLE at the end.

One last little touch to mention: ALL the monsters / ghouls in the barn had FRESH MINTY BREATH! They have attended to EVERY DETAIL HERE - A FIRST CLASS PRODUCTION!

THOUSANDS ATTEND HERE EVERY YEAR! YOU SHOULD TOO, EVEN IF YOU WENT LAST YEAR IN 2004. WAY COOL!!

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 2004 RATING 4 1/2 STARS

This was our last haunt for 2004 and it was a very satisfying end to a great season! Cool 3-D, black passageways and great spooky noises. Are we on the moon? There's aliens here that seem like they can fly - watch out! And what happened to this one guy's body and voice? You'll KNOW when you get to this guy we're talking about!

Good ambiance with chamo-netting, Tubular Bells music, surprises from unexpected places, and we really liked the desperate screaming girl near the end - how can she still be alive with only half a torso?!! They have a hayride too, but it was cold and starting to rain when we arrived - we hope to check it out in 2005!

TIMING CONSTRAINTS PREVENTED US FROM REVIEWING THIS LAST SATURDAY (OCTOBER 15, 2005). WE HOPE TO RESCHEDULE THEM IF POSSIBLE

CLINTON TOWNSHIP, MICHIGAN

NIGHTCRAWLERS at CJ BARRYMORE'S

21750 Hall Road 2 miles west of I-94

(586) 469-2800 ext. 666 or www.cjbarrymores.com

ZIOPTIS 2003 rating 4 STARS

Lots of twists and turns, gravel floor and chamo-netting on top of dark passageways. Good sound system usage, but we didn't notice the pro sub-woofers we loved in 2001. Great makeup on tall dude and sexy young vixen girls. Good monster interaction and an exit that's genuinely difficult to find. We just barely missed this one last year so made a point of making it one of our first this year - glad we did! YOU'LL HAVE BIG FUN AT THIS ONE!

ZIOPTIS 2004 rating 5 STARS

Awesome ambience level at this haunt! Great sound systems - we love those pro subwoofers and the stormy sounds! A gravel floor gives way to more solid footing thru many paths you will take here. Tons of monster interaction, jumping out everywhere!

Features an excellent black hole, a butcher shop and medical tables with highly questionable activities. We especially liked the bridge over troubled water and the sexy vixen girls who isolated me from my partner and then...well, you'll just have to go yourself to see what happens! My partners' only complaint was "hey, where are the scantily clad monster MEN?!" And then, when you think it's all over, you CAN'T GET OUT of the last section which turns out to be a very confusing maze!

THIS HAUNT HAS HAD A REPUTATION FOR CRANKING IT A NOTCH OR 2 IN THE HOME STRETCH! AWESOME SHOW!

ZIOPTIS 2001 rating 4 ¾ stars

Primo sound system (love those pro sub-woofers!) and interaction. This was our first time here but certainly not our last! Excellent makeup throughout and we especially liked the sexy young vixen girls! Some houses get "burned out" late in the season, but we understand this house dramatically IMPROVED in the final stretch of the 2001 season.

This underscores a point we'd like to reiterate: performances CAN and DO vary from week to week, day to day, and sometimes even hour to hour! Because of this, ratings are intended as general guidelines only. Timing is often critical to a successful performance. Sometimes actors and even automated props miss their cues and it can make a world of difference!

ZIOPTIS 2003 rating 4 STARS

Lots of twists and turns, gravel floor and chamo-netting on top of dark passageways. Good sound system usage, but we didn't notice the pro sub-woofers we loved in 2001. Great makeup on tall dude and the sexy young vixen girls.

Good monster interaction and an exit that's genuinely difficult to find. We just barely missed this one last year so made a point of making it one of our first this year - glad we did! YOU'LL HAVE BIG FUN AT THIS ONE!

WICKED AT LASERS EDGE

near the Star Gratiot Theater, northwest corner of 15 Mile & Gratiot, Clinton Twp., MI 48035 (586) 791-5560 or www.laseredge-usa.com

ZIOPTIS 2004 rating 4 3/4 STARS

THIS IS A HIGH INTENSITY HAUNT, A TOTAL GAS! First we heard Rob Zombie rock music playing thru a top-notch sound system, then the mood does an about face when you enter the haunt! Who would have guessed there's a FARM inside this high tech place?

You'll start out there safely enough, but as the thunderstorm sets in so does a lot of trouble you'll have with some extremely questionable characters as you CRAWL AND PAW YOUR WAY THRU! Great black hallways, weird floors, shrinking rooms and flying weirdness!

Oh, one last thing I almost forgot: there's a "farm" inside this haunt, but there's also a PRISON FOR VIOLENT CRIMINALS HERE! I just HOPE the cell is secure...

ZIOPTIS 2002 rating 4 1/4 stars, up from 3 3/4 in 2001

Doctor VanWicked's Office of Mayhem - cool video at start explains gruesome experiments occurring here. We especially liked the awesome makeup instead of masks and the guy (real!) who flies across the ceiling. Very high intensity level - not for the faint of heart or young children!

ZIOPTIS 2003 rating 4 1/2 stars

NOT for young children! Lots of truly dark passageways and loud rock music reverberating throughout. Clever entrance doors to both sections of haunt, a surprise swishy floor, and we especially liked the 3 buckets you're given a choice of lifting. We DARE you to lift the left bucket!

Better than average scare factor - this haunt has ALWAYS delivered the goods in that department, and this year is no exception. We saw one of their first shows for the season.

QUIRKY CREATIVITY AND HIGH INTENSITY LEVEL!!! THESE GUYS ALWAYS PUT ON A WILD SHOW - WE HOPE TO GO THIS YEAR!

This haunt has a full page ad in the "SCREAM SEEKER" in 2004, a new "GO TO GUIDE FOR HAUNTED ATTRACTIONS & EVERYTHING HALLOWEEN" we picked up at a local Subway. THE DETROIT HAUNT SCENE IS SO BIG, ONE NEWSPAPER WASN'T ENOUGH!

NOT OPERATING IN 2005

.FRASER

THE HAUNTED FUNERAL HOME & THE FRIGHT ZONE

Steffen's Park on 14 Mile Road, east of Garfield Road

(586) 405-9714  open Thursday thru Sunday 7:30 pm - Midnight

From their ad: "2 HAUNTED HOUSES - 1 LOCATION...ONE OF MICHIGAN'S LARGEST OUTDOOR HAUNTED HOUSES. MANY LEVELS OF FEAR TO CHALLENGE THE BRAVEST OF SOULS. Open rain or shine. DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?"

We hope to check this out in 2005, message left on their voice mail.

LENOX TOWNSHIP, MICHIGAN

HAUNTED FARM OF TERROR

28405 26 Mile Road 48048 (586) 615-0475

ZIOPTIS 2004 rating 4 1/2 stars

It's just their 2^nd year, and things here are going great! The haunt has 2 parts - the haunted house & a hayride. But there's a lot more here too, all in a fantastic outdoorsy farm feel run by a family. There's tasty vittles (try the taco in a bag), flashing thingies for sale, and scary movies on a big screen in the bonfire area.

We went thru the house first. Good monster interaction, a jungle feeling 3-D display, some rather unique grim reapers and a short but excellent corn stalk maze at the end.

The hayride features live narration of a tale about "Grand Pappy Earl" who rules over this farm with a disturbed past, and an even more terrifying present! We really like his collection of body parts, the huge coffins, the animatronics skeletons, and the conspicuous arrival of some local "officials" you WON'T BE ABLE TO IGNORE! We talked with the leader here, and there are BIG PLANS FOR EXPANSION IN 2005 - WE WILL DEFINITELY VISIT AGAIN.

MOUNT CLEMENS, MICHIGAN

FEAR FACTORY

37 North River Road

Mount Clemens, MI 48043

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

Located at the Gibraltar Trade Center North.

CASTLE OF THE DEAD

at Gibraltar Trade Center, 237 North River Road (I-94 exit 237)

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

ZIOPTIS 2005 rating 5 STARS

AN OLD FRIEND IS BACK WITH A NEW NAME AND A GREAT HAUNT!

The structures facade features an amazing, hideous gargoyle that screeches from the top! Then, after the surprise entrance, MANY strange sights and sounds await you. One that we really liked was the WHITE HOLE. Nope, NOT A BLACK hole, it's WHITE! We won't describe it in detail here, but you'll like it!

Lots of monsters, story lines, stuff popping out, and we really liked the scene with 2 cute girls, one of whom delivers capital punishment to the other - very realistic and gory!

Also features strange flooring, black hallways, air blasts and sudden windy conditions. Great sound and lighting throughout!

Our favorite monster was the tall dude - wait until you hear his "voice!" AWESOME, DUDE!

THIS IS A LONG HAUNT WITH LOTS AND LOTS TO OFFER!

2014 - HAUNT IS GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN!

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.

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.

ROMEO, MICHIGAN

HOWLING HAUNTED HAYRIDES

On Mound Road between 29 & 30 Mile Roads on east side

(586) 752-6328 or (586) 752-0009

ZIOPTIS 2004 rating 4 1/2 STARS

WHERE DID THE DRIVER GET HIS DRIVERS LICENSE? First, he drives around in circles, then later he insists on STANDING while driving - LOOK MA, NO HANDS!!! But somehow you still stay on course and collide with a strange destiny complete with horses, a hot-rod from Hell, aliens and Children of the Corn! And that's just for starters - lots more gags and weirdness we won't give away, except we WILL say that the driver gets his just rewards when he gets SERIOUSLY KILLED BY THE RESIDENT KRAZY KLOWN!

After the hayride you'll walk thru cornfields, woods and a maze before you get to the barn - short but sweet! We especially liked a certain huge something that suddenly comes to life! ALSO FEATURES FREE DELICIOUS, SUPER FRESH APPLE CIDER AND A BONFIRE TO WARM YOUR SOUL AND TOOTSIES!

ZIOPTIS 2005 rating 4 1/2 STARS

MILLER'S BIG RED HAUNTED HAYRIDE

4900 32 Mile Road between Rochester Road & Van Dyke. 3 1/2 miles west of Van Dyke, 3 1/2 miles east of Rochester Road, Romeo (810) 752-FEAR (3327) www.millers-bigred.com $13 ZIOPTIS 2000 rating 2 3/4 stars FOR THE HOUSE ONLY. It rained during our visit so there was no hayride. DON'T COUNT THIS ONE OUT!

MILLER'S BIG RED CLOSED IN 2013 AFTER 22 YEARS.

SALEMS GATE

ZIOPTIS 2000 rating 2 1/2 STARS for the house only. There was a hayride too, but it rained during our visit. We seem to have caught them on an "off" night.

 NOT OPERATING IN 2002

THIS HAUNT WAS BACK FOR 2004 AT THE ADDRESS BELOW:

278 Croswell Road, 4 miles west of Lexington, 1 mile north of M-90 (810) 679-3457 $8 / $5

SHOW IS ON FOR 2005 - WE HOPE TO GO!

ROSEVILLE, MICHIGAN

WICKED

At Macomb Mall, Masonic & 13 Mile Road

(586) 855-0146 or www.wickedhh.com

NO LONGER OPEN - archival interest only:

ZIOPTIS 2005 rating 4 3/4 stars

HIGH INTENSITY HAUNT REVAMPED BY A FAMILIAR NAME IN THE HAUNT SCENE!

If you remember "PSYCHO ASYLUM" that we raved about in past years, you'll find some amazing similarities between them and this year's WICKED. That's because the structure is the same! BUT, many changes have been made too, with even more plans for expansion in 2006.

The "Mind Spinner" that dumps you right into a BLACK HOLE is still intact - AWESOME! The audio is drastically different though this time. The custom pitch bended taunting is gone, and a mix of live monster screeching and EXTREMELY LOUD Rob Zombie rock music will assault you instead! Unfortunately, the sound system produced audible distortion. Last year WICKED was at Lasers Edge, and the audio WAS loud but not distorted and had much deeper bass. (We went back to our notes in 2004 to confirm this)

Still has excellent black passageways, padded with thick plush carpeting for your comfort! And you'll NEED comforting from the insane monsters screaming at you for all kinds of silly reasons!

IF YOU LIKE IT REALLY LOUD AND REALLY CRAZY, THIS IS FOR YOU!

Please remember, the ratings DO NOT compare one haunt to another. Rather, they indicate HOW WELL a haunt accomplished what they set out to do. If you like loud, in-your-face insanity, WICKED IS FOR YOU! If you prefer eye candy and intricate details galore, we suggest others such as THE REALM OF DARKNESS in Pontiac or THE SCREAM MACHINE in Taylor. It depends on what you like!

STERLING HEIGHTS, MICHIGAN

CHAMBERS OF HORROR Freedom Hill (586) 268-5100 $16/$13 ZIOPTIS 2000 rating 4 stars Featured cool 3-D displays. New name for 2001 is HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR, NO RATING AVAILABLE yet. But it looks like they've expanded this year, and I believe it's a new operator this year - HIGH HOPES FOR THIS ONE!

NOT OPEN IN 2002, 2004 or 2005

SPOOKTACULAR at FREEDOM HILL, 14900 Metropolitan Parkway, Sterling Heights

(586) 268-5100 or www.freedomhill.net $14 / $12

ZIOPTIS 2003 rating 3 3/4 STARS

Cool waiting area with tables and high speed strobes all synchronized together. Lots of statues, and we liked the hanging bat-humans, 3-D displays and the black hole with better than average spinning motion sensation. RECOMMENDED!

THIS ONE SEEMS TO BE A GONER (2005).

MR. R'S CARNIVAL OF TERROR

14 Mile & Van Dyke (behind Joe's Crab Shack), Sterling Heights no phone

ZIOPTIS 2003 rating 3 STARS

This is a 1^st time effort with some clever twists but some problems too. The tops are open in the dark passageways so there's not much mystery there. But we did like the sick circus music that keeps changing keys, the super tall carnival cronies, and the multi-colored, small dot black hole. A GOOD FIRST EFFORT FROM A WELCOME NEWCOMER THAT SHOWS LOTS OF PROMISE!

NOT OPERATING IN 2004 OR 2005 - IT LOOKS LIKE THIS WAS A "ONE HIT WONDER!"

UTICA, MICHIGAN

HAUNTED FOREST – DETROIT SPORTSMENS CONGRESS

49800 Dequindre, Utica, MI 48317

(586) 739-3500

NOT IN THE FEAR FINDER IN 2003, BUT IS IN 2004.

Unfortunately, we didn't make it to this last year but will try this year!

TERRORTOWN

At Four Bears Water Park 3000 Auburn Road, Utica (586) 739-5860 or 739-5863 $12/$10 NOT IN THE FEAR FINDER. ZIOPTIS 1999 rating 4 STARS, ZIOPTIS 2001 rating 3 1/2 STARS. This was the house that got in trouble for being too risqué, so they've dropped that part. Very good goriness and interaction - recommended!

SHOW IS ON FOR 2002!

NOT OPEN IN 2003 - 2006

WARREN, MICHIGAN

DEADLY INTENTIONS

20900 Dequindre, one block north of 8 mile in Warren (248) 797-0676 or www.deadlyintentionshaunt.com

ZIOPTIS 2003 rating 4 3/4 STARS

WHAT A GREAT FIRST TIME OUT FOR THIS NEW HAUNT FROM SLOBBER ENTERTAINMENT - LOVE THAT NAME! LOTS of action throughout from some over the top actors, and we all know that actors can make or break a show! There were several "sideways" rooms, one featuring fluorescent 2 by 4s that we really liked. And what's the deal with the girl in striped clothing crawling UP the striped room? The ONLY way you'll make it thru is BELOW HER!

Good loud spooky music, some crawling, shrinking hallways, electrical sparking in ceiling, body parts thrown around and then used as "weapons." And we really liked the Zombie girl in the corner, the room you can't exit until THEY want you to, and the strobe room with the zebra patterns. AN AWESOME FIRST TIME HAUNT!

ZIOPTIS 2004 rating 4 3/4 STARS

A COMPLETELY NEW show in 2004 - 2003 was their first time and they totally floored us then too! OVER THE TOP ACTORS set this haunt apart from many others that can only WISH they could deliver the intensity this haunt does!

You can put on a KILLER haunt without hundreds of thousands of dollars IF you've got a creative imagination, a great building that's yours to do what you like with, and MOST OF ALL, GREAT ACTORS who CREATE EXPERIENCES YOU CAN'T FORGET! Some of our favorite characters were FunnyBones, Rune, Slobber and Sledge. And, speaking of having a great building, how about one that REALLY HAS a tragic history? From their magazine:

"IF YOU THINK THAT YOU ARE STANDING OUTSIDE AN OLD FLEA MARKET WAITING TO ENTER ANOTHER ORDINARY HAUNTED HOUSE, YOU WOULD BE DEAD WRONG! There have been stories told throughout the years about the property you now stand upon.

The story begins in 1927. At that time the land was owned by Franklin...lived a simple farmer's life with his wife Beatrice and their 2 children...the next morning Franklin's older brother, who came over every morning to share a pot of coffee and to catch up on the previous day's events, discovered a gruesome scene. His sister-in-law, niece and nephew were dismembered and their limbs lay scattered in several rooms of the house. He searched for his brother and finally found Franklin hanging by the neck from the rafters of the old barn.

No one would ever understand why Franklin decided to slaughter his entire family before finally taking his own life. Within weeks of this tragedy, the farmhouse and barn were demolished.

The land sat vacant until 1958 when a wealthy businessman purchased the land...a bright future planned for the location of his new grocery market. Construction started in the Fall of 1959. On Friday September 13^th a construction worker tripped over a hammer and fell from a platform to his death. Less than two weeks later, a worker was pinned under a bulldozer, crushing his spine and leaving him paralyzed.

On October 30^th, a portion of the building's roof caved in and killed 14 construction workers. Construction was completed in July of 1962 without any further mishaps. The market operated for two years before Ian died suddenly at the age of 37.

The market closed and remained that way until June 6, 1966 when the current owners purchased the property and opened the County Line Flea Market. On the Grand Opening weekend a fire broke out on the main floor blocking all the front exits of the building.

People ran for their lives to the back warehouse. Smoke and heat confused and injured people along the way. When they finally reached the emergency exits of the warehouse they discovered that the doors were padlocked and they had no way out.

In this very warehouse, on that day, 141 people lost their lives. Before even knowing the history of this property, the owners of Deadly Intentions were drawn to this location. It simply had a feel about it. You might say that it was calling to them. It was determined that this was the perfect location for Michigan's newest haunted house. The doors opened on October 1^st 2003 with no fatalities. However, one woman was rushed away by ambulance complaining of chest pains and loss of breath.

Was this a warning? It was only after the conclusion of the haunted house that they researched the history of the location. Will you fall prey to the evil that has cursed this land for nearly a century?

It is quite an eerie coincidence that our guarantee to you is our only goal is to scare you to death. We are sure you will enjoy your visit to Deadly Intentions. That is assuming you survive your journey through our display of horror and the macabre." History compiled by Howard Erlich.

WOW! WHAT A STORY AND WHAT A KILLER HAUNT - OH, SORRY, MAYBE I SHOULD USE A DIFFERENT WORD CONSIDERING WHAT HAS HAPPENED HERE!! THIS IS OUR HIGHEST RATED NEW HAUNT!

ZIOPTIS 2005 rating  4 3/4 STARS

2005: This haunt has COMPLETELY RE-INVENTED ITSELF AGAIN and the results are impressive! Lots of new gags, good music, questionable things hanging many places, a graphic bathroom scene we really liked, and WHAT IS THAT they're trying to feed you? OVER THE TOP ACTORS help set this haunt apart from the multitude of others! One of our favorites is "Melvin" who greeted us with his beanie-cap and quirky behavior while in line. Lots of action, monsters eating things and so much more!

They have an annual publication "Deadly Messenger" that's quite interesting. It details the tragic history of the land and building the haunt occupies. We reprinted parts of it in our 2004 review of this haunt (see Macomb Cty).

A HIGH POWER BLAST TO YOUR SENSES - CHECK IT OUT!

DR. PHOBIA'S HAUNTED HOUSE

Inside Universal Mall next to the movies

(586) 582-9019 or www.drphobias.com

ZIOPTIS 2005 rating 3 3/4 STARS

Crazy carnival barkers on the street beckoned us to come here, who can possibly resist an allure like that? Why is the guy taking tickets dressed like a girl? His gruff manor seems more like a bouncer than a pansy; better not ask him about it! We got lost almost immediately in here!

Good sound, clever water usage, taunting from above, and we really liked the Krazy Klown room.

THIS HAUNT IS OPEN YEAR ROUND!

FEAR FACTORY

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

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

ZIOPTIS 2004 rating 4 1/4 STARS

If you are afraid of getting lost, DON'T GO HERE! YOU WILL GET LOST! It takes quite awhile to go thru this haunt, and many strange things await you, EAGERLY!

Good monster interaction, lots of misdirection, industrial sounding spooky sounds, and we really liked the hanging body room! BETTER THAN AVERAGE SCARE FACTOR

ZIOPTIS 2005 rating 4 1/2 STARS

2005: WE REALLY LIKED THIS IN 2004, AND THEY DID NOT DISAPPOINT US IN 2005! You keep getting lost here after you leave the "safety" of the first room, questionable at best because of the casket occupant you are COMMANDED to touch! At most haunts it's "hands off," but not here (just for the 1st room)! Good music, fog in mazes, hanging body room and a BLACK HOLE near the end.

HOUSE OF NIGHTMARES

St. Leonards Church 14057 E. 9 mile between Schoenherr & Gratiot, Warren $13/$7 ZIOPTIS 1999 & 2000 rating 5 STARS ZIOPTIS 2001 rating 3 STARS

AFTER 22 SUCCESSFUL YEARS, THIS ONE HAS FINALLY BEEN LAID TO REST...R.I.P.!!! THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES!

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, MICHIGAN

TERROR ZONE

at Johnny Appleseed's Cider Mill, 6001 26 Mile Road between Mound & Van Dyke (586) 677-6666 or (586) 677-9988 ZIOPTIS 2000 rating 4 stars ZIOPTIS 2002 rating 4 stars Please bring canned food or dry goods for their food drive. COOL HOUSE AND A FOREST WALK TOO!

HAUNTED TERROR ZONE

at Johnny Appleseed Cider Mill on 26 Mile between Mound & Van Dyke, Washington Township (586) 677-6666

ZIOPTIS 2004 rating 4 3/4 STARS

AMAZING OLD, OLD FEEL HAUNT WITH MODERN TRICKS TOO! The experience starts waiting in line - monsters were banging on the doors and then suddenly storm out towards the forest that you know awaits you later! And we really liked the ticket girl with her long white outfit and excellent makeup.

The 1st part of the haunt thrusts you into the 18th century. It seems you could be on an old ship - great ambience and ominous music in minor keys. But you'll see modern illusions and encounter funny pathway oddities and a shrinking room too - this haunt delivers the goods!

Then it's off to the forest and a 3-D maze with straw. Wood chips give a cushioned but firm walking surface. There was one particularly pathetic monster that captured our hearts with his desperate pleas to know "WHY?!" Also features interesting strobe lit scenery, a cool crash and what's the deal with the 1/2 alien being? You'll have to GO HERE to find that out, and many other strange occurrences!

ZIOPTIS 2005 rating 5 STARS

The show stars before you even get in at this haunt! Listen for a tribal drum beat, then.....well, you'll just have to go here to see what happens next!

The Haunted House has an AMAZING OLD FEEL to it. Great sound, lighting and interaction! The exit leads to the Forest Walk & Graveyard of Doom and mazes, all very effective.

Optional activities include Haunted Putt-Putt, Bumper Boats and a chance to "Get Your Butt Fried" in an electric chair!

THIS IS THEIR LAST YEAR HERE - THE LAND HAS BEEN SOLD AND WILL BE A STRIP MALL. WHAT A SHAME, BUT I GUESS YOU CAN'T STAND IN THE WAY OF PROGRESS. GO WHILE YOU CAN!!!