WIXOM
DARK LEGACY
2133 Wixom Road, Wixom, MI 48393
(800) 219-0294 or www.MichigansBestHaunt.com
This is the new TRIPLE ATTRACTION from Austin Denys, now officially the "new kid on the block"!
Based on their outrageous amount of research and development, this should be A MONSTER!
(NOT IN OPERATION AS OF 2016)
ROYAL OAK
ZOO BOO at THE DETROIT ZOO
8450 North 10 Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI 48067
www.detroitzoo.org/events/zoo-boo or (248) 641-5717
ROCHESTER, MICHIGAN
DEMENTIA AT HAMPTON
2600 Club Drive, Rochester Hills, MI 48307
www.dementiaathampton.com
NEW FOR 2010!
Not open in 2014 or 2015.
CLARKSTON
HAUNTED FOUNTAINS
6060 Maybee Road, Clarkston, MI 48346
At Fountains Golf & Banquet
(248) 625-3731 or www.fountainsgolf.com
2009 is their 2nd year. We went in 2008 and gave it the thumbs up.
UNKNOWN STATUS FOR 2014 & 2015.
DAVISBURG, MICHIGAN
HOUSE OF HORRORS
Oakland County Fairgrounds, 12451 Andersonville Road
(248) 634-0444 or www.davisburgrotary.org
ZIOPTIS 2005 rating 4 1/2 STARS
AN IMPRESSIVE NEWCOMER - THIS IS THEIR 2nd YEAR. Driving here reminded us a lot of going to Adrian for The Haunting - the town looks similar and it's in a county fairground building just like The Haunting. THIS IS A HIGH QUALITY HAUNT - LOTS OF GREAT VISUALS AND GAGS!!
(NOT IN OPERATION)
FARMINGTON, MICHIGAN
HAUNTED WINERY
31505 Grand River, just west of Orchard Lake Road
(248) 477-8833
ZIOPTIS 2005 rating 4 1/4 stars
FOLLOW THE GIANT SMOKESTACK TO A QUALITY HAUNT STEEPED IN HISTORY!
Excellent sound effects, music and "flotation" techniques impressed us here. And we really like electronic weird thingies, and they've got 'em! Good surprises from monsters and special props. Also features an excellent star room, nice and dark but glowing just right!
The whole place has an old feel to it because the building itself is 120 years old! And on Grand River we notice MANY scarecrows and assorted spooky creatures attached to the street light poles - what a nice local nod to the season!
It's been a long time since we came here last, but we sure liked what we saw. We'll be sure to go again in 2006!
WAS NOT OPEN IN 2013, BACK IN ACTION FOR 2015!
HIGHLAND
BONADEO FARMS HAUNTED HOUSE & CORN MAZE
1215 White Lake Road
Highland Township, MI 48356
(248) 787-4553 or www.BonadeoFarms.com
MADISON HEIGHTS, MICHIGAN
MUTILATION MANSION THE RESURRECTION (was called HORROR HOSPITAL in 2000) Civic Center Park on 13 Mile Road one block west of John R. (248) 721-5500 or mhjaycees.org $9
ZIOPTIS 2000 rating 3 1/4 STARS
This Jaycees effort first hit the scene in 1966, so they've had a little while to work on it!
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN...ONE OF THE VERY FIRST HAUNTS IN THE DETROIT MARKET!
NOVI, MICHIGAN
NOX YEAR TWO - THE BLASPHEMOUS DAMNED
Novi Road and Novi Expo Center Drive behind Big Boy restaurant
www.noxdark.com
ZIOPTIS 2005 rating 4 3/4 STARS
WE JUST WENT HERE AGAIN AND IT WAS EVEN BETTER! Therefore, we raised their rating to 4 3/4 STARS. Remember, the ratings are FOR THE SHOW WE SAW. Performances can and DO vary from night to night and even hour to hour!
THIS STRONG, YOUNG HAUNT CONTINUES TO EVOLVE! 2004 was their first year, and we were impressed! The first part is a 3-D journey with some really different twists!
Still features the best polka dot room we've seen, another really special room, and LOTS of actors. Our favorite is the one who terrorizes all over using a most unique form of transportation! Free "Monster Drink" at the end with a message attached to it that may surprise you!
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN!
OXFORD, MICHIGAN
MIDNIGHT MUTILATION - UPLAND HILLS FARMS
481 Lake George Road, Oxford, MI 48370 (248) 628-1611 $10 every Friday & Saturday in October 8 pm - Midnight ZIOPTIS 2002 rating 2 stars
2002: This is a first time effort and we saw their VERY FIRST SHOW EVER!
They did have one cool prop, a very tall black plastic wrap creature dude with red glowing eyes near the beginning. But they could have used more gags later in the ride, which was QUITE bumpy! Chain saw SOUND EFFECTS thru small speakers instead of the real thing. BUT, THERE ARE SOME BIG POSITIVE FACTORS TOO: the terrain is ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL...if you're a nature lover you should definitely go! THIS HAS AMAZING POTENTIAL...IT'S THEIR VERY FIRST TIME...EVERYONE HAS TO START SOMEWHERE! DON'T COUNT THIS ONE OUT...We WILL be checking this out again!
CLOSED IN 2003.
PONTIAC, MICHIGAN
THE REALM OF DARKNESS
79 South Glenwood (248) 338-0029 or www.therealmofdarknesshaunt.com
ZIOPTIS 2001 AND 2002 rating 5 STARS!!!
2001: A brand new display from one of the established giants in the industry. Astonishing attention to detail and absolutely the most ornate decor we've seen since Maxworld in the 1980's. Also has A MUST SEE 3-D DISPLAY THAT WILL KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF!
2002: They started preparations for this on March 5th - AND IT SHOWS! Once again, amazing attention to detail. 3-D displays are gone - in their place are some REALLY WILD INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCES.
Choose wisely enough, and you may get to meet THE WIZARD, possibly even winning A THOUSAND BUCKS, supplied by a radio station for legal reasons.
By the way, any stories you may hear of haunted houses themselves giving out big cash prizes are JUST Urban Legends! They CAN NOT legally do it, that's why this house got a radio station to supply the prizes - PRETTY CLEVER I'D SAY!
Last year's review mentioned they had the most ornate decor we've seen since the legendary MAXWORLD in the 80's, and that is still true. These operators had never seen or even heard of MAXWORLD, and yet, amazingly enough, they have now taken on some of the cool interactive elements that defined them!
SUPERIOR INTERACTION, GREAT LIGHTING, GREAT SOUND, AWESOME PRESENTATION... THE CLASSIEST SHOW IN TOWN WE'VE SEEN YET!!! COOL TV ADS TOO.
ZIOPTIS 2003 rating 5 STARS!
2003: Even better than last year, we didn't think that was possible! This haunt requires many choices on your part, a truly interactive experience. If you choose wisely enough, you may get to visit the wizard himself and win prizes.
The only advice we can give is pay attention and DON'T CHICKEN OUT! FANTASTIC LIGHTING AND SOUND THROUGHOUT AND THE MOST ORNATE DECOR WE'VE SEEN AT ANY HAUNT!! The show producer here has been at it for well over 20 years and it shows!
ZIOPTIS 2004 rating 5 STARS+!!
2004: Remember in the movie "This Is Spinal Tap" when the dude says something about "most amps have a scale of 1 to 10, but these amps go to Eleven!"? Well, that's how we feel about this haunt! On a scale of 1-5, THESE GUYS ARE A SIX!!!
How do you re-invent a haunt this big? You'd have to ask the wizard, but you must be wise and cunning to accomplish that here! Pay attention, or at least TRY to (sensory overload /deprivation may make this difficult), because you WILL be quizzed later! TONS OF NEW GAGS AND SETTINGS, SUPERIOR SOUND & LIGHTING THROUGHOUT!
We really liked the grated platform to walk on in the Black Hole so you can see the effect BELOW you too (most have a solid surface), the giant creatures, and the feeling of stepping into the past, present & future!
We could go on and on and on trying to describe all the cool stuff here, but mere descriptions CAN NOT possibly do them justice - YOU MUST SEE THIS FOR YOURSELF to understand how remarkably expansive this amazing haunt is!
AND THAT'S NOT ALL! The owner / operator of this haunt is probably the NICEST PERSON IN THE INDUSTRY! Check this out: she ran "The House of Nightmares" in Warren for 22 years -many were 5 STAR performances! During this period, she gave MASSIVE DONATIONS to the Warren / Center Line Schools. Talk about giving back to the community!
She is still "giving back," but in a new, unexpected way to most peoples' thinking. She has rightfully obtained such a reputation in the industry as an innovator, leader, and genuinely nice person that other hopeful haunt operators actually come to her for advice!
Not only does she willing give it, in many instances she has gone a BIG STEP FARTHER - she has actually sent HER WORKERS to OTHER HAUNTS TO HELP THEM PREPARE!! What other sector of the business world can you name where the leader HELPS THE COMPETITION??? We truly admire this spirit of comradery! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!
ZIOPTIS 2005 rating 5 STARS!!!
2005: THE "QUEEN OF THE SCENE" DELIVERS THE GOODS BIG TIME! YOU WON'T BELIEVE ALL YOU'LL SEE HERE - NOW WITH A TOTALLY UNIQUE 3-D DISPLAY TOO. UNBELIEVABLE AMBIENCE, AWESOME SOUND, LIGHTS, INTERACTION, GIANT MONSTERS, INTRICATE DETAILS AND SO MUCH MORE!
A new dimension awaits you here. Actually, it's several of them! The all new 3-D Maze takes 3-D to a new level of startling realism. Many OBJECTS as well as the walls are painted with fluorescent paint. We haven't seen that anywhere else!
The Haunted House part combines so many different settings and experiences you will leave with sensory overload and a sense of wonderment, especially if you are clever and wise enough to meet the wizard!
We were able to meet with the wizard on our visit and he bewildered us with his magic and strange but profound utterances! Choose wisely the keeper of the key for your group. Your fate may depend on it!
Unbelievable variety of scenes, atmospheres and lots of highly intricate details! We plan to go again this year to attempt to absorb it all!
IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THIS YET, YOU OWE IT TO YOURSELF TO GO! AND IF YOU HAVE BEEN HERE, YOU KNOW WHAT KIND OF SPECIAL EXPERIENCES HAVE AWAITED YOU HERE. SO MUCH HAS CHANGED THAT YOU SHOULD GO TOO!
ZIOPTIS 2006 rating 5 STARS
2006: 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. 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!
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!
EREBUS
18 South Perry corner of Water Street & South Perry
(248) 332-7884 or www.hauntedpontiac.com
 ZIOPTIS 2000 rating 2 1/2 STARS
 ZIOPTIS 2001 rating 4 1/2 STARS
 ZIOPTIS 2002 rating 4 1/2 STARS
 ZIOPTIS 2003 rating 5 STARS
ZIOPTIS 2004 rating 5 STARS
ZIOPTIS 2005 rating 5 STARS
ZIOPTIS 2006 rating 5 STARS
2001: Never before have we seen a house raise their rating so much, so fast! After a slow start in 2000, we anticipated great things ahead - AND WE WERE NOT DISAPPOINTED! Ed and the boys have UNLEASHED A MONSTER upon us that will not go away!
ZIOPTIS 2002 rating 4 1/2 STARS
2002: ANOTHER IMPRESSIVE SHOW FROM "MISTER HAUNTED HOUSE" HIMSELF!! We especially liked the guy getting pushed into a giant meat grinder - "guts" flowing out the spout!
And the Tesla coil room is totally awesome - A TOTALLY ELECTRIFYING EXPERIENCE! And how wild to take a REALLY FAST elevator ride "down to the basement" and then embark on a steep descent on foot!
This was one of the first performances by a new crew that had just been brought in...certainly things will get even better...WE HAVE NO DOUBT THEY WILL DELIVER MANY 5 STAR PERFORMANCES THIS YEAR! REMEMBER, RATINGS ARE FOR THE SHOW WE ACTUALLY SAW...PERFORMANCES CAN AND DO VARY FROM NIGHT TO NIGHT!
ZIOPTIS 2003 rating 5 STARS
2003: We KNEW they could do it from day one, it was only a matter of time! "Mister Haunted House" himself has raised the bar again and DELIVERS THE GOODS BIG TIME with the best from the past and LOTS of new goodies that we won't give away now except for some exterior stuff.
We loved the 8 gargoyles peeking down from the front, the giant mirrored ball on top and the thrashing guy hanging in the air! A FLAWLESS PERFORMANCE FROM BEGINNING TO END…AWESOME!
ZIOPTIS 2004 rating 5 STARS!
2004: LEGENDS ARE MADE WITH THE KIND OF EXPERIENCES THAT AWAIT YOU HERE! Mr. Haunted House himself raises the bar again and DELIVERS THE MOST INTENSE HAUNT WE'VE YET EXPERIENCED!!!
We've heard MANY people at haunt lines talking about Erebus, if fact SO MANY that it has spawned urban legends of its' own! One of them we heard in Livingston County at the EXIT 13 haunt: "...yeah, that's nothin' - at the one in Pontiac, they make you sign a waiver before you go in cuz people kept havin' heart attacks!" The guy didn't say WHICH haunt in Pontiac he meant, but I KNOW it was Erebus, because now we have been there ourselves!
There are MANY different approaches to creating a truly memorable haunt that have evolved thru the years, yet the ORIGINAL IDEA was "LET'S REALLY SCARE 'EM!" Well, this haunt has gone thru many different phases thru the years, but this years' effort really gets back to the basics that originated the haunted attraction genre to begin with and DELIVERS THE BIGGEST, MOST INTENSE SCARE WE'VE EVER EXPERIENCED AT A HAUNT!!!
Lots of new gags, props and illusions but some of the best from past years is still in place. Our personal favorite is the TESLA COIL ROOM - THE BIGGEST ON THE PLANET TO OUR KNOWLEDGE! IF YOU WANT AN EXPERIENCE YOU WON'T FORGET, GO TO EREBUS!!!
ZIOPTIS 2005 rating 5 STARS!!!
2005: "MISTER HAUNTED HOUSE" HIMSELF DOES IT AGAIN! A TOTALLY NEW CONCEPT IN HAUNTED ATTRACTIONS! A WHOLE NEW THEME FOR 2005 - TIME TRAVEL! THIS HAUNT HAS RE-INVENTED ITSELF AGAIN WITH AMAZING RESULTS. GO!!
Pay attention to the TV newscast you'll see while waiting in line here. It contains relevant information you will need to successfully complete your journey thru here! The basics of time travel are covered as well as "Breaking News" from the haunt itself, which is now in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the WORLD'S LARGEST INDOOR HAUNTED ATTRACTION!
A lot has changed here, but some of the old favorites are still intact. Our personal favorite is the GIANT TESLA COIL ROOM, THE BIGGEST WE'VE EVER SEEN! In case you're wondering what a Tesla coil is, it produces a high intensity electric arc - you'll KNOW when you pass it!!! It is, in fact a LIGHTNING MACHINE and we've never seen one like this before! AWESOME!
Going thru the time portals will take you to many different times and places that await you here, all very different and highly stimulating!
THIS IS AN AMAZING HAUNT - WORLD CLASS AND A WORLD RECORD HOLDER TO BOOT!!!
ZIOPTIS 2006 rating 5 STARS
2006: Think about this for a moment: this is THE WORLD'S LARGEST WALK THRU HAUNTED HOUSE IN THE WORLD 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!
ANOTHER MASTERPIECE FROM "MR. HAUNTED HOUSE!"
PONTIAC, MICHIGAN
THE HAUNTED GALLERY
next to the Phoenix Center on Water Street, Pontiac (was in Sterling Heights before) ZIOPTIS 1999 rating 4 stars ZIOPTIS 2001 rating 4 stars A SOLID PERFORMANCE FROM AN OLD FRIEND ON THE SCENE!
NOT OPERATING IN 2002...I KNOW THIS ATTRACTION WAS FOR SALE...MAYBE IT'LL POP UP SOMEWHERE ELSE SOON!
OPEN IN 2004 AT GIBRALTER TRADE CENTER, MT. CLEMENS
WE TRIED TO GO HERE TWICE IN 2004, BUT THEY WERE CLOSED WHEN WE ARRIVED. NOT OPERATING IN 2005.
GRAND BLANC, MICHIGAN
HAUNTFEST
Bugsy's Bar & Grill Plaza, 6340 N. Genesee Road (810) 736-5959 $13 for haunted attraction, Midway admission extra this year. ZIOPTIS 2001 rating 4 3/4 STARS
2001: This traveling show from Canada was at DTE Energy Music Theater in Clarkston last year and earned our "OVERALL BEST VALUE" AWARD. This year most of the show is indoors and features lots of interactive sports such as the Velcro Wall. It takes 6 semi-trucks hauling 20 tons of equipment to put this show on!! IMPRESSIVE!
ZIOPTIS 2002 rating 4 3/4 STARS
2002: A new site for this show - was at DTE Energy Music Theater last year. Different setup this year, mostly indoors with various interactive sports games, wacky stuff like the VELKRO WALL.
AWESOME PRESENTATION FROM START TO FINISH! We especially liked the large gargoyle to the left of the entrance spewing fog from his mouth. 1st room immediately disorients you with strobe and fog while monsters surround you.
Great foliage decor, monster scares / interaction. Cool spooky electronic music, strong compressed air blasts, excellent makeup. And we STILL LOVE the THOR-DUDE who follows you, then suddenly is in your way instead!
LOTS of highly effective automated pop-out displays. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
THIS IS IN ROCHESTER FOR 2003. NOT OPERATING HERE IN 2004 – THIS IS A TRAVELING SHOW FROM CANADA.
CLOSED IN 2005, this was the first giant multi-haunt we can remember!
ROCHESTER, MICHIGAN
DEMENTIA AT HAMPTON
2600 Club Drive, Rochester Hills, MI 48307
www.dementiaathampton.com
NEW FOR 2010! Gone in 2014 and 2015.
SOUTH LYON, MICHIGAN
HAUNTED CASTLE AND GRAVEYARD - SOUTH LYON JAYCEES
Lyon Twp. Park from the east: I-96 to exit 155, Milford Road turn south 1/2 mile to Grand River, turn right, go 1/2 mile on the right. From the west:
I-96 to exit 153 (NOT 154 as it says in Fear Finder), Kent Lake Road turn left thru light (Grand River), pass the Mobil station, 1 mile on your left
$12 / $8 (248) 358-6777
ZIOPTIS 2002 rating 3 STARS
2002: They only had 30 days to set this up, but they still did a good job! Excellent sound system with lots of bass. Original soundtrack made by a drummer - rhythmical stuff mixed in with eerie noises. The graveyard part was cool, but not as big as we had hoped for.
NOT OPERATING IN 2005. UNKNOWN STATUS FOR 2006, MESSAGE LEFT.
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