GuideReviews Index

Gruesome Gardens at The Great Outdoors
For something a little different in haunted houses, take a stroll through The Great Outdoors. This South Congress nursery transforms itself into a chain of three different haunted attractions: Gruesome Gardens, Fun & Freak Show, and Wicked Sensations.

Vicious T. Mangle's Slaughter Circus and Freakshow at the Mansion of Terror
Excellent scare factor at the Mansion of Terror: Slaughter Circus and Freakshow. Lots of ghouls coming at you in the darkness, confusing twists and turns, unexpected noises, things that pop out of walls and other places, and it seemed much longer than the 10 minutes or so it took to scurry through. Seriously afraid of clowns? You might not want to try this one but if you can handle the frights and only want to do one of the Mansion of Terror attractions -- this is the one.

Pitch Dark 2 at the Mansion of Terror
Back for a second year, it's Pitch Dark but with a difference. Not as pitch dark as you might expect but still plenty of thrills in the dark. You'll get a flickering lantern to help you find your way although it doesn't stop you from running into walls and monsters everywhere. Don't tell them your name and don't stop to talk to the ghouls if you can help it! Oh, and watch your step.

Austin Haunted Forest Trail of Fears
It may be an Enchanted Forest any other time of the year, but in October it's the Haunted Forest. No enclosed spaces. No pitch black passages. But that's no reason to relax because the forest is teeming with witches, crazy clowns, mad scientists, chainsaw-welding monsters, giant spiders, and lunatic families. You never know what you'll find around the curve in the path, up in the trees, or lurking behind a fallen log. This is the Halloween experience of the season here in Austin.

Illusion Manor at the House of Torment
Packed full of frights and tons of fun. Illusion Manor is one of those amusement park fun houses gone all creepy. Be prepared to duck, crawl, climb, balance, push, and pull your way through the maze of wacky rooms. And just when you think, hey, this is a pretty fun, fun house -- there's a ghoul there to greet you and send you dashing into more dark, spooky places.

House of Torment
Although the outside of the house looks much like previous years, there are new twists to an old favorite. Take a seat and watch a short movie clip then walk -- even if you want to run -- through a series of creepy rooms that feature not only sights and sounds to make you jump but also smells to freak you out. It's the House of Torment.

The Creep Zone
It doesn't have the fancy sets or professional actors of more established haunted attractions, but The Creep Zone still delivers its own sort of skin-crawling, heart-pounding excitement. There are two attractions for 2007, housed in a large industrial complex out beyond the Dell Diamond... where nobody can hear you scream...