Year: 2014 TOURERS: Bryan, LAURA COSTS: FREE More Info: FACEBOOK CHAINSAWS:4.75/5
Going back to perennial haunt favorites is like eating comfort food - you always know that it's going to be good, and it gives you something to look forward to. Such is how we feel about Nightmare at the Terrace, a favorite of ours since their very first year, and one we never miss.
Nightmare at the Terrace is one of those "comfort" haunts - it's not overly hyped, it's not a big professional haunt, it's just a fun haunt that delivers some interesting scenes and clever scares. A visit here is like a bowl of hot soup on a cold winter's day - it gives you that warm fuzzy feeling.
And speaking of warm and fuzzy, one of the highlights of Nightmare at the Terrace is the bunny. He's been a staple of the haunt since it's very first year, and each time they try to place him in a different setting. While our favorite bunny encounter was probably our first, where the bloody bunny was sitting in a pile of decapitated dolls only to get up and follow us through the entire haunt, any scene with the bunny included is always fun. We really enjoyed this year's, which featured the bunny popping out of a pile of stuffed animals to menace an unsuspecting victim - good stuff!
Nightmare at the Terrace always manages to change things up each year, and this year provided some completely new scenes, including a round mirrored room filled with live actors dressed all in black that came at visitors from the shadows, a cemetery scene with some creepy hooded figures, and a funeral scene with some creepy attendees. Returning favorites included the aforementioned bunny, a corn stalk scene with creatures lurking inside, and a backwoods cabin with chainsaw wielding occupant.
There were also plenty of actors inside the haunt. Although many were younger, they all played their parts well, varying their performances so it wasn't just a lot of screaming and repetitive behavior. Some actors didn't say a word, some growled and snarled at us, others jumped out, and still others seemed to be in their own worlds. It was a nice variety that added to the overall setup.
As always, we really enjoyed Nightmare at the Terrace. When it shows up on our list for a given night, we always know that at least one haunt will be fun and enjoyable that evening. Visiting always puts us in a good mood, regardless of how the rest of the night turns out. At only $8, Nightmare at the Terrace is also a great value. It's about 10 minutes long and has enough variety to keep one interested and the scare level is not intense, so it's fun for the entire family. If you're looking for consistently good haunting that is comfortable like an old sweater, look no further!