ADRIAN, MICHIGAN

THE HAUNTING

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

ZIOPTIS 2007 rating 5 STARS!

A WHOLE NEW CONCEPT FROM AN INDUSTRY LEADER, THE HAUNTING in ADRIAN has stepped it up yet again!

Have you ever noticed how many big hotels don't have a 13th floor? Well, of course they really DO have one, but since the number 13 is considered unlucky they skip 13 and call it floor 14 instead. THIS hotel is different; ALL IT HAS is the 13th floor! You're asked politely enough to check in at the reservations desk, but if you do prepare for an ASSAULT ON THE SENSES you won't be able to forget any time soon.

The haunt is all new with a wild 13th floor theme and an extensive new 3-DEMENTIA 3D display that will knock your socks off! One of our favorite illusions in the 13th floor involves a box that has something small placed inside it.

You won't see anything else like it at any other haunt we can think of except for perhaps SLAUGHTERHOUSE in Fowlerville, another haunt that magicians got mixed up with amazing, delightful results!

And there's a new maze which we didn't have time to go thru. But we did see the XSCREAM MAGIC SHOW and it's wild and funny too. The bleachers filled up quickly, and throngs of standing room only others were WOWED WITH WORLD CLASS ILLUSIONS!

We went to the 10:30 show and wish we'd had time to check out the GHOST TOUR - we'll have to go earlier next time. And their "CHOP SHOP" gift store is the best we've seen at any haunt - all kinds of crazy Halloween stuff you never imagined could exist is available at very reasonable prices.

AN AWESOME HAUNT AGAIN!

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 or www.hauntedblakes.com

ZIOPTIS 2007 rating 5 STARS

PROBABLY THE BEST HAYRIDE IN MICHIGAN!

BELLEVILLE

HAUNTED HILL ACRES

Abraham Farm, 23740 Carleton West Road

(734) 753-5523 or (734) 652-7601

ZIOPTIS 2007 rating 4 3/4 STARS

BELLEVILLE

SPOOKTACULAR HAUNTED HAYRIDES & CORN MAZE

Wayne County Fairgrounds, Quirk Road

(734) 697-7002

ZIOPTIS 2007 rating 4 1/2 STARS

ANOTHER COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS HAUNT DELIVERS THE GOODS!

This is something we're seeing more and more lately - county fairgrounds transformed into a haunted attraction for October. We've always been happy with what we found at county fairground haunts! 2007 is this haunts' 3rd year.

The hayride was just short of 1/2 hour and has lots of wild action with monsters attacking often. The many buildings available are used to good advantage, and votive candles mark the pathway throughout. We didn't have time to try the maze.

We liked the witches' caldron scene and the young ghouls following. The horse stalls explode with monster madness, and then the cart gets "stuck" and even goes backwards! 6 monsters surround the cart; we especially liked the one with the flashing red eyes. Young children started crying, their parents tried to comfort them and then FEMALE monsters eased the fright soon after - see, not ALL monsters are evil men! But then a chainsaw dude attacks and sure looks like HE is evil!

Then it's the Rabbits & Poultry building with various spooky creatures. The Beef & Dairy building takes on a whole different theme with disco lights and a dancing monster that makes a strange entrance. Then the dinner bell is ringing, but who's on the main course? It could be you, because once again the cart is "stuck" and vulnerable to monsters.

The cart then enters the COZAD building, which was our favorite. And don't listen to that guy clinging to the side of the cart; his scary tales can't possibly be true! And we really liked the giant angry pumpkin near the end. We even saw fireworks going off too, what will they think of next?!

We really liked this hayride and in general had good pacing, but we did have one major problem with the show. Near the end a girl is "abducted" by a monster, a fairly common ploy.

But this girl's roots were showing horribly, meaning she's an obvious "plant." In case you don't know, a plant is a performer disguised as a patron. Before the ride started, they piled us all on the cart but left room for one more at the end. The plant girl boarded JUST before departure, mistake number one.

Ideally, she should be in line with everyone else and NOT be on the end. Even better would be if she was with another girl so it would appear like they're just 2 school pals out for some fun. Then the plant girl had a whispered conversation with a monster for at least 20 seconds, mistake number two. Who knows, maybe she had to put in her hot dog order or something, but hey it could've waited until the show was over! When the big moment came shortly after, nobody seemed surprised.

If all this sounds too harsh, please understand it's meant as constructive criticism. We REALLY did like this hayride and we recommend you go

BELLEVILLE

THE PUMPKIN FACTORY

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 2007 rating 4 STARS

This is truly a special place now in its' 31st year of operation! Visit their Country Store after the hayride - there's thousands of pumpkins, cider, donuts, caramel apples, and even costumes and masks!

This year it's the haunted hayride only. The walk thru haunt hopefully will be back next year. The hayride uses a single cart affording quick accessibility to many ghouls and monsters lurking in the woods. Many strange sights and frights await those brave enough to embark on this journey!

WE'VE ALWAYS ENJOYED THIS AND HOPE THEY CONTINUE FOR MANY MOONS TO COME! However, there has been talk of developing the area; you might want to go sooner than later.

BRIGHTON, MICHIGAN

HAUNTED GHOST TOWN & HAYRIDE

6660 Chilson Road, Brighton Recreation Area Equestrian Ctr.

(810) 534-5063

ZIOTPIS 2007 rating 4 STARS

New to this location, but their third year doing a haunt. The location is AWESOME for a haunted forest, and this one's VERY dark and quiet until...

The hayride (not haunted) takes you to the edge of the forest and dumps you off to fend for yourself!

BRIDGEPORT

HALLOWEEN SPOOK TRAIN

Junction Valley Railroad, 7065 Dixie Hwy., Bridgeport, MI 48722   (989) 777-3480 or www.jvrailroad.com

ZIOPTIS 2007 rating 4 1/2 STARS

THIS ONE WAS SO MUCH FUN! They've got the WORLD'S LARGEST QUARTER SIZE RAILROAD converted into a really clever haunt.

There are 2 trains that can move 600 people per hour thru over 80 scenes that run the gamut from scary to funny to cute.

The train cars are not covered providing excellent proximity to the gags, some of which may initially alarm you! The train speed seems really fast and we were worried we wouldn't catch all the gags. But the path is retraced as you return to the starting point so that wasn't a problem.

In fact, the quick speed gives a REAL motion sensation we've never seen at a haunt before! We especially liked the monster rock band near the start on the left and the waterfall of blood, or is it lava? Either way it's way cool!

This place is open year round and has special Christmas activities planned. We plan to check it out if we can!

BURTON

THE CRYPT

at CHEMCO, 4247 South Dort Highway, Burton, MI

(810) 742-2260

ZIOPTIS 2007 rating 4 1/2 STARS

This was our first time here, but certainly not our last!

CAPAC, MICHIGAN

SALEM'S HAUNTED BARN & HORSE DRAWN HAYRIDES

5411 Hackman Road , Capac, MI

(810) 395-7633 or www.thehauntedbarn.us

ZIOPTIS 2007 rating 3 3/4 STARS

2nd year effort adds a HORSE DRIVEN hayride! The FEEL is TOTALLY different when there's no engine noise, it's downright CREEPY how dark and silent it is, until...

And be sure to check out the walk thru barn. This is a young family effort that shows big promise!

OFF THE CHARTS AMBIENCE OOZES HERE! There's no street lights for miles, the stars will greet you like at no other haunt.

CHELSEA

PIGMAN'S LAIR

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

ZIOPTIS 2007 rating 4 3/4 STARS

NOW INDOORS, A HIGHLY INTERESTING HAUNT WITH GREAT ACTION AND MAD SCIENTIST EXPERIMENTS GONE BAD!

CORUNNA

McCURDY'S REVENGE

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

ZIOPTIS 2007 rating 4 3/4 STARS

AN AWESOME HAUNT REINVENTS ITSELF WITH A GREAT NEW THEME.

DAVISON

THE DEADLAND HAUNTED HOUSE

in Davison Plaza on M-15 1/4 mile north of I-69

(810) 654-2481

ZIOPTIS 2007 rating 4 1/4 STARS

It's their first year here, and they're going strong!

FARMINGTON

HAUNTED WINERY

31505 Grand River, just west of Orchard Lake Road

(248) 477-8833

ZIOPTIS 2007 rating 4 1/2 STARS

This haunt is at a perfect spot - an old winery that's been preserved and converted into a clever haunt with some really nice touches and aerial goodies galore!

One of our favorites here is the FANTASTIC STAR ROOM, highly effective. Lots of intense industrial sounds and good monster interaction rounded out a haunt experience we enjoyed a lot!

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 2007 rating 5 STARS

NEW DARK WITTY THEMES AND AN EXCELLENT HAYRIDE!

This first class haunt has once again expanded. The walk thru haunt is now in the big barn and features a new mix of magic and humor that is this haunts' forte.

The portable classroom buildings used before can be seen briefly during the hayride, which is excellent.

The walk thru haunt features a DYNAMITE NEW GAG featuring easy chairs that will KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF! They worked hard to get it ready for opening night, and it worked perfectly. This is something THEY INVENTED!

There are over a hundred haunted house supply companies out there, but this haunt prefers to come up with their own amazing stuff.  That means you won't see what they've got anywhere else!

The hayride was new last year but we couldn't try it because of the lousy weather, so we were anxious to check it out. We were not disappointed!

Their special creative flair spills into this effort with some gags we've never seen before. One of them involves a ghoul that appears to be flying on his own power, highly effective. There's even a math equation to solve so it's educational too!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

GRAND BLANC

SAINT LUCIFER'S HAUNTED ASYLUM

At Playland, 1/2 mile north off exit 109 from I-75. (810) 695-8200

ZIOPTIS 2007 rating 4 3/4 STARS

ANOTHER GREAT SHOW FROM DOCTOR CHAOS & CREW

GROSSE ILE

PHANTOM FOREST HAYRIDES

Westcroft Gardens, 21803 Wesr River Road, Grosse Ile, MI

(734) 676-2444

ZIOPTIS 2007 rating 4 1/4 STARS

FANTASTIC FAMILY FUN THAT CONTINUES AT CHRISTMAS TIME TOO!

A delicious slice of Americana awaits you here, with a down home feel as you walk thru the grounds.

The hayride props appear to be handmade so they're one-of-a-kind. Retro has never been so cool before!

This was our first time here but certainly not our last. And the location perfectly fits the feel because this is the OLDEST FARM IN MICHIGAN!

HAZEL PARK

HOUSE OF FEAR

Hazel Park Community Center, 620 Woodward Heights

(9 1/2 Mile and I-75)  (248) 547-5535  ONLY $5, DOWN FROM $8 IN 2006!

ZIOPTIS 2007 rating 5 STARS

DON'T LET THE PRICE FOOL YOU, THIS IS A TOP NOTCH HAUNT WITH INCREDIBLE BANG-FOR-THE-BUCK!!!

The show starts outside the building as you walk around it on the path to the ticket booth. Spooky stuff is accompanied by a great soundtrack.

Inside an amazing barrage of fantastic rooms await, all with superior sound and lighting. One of our favorites is the old styled room with a wooden radio that played...well you'll just have to go and find out, we're not going to give it away but trust us - IT IS WAY COOL!

HOMER

HOMER MILL HAUNTED HOUSE

109 North Byron Street, Homer, MI 49245

(517) 568-7295 or www.thehomermill.com

ZIOPTIS 2007 rating 4 3/4 STARS

GREAT BUILDING (3 stories), GREAT HAUNT!

The building was constructed in the 1800's and is an imposing image as you drive up!

This one truly creeped us out more than any other haunt we've been to this year! Awesome production values and a dynamic crew add up to an experience you'll remember and treasure long after the pumpkins have rotted and gone to the dump.

Detroit rock star ALICE COOPER endorses this haunt, and we join him in STRONGLY SUGGESTING YOU GO HERE! OK, we couldn't give it the 5 stars we wished we could've. But the ONLY REASON we couldn't was because the pacing was off - hard to control we realize when you've got masses of haunt fans swarming the place!

All in all, a great show worthy of a road trip. And there's a cool looking bar we wished we'd been able to hang out at too.

LENOX TOWNSHIP

HAUNTED FARM OF TERROR

28405 26 Mile Road, Lenox Township, MI

(586) 615-0475 or www.myspace.com/hfterror

ZIOPTIS 2007 rating 5 STARS

We haven't been here since 2004, shame on us. THIS IS A GREAT HAUNT WITH INCREDIBLE AMBIENCE!

The walk thru haunt has lots of good monster interaction and surprises with excellent decor.

Outside the walk thru haunt are 3 porta-johns that LOOK normal enough, but...WOW, WHAT A NICE TOUCH! We've never seen this done before; creativity is off the hook here.

The concessions stand has ALL HOME MADE goodies you won't find at most haunts. We're on an unofficial quest to find the best hot dog at a haunt, but unfortunately we weren't hungry!

The hayride is tailored to each audience which has lots of excellent wild action, and features a unique approach to the old problem of half the cart missing key gags. They've duplicated many gags identically on both sides of the path so everybody's in on it. We've never seen that before, pretty clever!

Also features a GIANT certain creature we won't specify, the biggest of its' kind we've ever seen! You will pass directly below it, it's impossible to miss.

The audio in the woods is superior, with various spooky wailing sounds created in various spots. The effect this produces is dramatic as soon as you get out of your car in the parking lot. On days it's not windy, they can fog the whole area for an even more amazing ambience!

We can assure you you'll have a blast here - WE DID AND WE'LL BE BACK FOR MORE IN 2008!

LENOX TOWNSHIP

SCAREFEST

61288 Gratiot at 28 Mile Road, Lenox Township, MI

(586) 749-6666 or www.scarefestscreampark.com

ZIOPTIS 2007 rating 5 STARS

There's a lot here, and you really should do it all! There's a hayride and the Haunted Forest of Darkness.

The hayride uses a unique double tier seating arrangement, both comfortable and efficient for moving lots of happy haunters quickly on their way to a really clever presentation. The tour guide uses a wireless microphone to tell a strange tale of "Mambo" with exceptional clarity.

You really should try to arrive BEFORE the first hayride, because there's a special once per night stunt that takes place then, and was a factor in their rating. It is SO effective and artfully crafted! The people that run this haunt also have a pro audio company and it shows big time then and later.

This is a giant project still in its' making with even more plans for expansion next year. More activities for kids will be added, possibly train rides, moon bounces, etc. making it even more a family destination than it already is.

LENOX TOWNSHIP

CASTLE OF THE DEAD

28 Mile & Gratiot (right next to SCAREFEST)

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

ZIOPTIS 2007 rating 4 3/4 STARS

MAUMEE (TOLEDO AREA)

TERRORTOWN

at Lucas County Fairgrounds, 1406 Key Street

(419) 897-7242 or www.terrortown.net

ZIOPTIS 2007 rating 5 STARS

COMPLETELY NEW AGAIN, THIS HAUNT RE-DEFINES THE MEANING OF THE PHRASE "ASSAULT ON THE SENSES!"

MILLINGTON

NIGHT STALKERS HAUNTED HOUSE

on M-15 in Millington

www.nightstalkershh.com

ZIOPTIS 2007 rating 4 3/4 STARS

We saw this on a list of the best haunts in Michigan in a travel magazine and they e-mailed us several times asking us to visit. We'll be sure to go again in 2008, this is a great haunt!

MUSKEGON

NIGHTS OF FEAR

Muskegon County Fairgrounds

www.nightsoffear.com

ZIOPTIS 2007 rating 4 STARS

A STRONG NEW EFFORT FROM HAUNTING EFFECTS LLC

Just walking from the parking area to the haunt will spook you here! It's only a few hundred yards or so, but the only light you see is a strobe light beckoning you. And questionable ghouls seem to be prowling that probably escaped from the haunt, watch out!

A large building houses the haunt, as we've seen at other county fairgrounds. It's an excellent resource because the buildings are almost always really big and flexible.

This haunt features THE LAST RIDE as an optional excursion that will simulate your coffin ride to the grave! One of the girls in our group was brave enough to try it, and we got to see her reactions on a TV screen thanks to an infrared camera mounted inside the coffin which is closed and pitch black inside!

PONTIAC

THE REALM OF DARKNESS

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

ZIOPTIS 2007 rating 5 STARS

ONCE AGAIN, UNBELIEVABLE!!!

The journey continues, evolves and gets scarier than before! We all felt a spookier feel to the REALM this time, they've done their homework and passed the test with flying colors!

How do you re-invent a haunt of this magnitude? Somehow, they always pull it off! This year's major addition is an unbelievably realistic cave sequence that owes its' authenticity to the fact it's replicated from several famous real American caves! There's water flowing and unbelievable ambience oozing!!

The quest to meet and defeat the elusive wizard is the biggest challenge here, and brings us to a point we'd like to clarify about a recurring haunted Urban Legend.

Every year we hear stories about a crazy haunted house where you get your money back if you make is all the way thru. Usually the story is that some renegade frat house in East Lansing or Ann Arbor has assembled some ridiculously gross stuff that you're subjected to.

But EVERY time we asked someone that told a story like this if they had actually been there themselves they admitted they hadn't and none could tell us the exact location of the mystery haunt either.

All those alluring tales we heard and will hear about the money back haunt are interesting for sure but they're all FAKE. BUT THIS ONE IS REAL!

If you are wise enough to defeat the wizard you REALLY DO GET DOUBLE YOUR MONEY BACK!!! THIS IS THE REAL ONE, DON'T BELIEVE THOSE OTHER FABLES!

As usual, attention to detail is unbelievable here with sound and lighting to match! Also has an excellent black hole featuring a see thru walking surface to increase the motion sensation.

ANOTHER MASTERPIECE FROM ONE OF MICHIGAN'S PREMIER HAUNTS!

TAYLOR

THE SCREAM MACHINE

21205 Eureka Road in shopping plaza next to the Gibralter Trade Center, directly across from Hooters  (734) 341-3379

ZIOPTIS 2007 rating 5 STARS

THE MIGHTY MACHINE SCREAMS EVEN LOUDER AND BETTER THAN BEFORE!!

AMAZING DOWNRIVER HAUNT EXPANDS AGAIN AND DELIVERS THE GOODS.

We had a unique opportunity to see this thru children's' eyes on our October 6th visit! 2 kids ended up tagging along with us for most of the first part of the haunt. They were SO freaked out by what they experienced that they ended up leaving thru an emergency exit! The girl looked up at me and asked in a sheepish, almost begging way "can we get out thru there?" I assured her she could and they were gone.

We asked 2 groups of people leaving what they thought and they both said it was awesome! We didn't tell them who we were until AFTER they gave their opinion. We just casually asked, "hey, whaddaya think of the haunt?"

Features a very unique way of opening the first door that requires some guts! The girls in our group chickened out and I was quickly relegated to guinea pig status. The 'HELLEVATOR" sequence has been refined and is highly effective! The show goes on and on with great wailing, spooky sounds and fantastic lighting throughout.

The second part of the haunt is the "CARNEVIL OF LOST SOULS in 3D," which we highly recommend you go to as well. It's a few bucks more for this, but definitely worth it. The FLOORS as well as the walls are all 3D, giving a strange floating sensation.

Great monster interaction and pacing throughout keep the energy high and the screaming loud!

RIVERVIEW

LEO'S HOUSE OF HORRORS

Riverview Commons shopping center, Sibley at Fort

(734) 284-5370

ZIOPTIS 2007 rating 3 1/2 STARS

A new location for an old standby. This haunt reminds us SO MUCH of the early history of haunted attractions.

An eager local civic group gets some semi tractor trailers and puts them all together with a healthy dose of creativity and gusto! The result isn't always quite the Hollywood style that we're seeing more and more at high budget haunts, but is still quite valid in its' own right.

The haunt genre owes its' very existence to haunts like this one and others like MUTILATION MANSION in MADISON HEIGHTS (ran for about 30 years) and ANXIETY ALLEY in LINCOLN PARK (still operating) that led the way, way back when!

ROMULUS

REALM OF HAUNTED MINDS

Huron Turkey Farm, 18910 Merriman Road, Romulus, MI 48174 (corner of Sibley, entrance on Sibley)

(734) 753-9187 or www.myspace.com/huronturkeyfarm

ZIOPTIS 2007 rating 4 3/4 STARS

ANOTHER GREAT SHOW AT A GREAT PLACE!

Awesome ambience, it's a turkey farm! Look for the tiny purple lights on two large trees out front to lead the way to an excellent haunt and shop too. The decor inside the ticket and shop building is great, be sure everyone in your group goes in to see it.

Then you'll have a short stroll thru a strange village with a tee-pee, a small classroom and much more. Best not to linger too long here, you'll want to get to the safety of the haunt ahead!

The walk thru haunt is in a building perfect for their purposes, and all displays were well done. Lots of surprises, moaning monsters, trick pathways and a black hole with a decidedly different intense feel to it!

We especially liked the display featuring a hook, the pink room and a certain girl on the floor you won't forget! Excellent monster vocalizations, lots of spooky music, noises and a room you might not make it thru!

The haunt exit leads to a short maze than can be tricky. After the maze before you leave, be sure to buy some cookies in the front building. There are all sorts of custom decorated varieties, but my primary partner says the sugar cookies are the BEST EVER! The caramel nut apples are awesome too.

ROSEVILLE

MOTOR CITY MASSACRE

26570 Gratiot, Roseville, MI

(586) 772-6709  fax (586) 772-6725 or www.myspace.com/motorcity_massacre

ZIOPTIS 2007 rating 4 3/4 STARS

The FRASER TEEN SPIRITS come thru again with a powerful show from start to end!

The show starts with a monster popping out of a second story window taunting people waiting in line with excellent mannerisms.

TAYLOR

TERRORZONE

In Papp Park. 1/2 mile west of Telegraph. Take Telegraph to Wick Road west, continue to Westlake and turn left and take entrance to the park on the right. (313) 295-4010

ZIOPTIS 2007 rating 4 1/2 STARS

TOLEDO, OHIO

CHAINSAW CREEK

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

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

ZIOPTIS 2007 rating 4 3/4 STARS

WITH A GREAT NEW 3-D SHOW.

WATERFORD TOWNSHIP

DEATH SENTENCE

4889 Dixie Highway, Waterford Township

(248) 303-4043

ZIOPTIS 2007 rating 4 1/2 STARS

WESTLAND

HAUNTED HALLOWS

VFW Post at 6440 Hix Road between Ford & Warren

(734) 751-4312 or www.haunted-hallows.com

$15, discount coupons at Kroger

ZIOPTIS 2007 rating 4 3/4 STARS

AFTER AN ABSENCE IN 2006, THEY'RE BACK WITH A VENGENCE!

This haunt impressed us in 2005 which was their opening year. They were forced to take 2006 off, and we're so glad they're back! Lots of original, clever concepts come alive in these woods behind the VFW post.

The hayride is short but sweet with lots of high intensity action and aerial goodies. Then you're dropped off to walk the rest of the way back, and that's where the wildest stuff happens. We especially liked the "Pop Goes the Weasel" room, the coffin dude and the spooky dinner. A mini corn maze completes the journey and leaves you at the bonfire next to the concessions tent. We gathered around the bonfire with people sipping hot chocolate and hot cider trading stories, basking in a haunted glow! Oh, and one more thing - they had the absolute coldest bottled water we've ever seen!

THIS IS AN ALL VOLUNTEER HAUNT THAT'S ON THE RIGHT TRACK BIG TIME - CHECK THEM OUT!

WALKER, MICHIGAN (Grand Rapids area)

THE HAUNT

2070 Waldorf NW Walker, MI (new address for 2008)

(616) 222-5000 or (616) 785-9818 or www.the-haunt.com

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

ZIOPTIS 2007 rating 5 STARS

WOW! WOW! WOW!

30,000 PLUS PEOPLE EVERY YEAR CAN'T BE WRONG. THE HAUNT IS AWESOME!

We can hardly even think of where to begin telling you all the amazing things about THE HAUNT!

But for starters, it looks like we'll have to create a new category that they will probably win - BEST CHOREOGRAPHY. The new dance routine is STUNNING, which you'll see waiting in line inside. The dancers now emerge from a foggy cemetery and then perform a dynamic, original routine with instrumental music and rhythms.

There are 5 dancers, 2 guys and 3 girls all with outstanding outfits and makeup. They all perform in perfect unison, but it soon becomes clear the tall black dude is the lead dancer because HIS movements have a certain PIZAZZ usually seen only in top level professional dancers.

We're not sure, but we think he is probably their choreographer who has 15 years experience training dancers who've work for some big time stuff including Disney! At the end of the performance, he struck a strange pose that put his face about 8 inches from mine!

There's also a new outdoor maze, a new bizarre sideshow and a 3D tunnel that is way cool! The overall feel is dramatically different this time, darker and more scary. WE LOVED IT!

The sideshow features a guy and girl performing such oddities as tongue piercing, walking and jumping barefoot on broken glass and fire EATING. As they explain, fire eating requires considerable skill as opposed to fire breathing which is little more than spitting out alcohol and igniting it.

The girl uses 3 short torches in her routine. One of the stunts has her extinguishing the flame of one torch inside her mouth, yet retaining enough fire after its' removal to ignite another torch, tricky at best. Don't try it at home kids!

And then there's the bed of nails the guy lies on, then...well you'll just have to see for yourself what he does!

Unique photo opportunities await before the building exit so you can prove you hung out with ghouls and survived to tell the tale. All sorts of cool customized stuff is available, we went for a baseball cap, t-shirts and posters.

Oh, and the bottled water even has their logo on it. We've never seen that at a haunt before, they seem to have thought of everything! Attention to detail is rampant here, inside and outside the haunt.

WARREN

DEADLY INTENTIONS

20900 Dequindre, one block north of 8 mile in Warren

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

ZIOPTIS 2007 rating 4 3/4 STARS

ONE OF THE WILDEST HAUNTS OUT THERE - IN YOUR FACE INSANITY!

This is one of the highest energy haunts you'll ever experience! You'll journey from sensory deprivation to in-your-face insanity in a matter of seconds. Lots of intense banging and wailing cries of despair.

We really liked the dude who welcomes you to "his Hell" with his gruff old English accent and the girl who was having strange difficulties with her "kids."

Other favorites were the bridge creatures, the black and white room, the crazy meat market and the actor with fluorescent paint makeup that glows under blacklights.

Another new show from one of the craziest haunts anywhere! This haunt has always delivered a unique, edgy high intensity feel!