Niles Haunted House Scream Park 2018
Niles, MI
Reviewed on: Friday, October 5, 2018
For many haunted attractions, it is a milestone to just open the doors and get their first year under their belt. But, what is even a bigger milestone? Having a long running successful attraction, which you can claim to be the longest running in the Chicagoland area, for 45 years. This is the title that Niles Haunted House Scream Park in Niles, MI holds.
Being just a quick drive over a few state lines, this attraction is home to 200+ volunteers, a wide variety of over 7 attractions that rest upon its 44 acres of land, add in a midway full of treats, a gift shop and many creature wandering about that go bump in the night! Niles Scream Park is not just your average haunted attraction, this is a whole frightful night of fun that the entire family can enjoy together!
As we began our night, we started the evening upon their “Dark Terror-tory Hayride”. Fun for the entire family, this attraction is filled with witty humor and scares. This year, we took a trip through the abandoned Adventureland theme park, filled with many twists and turns along a 1-mile long trek under the starry skies above you, you’ll never know what you’ll find that goes bump in the night.
Next up was the first of the two smaller haunted houses, “Grimm’s Funeral Services”. This attraction took you through the local community mortuary, which has been closed for investigation due to the fact that past attendees of funeral services at the local cemetery were murdered the same day. Weaving you in and out through scene after scene, from the funeral parlor office, through the viewing rooms, even down to the crematorium. The sights and smells made you feel as if you were really in a funeral home!
The second of the smaller houses was “The Doll Factory”, which brought a woman’s childhood hobby of creating dolls into being the largest doll manufacturing company ever. While never have any children of her own, she devoted her entire life to staying within the manufacturing plants walls, keeping to herself with her dolls. With multiple pop scares from every angle, you never know which doll would spring to life at a moment’s notice!
Next up on our itinerary for the night, was the main house, Niles Haunted House. For those that aren’t aware, this is one of the MOST well planned, designed and developed attractions that we have ever encountered over the past 20 years. This attraction not only re-brands its overall theme every year, but also has over 100 possible routes throughout the whole thing! Never knowing what you will see on your journey through, or where you will end up! Each group of patrons gets a different experience each time, keeping you weaving and winding scene after scene. This year’s theme was based upon different books, from a trip through the sewers to find Georgie from Stephen King’s “IT”, to traveling to Hogwarts Wizarding School of Magic. This iconic attraction always leaves us smiling from ear to ear!
Heading over to one of our favorite attractions, the “Field of Screams”, we were ready to conquer the never-ending twists and turns within. Each year, the creators here at Niles Scream Park come up with more ways to torture their patrons with their labyrinth of mazes in the dark. From chain link fences, to floating shacks, to white curtain and so much more. The Field is always one of our favorites that tests our brains and you never know how long it will take to find your way out!
Moving on to the next attraction, introduced in 2017, “Hooded”, which is branded as their most intense experience ever. Patrons who choose to partake in this attraction, MUST be 18 and sign a waiver in order to enter. Be prepared to be touched by the actors inside, blindfolded and left alone to survive your way out!
In addition to the numerous food vendors, gift shop and midway full of roaming monsters and patrons, Niles offers its guests the opportunity to partake in not one, not two, but three different short escape rooms. Take a chance to see if you can make it out alive!
Monsters of Note: Although a special guest, having the original Michael Myers, Tony Moran, was quite the opportunity to be had! In addition, the always incomparable Death, and we can’t forget to give a shout out to our missing & beloved Nancy!
The Bottom Line: For an attraction to be around as long as Niles Scream Park has, they know how to do Halloween well. Every year they create more and show their patrons why you can keep bringing the family back each and every season. Plus, add the fact this is an entire night of entertainment at one of the lowest prices around, this is certainly the best bang for your buck anywhere in the Chicagoland market, if not the entire Midwest!
– Official Haunted House Chicago Review Team Review
