Terror in the Timbers 2021

Terror in the Timbers
Elgin, Illinois
Visited on Thursday, October 28, 2021

Vital Signs:
Year opened: 2020
Number of seasons to date: 2
Number of attractions: 2
Number of actors: 50
Setting: Inside car and outdoor
Fun Fact: Located on the grounds of a functioning Boy Scouts of America camp, Camp Big Timber

While Haunted House Chicago was sidetracked in 2020 due to the COVI9-19 pandemic, some intuitive folks came up with a concept to continue the screams. Instead of patrons walking through indoor scenes filled with actors, the team behind Terror in the Timbers designed a new journey keeping patrons inside cars and driving through dark trails in the woods. For the first time, scenes would be built to accommodate consumer vehicles. Designed to provide the illusion of “safety” within your car, actors adapted new techniques to deliver scares and frights to the entire group sitting on four wheels. Accenting the entire adventure was a custom soundtrack, being broadcast right from the facility to your radio on 99.7 FM!

We had attempted to visit the attraction twice before finally succeeding. The first time was our car’s fault, but the second time was because the line was so long, we had to reschedule to make all our appointments for that evening. Luckily, the crew at Terror in the Timbers are amazing, and were very accommodating and understanding. Though it impacted our visit, seeing the entire street blocked off and backed up for blocks for a haunted attraction made our spooky hearts so glad!

For the first time in our career, we brought with snacks to visit a haunted house, as we had been recommended. We entered the dark woods and settled-in for, what we could best describe as, a moving drive-in theatre. With the mood music creating a perfect soundtrack inside our car, we progressed from scene-to-scene through a variety of classic horror images. As we traveled deeper, the scenes changed from roadside displays to fully encompassing enclosures. Imagine your car going through a carwash. Swallowed inside 360-degree experiences, actors attacking from all angles who weren’t afraid to lightly “hit” your car. Just like driving school, don’t forget to check your blind spot, because these monsters know just where to hide!

Some of favorite scenes were the swamp, candle room, morgue, and the finale! (No spoilers here!)

Just as we thought we were done; we were led to the entrance of their new for 2021 attraction: The Trail of Terror. Guests are asked to park their vehicles and continue the journey on foot. Even though the evening was clouded by rain, it didn’t affect the experience. The trail was lined by hundreds of hand-carved pumpkins, just barely lighting the way. Monsters continued to strike from the shadows, and ensure you never lingered more than needed. As we neared the end of the romp through the woods, we found ourselves in an amphitheater with hundreds of those hand-carved pumpkins we had seen along our trail. Breathtaking!

Monsters of Note: Grave Digger and Panda

The Bottom Line: Even though traditional “walking” haunted attractions are back in full-force this year, we found Terror in the Timbers to be an outstanding concept that provided several scares, jumps, and a lot of smiles and enjoyment. We can’t wait to come back in 2022 and for years to come!

Don’t just take our word for it, check out these images from our visit: