Nightmare Acres, a newer (and incredibly promising) haunt in Connecticut, brings cost-effective thrills and first-rate special effects to the area with a stellar walk-through maze that lasts about 45 minutes. Nestled in the bones of an outdoor ropes course that lays fallow in the colder months, Nightmare Acres has all the right spooky vibes and just enough bite to shock even the most seasoned haunt enthusiasts. 

Nightmare Acres has a location that perfectly suits its needs. Walking up to the attraction means having to wade through a darkened ropes course that’s every sort of eerie in its own right. Although it may be tempting to make a wrong turn, Nightmare Acres has an excellent security staff that ensures you will get where you need to go and don’t have to face any unwanted, unplanned scares along the way. Once we reached the main area during our visit, we were happy to find a hub brimming with activity. Almost set up like a biergarten, the main hub of Nightmare Acres features food and alcohol fare along with actors that bring an unexpected immersive experience element to the wait outside the main gate. Of particular interest to us was the tarot card reader and undertaker who definitely added a level of intrigue and interactivity we were not even remotely expecting to find. This layout with a hub that doubles as a sort of carnival midway is among Nightmare Acres’ biggest strengths. The queue system and overall tone of this part of the attraction meant that the wait was far less painful than haunts that draw similarly long lines. 

The logistical aspects of Nightmare Acres aside, we were totally shocked and amazed by what we found inside. Sets, costumes, make-up, and acting were all excellent. The attention to detail that went into every turn inside the maze meant that we were on our toes the whole walk through it. We cannot emphasize enough how well constructed and brilliantly designed each set was, so much so that while marveling at the wonders it had on offer, we left ourselves pretty vulnerable to some rather talented scare actors. I mean, it wasn’t just enough that the team behind Nightmare Acres built whole four-walled structures, these areas are awesomely decorated, too! In addition to the overwhelmingly effective mise-en-scene of the attraction, actors were decked to the nines and prone to offer maximum effect to unsuspecting victims. And, of course, they have a duck canon at their disposal which definitely had us jump out of our skin on more than one occasion. 

Much of the praiseworthy decor and narrative choices inside Nightmare Acres are completely aided by coherent theming with brilliant transitions that never left us disappointed. Nightmare Acres takes some tried and true tricks of the trade to the next level. For example, the use of airbags to create tight spaces were introduced in such a way as to push us through an almost cohesive storyline that meant the effect felt justified rather as opposed to excessive. Moreover, there were moments inside where we actually managed to get lost! We spent almost ten minutes feeling our way through the dark, utterly petrified before we made it out the other side. And, lest I forget, we were [literally] rocked by one of the rooms. If you and your haunt family are looking for a full evening’s entertainment, then Nightmare Acres will definitely suit almost anyone’s Halloween tastes. 

With tickets starting at $15, it’s almost impossible to beat the superior quality of the scares at this price-point. In operation Fridays and Saturdays until November 9th, Nightmare Acres is one of the longest running and most affordable Halloween attractions in Connecticut this season. A word of caution, though, for intrepid haunters who have certain sensitivities! The fog effects in Nightmare Acres tend to be a bit heavy-handed at times, but are nonetheless extremely effective at what they’re supposed to do. If you or one of the fellow haunters in your group has asthma or other breathing issues, be sure to bring an inhaler. Nightmare Acres also involves a considerable amount of walking and climbing, both inside the maze and on the way up to the attraction’s entrance, so we also advise that you wear comfortable footwear and be mindful of anyone in your group who may have mobility issues.