We arrived at DoomsDay shortly after the gates opened. The weather was perfect for this all outdoor haunt: cool, overcast, and breezy. As we waited for the haunt to fully open, we were treated to a spectacle I have not seen at a haunted attraction before. The scare actors opened the show by marching into the field beside the entry lines accompanied by music and a short fireworks display, then followed by The Star Spangled Banner.

The solemnity displayed during the national anthem contrasted sharply with the mayhem that followed. The ghouls broke ranks, running in all directions, racing around the open ground and jumping into the lines of waiting guests. More actors arrived in vehicles, including an old deuce and a half. They also ran past guests, making their way to their stations in the haunt. After a short wait, it was our turn to enter.

The first obstacle was an enclosed ramp tilted down and sideways lit by a flashing blue light. This would be the first of many obstacles that taught us an important detail about DoomsDay: Watch Your Step! DoomsDay is not for the mobility impaired. If there was an optional path to skip this challenging terrain, I didn’t see it.

After the ramp, we entered a small maze of boxes under some scattered trees. Yes, the entire haunt is outdoors, with the exception of a few small buildings and vehicles to pass through. These piles of crates foreshadowed the rest of the haunt. The creators of DoomsDay must have had a blast raiding the junkyard for props and decor. Along the walk, we encountered vehicles of all kinds: cars, trucks, jeeps, hearses, at least one ambulance, two airplanes, a boat, and a helicopter. Those are just the vehicles I can recall.

DoomsDay, which I estimate is around five acres, is littered with such decor, as well as crates, cable reels, boxes, nets, fences, and household and industrial castoffs of all kinds providing ample hidey holes for scare actors. Actors who take full advantage of their home turf. We encountered about fifty scares along the trail, including at least one that ran a complete circle around a large obstacle to scare us twice.

On Facebook, DoomsDay describes itself as a “hybrid immersive haunt” and that is a good description of the experience. There were plenty of props and effects, but this haunt is actor intensive. Scary ghouls of all sorts jumped, growled, or screamed. Some engaged, depending on the scene they were in, conversing, begging for help, threatening cannibalism, taunting guests, and in one memorable case asking for help to hide from the cops. The clowns near the end of the walk were particularly engaging and had the advantage of a well-lit setting to show off their costumes and make up. Other memorable actors include the fellow playing the guitar, the preacher, the actor in the long-clawed costume, the witch that voiced how useful we’d be in her rituals, and the cannibal that said I was too fat.

I suppose I should be glad to be passed over as a meal, but I thought that was just mean!

DoomsDay stayed true to its theme of a doomed town at the end of the world. The structures scattered along the walk included a chapel, a home that definitely belonged to the past, several vehicles that doubled as covered walkways, a slaughterhouse, and a long cattle chute. Within these features were some well-placed animatronics, a sparking toaster that I mention because I’ve never seen one in a haunt, and laser lighting. Also, there was a very creepy woman in white, with brown hair, that had us asking ourselves if she was a live actor or not. Very, very, creepy.

DoomsDay has two tiers of ticket pricing, and some add-ons and discounts. At $28+tax for general admission and $50+tax for Slash Pass skip-the-line tickets, the prices seemed reasonable for the size of the haunt and the comfortable waiting area, concessions, and other vendors. Tickets are available for purchase online, which I recommend. The wait to check in for online tickets was much shorter than the wait to buy tickets at the venue. Also, DoomsDay uses the familiar block admission system. Guests can hang out on the grounds, under a covered pavilion, or browse the various vendors instead of standing in one long line.

For more information about DoomsDay, check out their Facebook Page or their Website.

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