Lake Hickory Haunts

Hello and happy haunting season to all my fright connoisseurs out there. Cheers to my absolute favorite time of year and seeking out the very best of the best when it comes to the haunt industry. Luckily I live in the South which is the go too place for all things spooktacular! I invest so much time and money into Halloween haunted attractions. Now I will say that the Carolinas as a whole contains some of the most top notch scary thrills in the US, and the state of North Carolina alone features some truly mesmerizing ones at that. That being said, I have had the privilege of experiencing 3 "nationally acclaimed" haunts such as Woods of Terror, Spookywoods, and of course Lake Hickory Haunts, all located within a few hours from my home in the Charlotte metro area. LHH is only my 2nd of the 2021 season and leaves nothing to be desired. It's absolutely phenomenal in every aspect. Located off the backroads and on a country lake of Hickory, NC and conveniently just a few minutes from I-40, this local haunt is celebrating 10 wonderful years! Ever since last year, it immediately grabbed my attention and will forever be one of my stops. Only an hour and a half drive from me, LHH is so much closer and more affordable than Netherworld in Atlanta which has been my #1 for years, however I just can't deal with the traffic and ridiculous lines. Next to Woods of Terror (located in Greensboro) LHH is one of my favorites, hand down, and the exceptional customer service by the staff really sets it apart from the new ticket booth (in which lines move very quickly) to everything else, everyone including the monsters on the midways are so friendly and helpful! All in all although WOT is huge and lasts a good hour, my vote is for LHH because all they offer for the $$$ is unbeatable in terms of bang for your buck! LHH is a true "force to be reckoned with" in the haunt world, and relies on innovation and originality in a nicely sized layout. Creativity is paramount, and these guys are known for outdoing themselves every single year. From super realistic scenes and ultra intense scares, 2021 is the year of Lake Hickory Haunts! It all begins as soon as you pull into the parking lot, and then approach the entrance to the first midway which is brand new. You become immersed into the incredible theming of the haunt and it takes no time at all notice that this is a professionally done "Hollywood" style production. This years huge expansion includes a renovated and redesigned parking lot, ticket booth, "Monster Mart" gift shop, and the midway which I mentioned above that allows you to dive into the entertainment even before making your descent down the hill to the usual "Midway of Mayhem" that leads you to the main attraction. As you walk through the entrance, you will notice the huge pirate ship directly above that also serves as a dj booth. The first midway is chock full of fun, and contains the stage, VIP lounge, main concessions, enclosed fire pit, escape room, "4D Asylum Experience" as well as the "Buried Alive Coffin Rides" which is also a simulator in which you actually lay down in the coffin, but sadly it kept malfunctioning so I didn't get to do this. The midway was very impressive because here the monsters heavily interact with the guests and give plenty of photo ops. I must say that the little clown really killed it for me as he would constantly sneak up on people. As packed as it was, the band really made the lines more enjoyable. In order to move massive crowds through as quickly as possible, you're assigned a horror movie icon name in which you must wait to be called in order to walk downhill and enter the Midway of Mayhem line queue. The 2nd midway contains a 2nd central placed dj booth, games such as darts and axe throwing, plus a large movie screen along with more concessions. There are even more photo ops here as well. I've never seen a "haunted theme park" like LHH, it's all been strategically planned out so well and even gives you a map of the entire place. I decided to upgrade to a fast pass for just $18 more so I didn't have to wait, and it was well worth 2 min vs hours to enter the haunt! Now I have to commend LHH because they're are 10 themed sets that are all connected, and most importantly around the lake which gives off a real eerie vibe as it's shrouded in thick fog. The haunt is both indoor and outdoor as it takes you up and down hills via a trail in the woods, through dark narrow corridors, over water, and even in an underground cave, providing an epic atmosphere. It takes about half an hour or a little more to complete, and although not as long as Woods of Terror, still manages to deliver state-of-the-art chills by utilizing perfectly timed special effects, extremely well trained actors, vivid costuming, and make-up, heart stopping jump scares, along with fantastic props and animatronics. At LHH it's all about DETAILS and the level is simply off the charts. Everything was meticulously designed and each scene is just mind blowing. The jump scares alone are some of the best I've seen, and they will get you in your most vulnerable moments. It's way more than saying "boo" and these scare actors are the best at what they do. Another impressive thing is that they use very little Hollywood horror favorites (such as Jason, Michael, and Freddy etc.) it's mostly a completely original storyline which was dreamt up by true geniuses of the haunt biz. As far as sets go, it's really hard to pick a favorite, but I will say that I love how you walk over water on the dock during "Aquaphobia." No matter the set, each character stays strictly in character and really makes guests feel a part of the action. I feel like LHH provided way more Midway fun and interactive frills than Woods of Terror or Spookywoods (which sadly has hit rock bottom this year with the exclusion of the trams and train ride), you can't beat this place for all that you get. I purchased the online general admission plus the 6 in 1 midway deal which amounted to $60 (before adding the fast pass) Parking is also just $5 no matter where you park vs the $5-20 range at WOT. I'd pay it all again for a night full of fright. It gets super busy so securing a fast pass is the clearly the quickest and best option. My final verdict: Lake Hickory Haunts is a one-of-a-kind experience, surely not to be missed. It prides itself on being one of the very best in the nation, and continues to push the envelope further every year. Trust me no matter where you are, make the drive, it's hella worth it! The only thing I'd change would be the first midway line queues for they are slightly unorganized and cause mass confusion. In conclusion, the hard work of Ryan, the owner and his staff is paying off. Thank you LHH for such an awesome night, and look forward to seeing you again next year. Happy Howl-O-Ween!

October 2021

Not into scary things but this was my all time favorite

October 2021

We are major haunt travelers and have been to different haunts in 25 states. We were excited to be in the area to visit Lake Hickory Haunts this year. What a great way to spend a Friday night hanging with the local guys and ghouls.

The midways had plenty of activities, good music with creative actors in their amazing costumes ready to scare and take photos to make one-of a kind memories.

Each themed area was immersive, well played by the actors. It was seamless and seemingly endless fright night. Excellent value. Highly recommend to anyone who is able bodied and wants to be truly frightened.
We will be back.

September 2021

Wow! There is a lot of work put into this & dedication for sure! It shows from the minute you get to the ticket booth! & the staff, they are awesome! We came over a hour and a half away to go to this and it was amazing! We actually left scarowinds to come here lol! They quit selling tickets at 11, we were a little late but they accommodated us and let us go through & it was so worth it! The actors stayed on their A game, even though I’m sure they were tired lol, the owner came and personally walked us to the entrance giving us some history on this awesome place! He was super nice! The quality of the sets, and the atmosphere is truly astonishing! If you want a good haunted trail/house, go here! & I loved how it didn’t end in 15 mins like most do! So much here to see and enjoy, if you’re not screaming too much try to look around and take it all in! You guys rock Lake Hickory Haunts!

September 2021

The voodoo priest was amazing he scared me 5 times

October 2020

It is so much fun and I love scary stuff I watch scary movies

September 2020

one of the best haunts in the usa and i used to live in tx, this place is top notch!

September 2020

The details are very real. The actors were amazing every turn was a good scare. They add on every year which makes it even better then the last. You won’t be disappointed. Lake Hickory Haunts is my new haunted attraction! Everyone needs to go check them out!!

July 2020

I loved this place it was great plenty of things to do game wise and have a fire you can sit by to stay warm. I really loved how big the place was and how long the attraction was it was amazing I've never ever seen a haunted attraction set up so good and beautiful. awsome how they got the gory smells in the slaughter house I'm definitely going back again this year and next year I'm also going to reccomend this place to my friends and family. you have my vote as #1 haunted attraction. stay scary

October 2019

You guys pretty

October 2019