Joe's Fright Farm in the agricultural exurbs of Rochester NY is an immaculate example of care for the customer experience. They may have a comparatively small horror element to the attraction but, the entire experience is hollistically entertaining and can occupy you for an hour.
Sections
Navigation and Customer Service
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Some street signage
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A few turns from I-90
- I would assume that most of the signs were obscured by Political lawn signs
+ Just look for the string lights on White Rd
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Owners Joe and Maria
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+ They're fun and pleasant, Maria is a queue line actor
+ Crew in the concession, merch and ticket barn are excellent
+ Ticket taker is somewhat funny
Atmosphere and Lobby/Midway
Key Lobby and Midway Amenities
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Concessions
+ Murder Meat Melt
+ Baked Caramel Apples
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Merch
+ Nice looking Pumpkins
+ Mums
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Video
+ Old Black and White classic movies
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Music
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Seating
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Bathrooms
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Games
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Stage
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Photo Ops
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Queue Line Actors
Bonus:
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Metaphysical
+ There was an ongoing séance that night
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Pyrotechnics
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At least one HUGE set piece
Facade Quality
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Facade is questionable
+/- Mostly just a series of pallet-wood archways
+/- Enter the first shack through a Claustrophobia
Use of Existing Environment
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Agricultural Field
+ They have planted a specific Maze Corn to grow eight to nine ft tall stalks
Actors and Acting
Energy
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Jump from the corn pretty quickly
+ Aggressive at the best opportunities
Costuming
+ Reasonable costumes
+ No horror movie slashers
+ Minotaur
+ Burlap Bunny Mask
+ Silicone Demon on Voice Changer Demon
+ Satyrs
Lines and Vocalizations
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Some acts have lines
- Not enough lines
+ Voice Changer Demon talking about your mom
Theming and Design
Lighting
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Only simple effect fixtures
+ Simple used very well (Strobes in the corn instead of path lighting)
+ Multi-colored floods over all shacks and mazes rather than just white
Sound
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A lot more sound variety than last year
+ Coyote squeals in the corn
+ Chanting soundscape in the middle maze and surrounding corn
Set Dressing
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More notable scenes than previously
+ Fluorescent hallway
+ Slaughter Maze with hanging pigs
+ Mazes and shacks built to project interesting shadows
Entertainment and Other Values
Fun
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Cornmaze and Hayride
+ Midway is chock full of things to do
+ Hayride is a fun way to finish your night
Scares
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Few jump scares
+ The ones that are there are timed pretty well
Monetary Value
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$15 GA
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15 minute walkthrough
+ Worth at least $15
Recommendations
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1 hr 3 min from Buffalo
- 3 1/2 hr on its own not advisable
+ Anywhere within 3 hr, it's a good bet
+ Anywhere within 2 hr, it's an easy must-see
+ Up to 4 ½ Hour Drive with multiple haunts including Terror Field, Dark Matter
Scream Works, Nightmare Manor, Demon Acres, Frightmare Farms and
Grimsley's Gorge
Recommended One-way Drive Time Range - 3 Hours
