Minnesota Trail of Terror

I'm not sure if there have been drastic improvements to Trail of Terror since the other reviewers went, or if they had unrealistic expectations of what the park would be.

Upon arrival, i bought tickets, and walked in side (matter of 2 minutes in line). Upon walking in I see food trailers, karaoke, and a bonfire. We checked out the food and whatnot for a bit then proceeded to Zombie Paintball. The best way I can describe this is a real life reenactment of Left For Dead with paintball guns. This was a blast. The only thing I would change would be to bring more anti-fog spray for the mask, and get the extra paintballs.

Next up was the heated indoor maze. This was amazing! I was legitimately spooky, and we were startled more than a few times going through.

Last stop for the evening was the terror walk or whatever they called it. This was the longest line, probably 15 minutes, but the wait was worth it. This is exactly what you can expect. A dark trail, in the woods, with people screaming and trying to spook you. I wasn't afraid, but I'm also 32 years old. This would be terrifying for little kids, which I think is the intended audience.

Over all, I was pleasantly surprised how great this was given the reviews for the place. I will be back this year, and will continue to go back each year. Do yourself a favor, and check it out.

The whole event is silly, irreverent, scary (!!), creepy, fun, campy, and an excellent party with great props, good drinks, and fun people. It's worth the entrance fee and extras inside, in my opinion, because who the heck can put on a party this size with all these cool haunts and walks? These people! The only critique I have is that a few of the actors are inexperienced as scary people and aren't prepared to professionally represent the organization in their articulation of rules for attractions. This only regards a couple experiences I've had over my MANY visits.
One of my favorites about the Trail of Terror is the Trail itself, which not only offers some scary/creepy experiences, but natural beauty of the woods and the lake. If you're lucky, the moon shines through the trees and over the lake while the peace of the woods helps you enjoy the fall season's beauty- but watch out for the scary people whose job it is to make ya jump! Also, go through the Trail more than once. There are things you'll miss and as the evening light changes, the aesthetic changes with it.
FYI-
They have 3D effects in some of the attractions, and I have to admit that it's worth bringing 3D glasses or buying them there for $1. They also have zombie paintball this year, which I HIGHLY recommend. Go through these things more than once and bring a sense of humor, a light heart, and some extra cash in case you get hungry or thirsty.

If you get free tickets, it could be a fun Sunday night. If you pay to go on a Friday or Saturday night, you're an idiot.

Every year they hype this place as some huge, incredible spectacle. There's a lot going on there, but bring your cash, and temper your expectations.

The haunted house that started it all (I think), is a good show. There are a few unique aspects to it, but otherwise it's just another haunted house with tons of props. It's about 15 minutes long. We timed it last year.

The hayride can be fun. There are a few cool effects, but otherwise it's hard to get scared on a hayride, unless you're 8 years old. It sucks because you're facing one side or the other, and therefore can't see things happening behind you, at least not easily. It would be nice if you could face forward, but they want to cram a billion people on the wagon.

I took my nephew years ago (thanks to free tickets) and we went on a Friday. It was a long wait for both attractions. Super long.

They also have four or five "halls of horror." These are short, themed trailers that take about 30 seconds to walk through. There might be one guy working in each of them, and for the most part they're lame. Trail of Terror hypes them up in their advertising, but they add little to the experience.

There are other features offered, and hyped in the advertising, but they all cost additional money. They have live bands on weekends, I think, and yes, you can buy beer, but don't think that $19 or $20 you paid to get in is going to get you a decent price on beer. They charge as much as the bar.

I get free tickets from my friend some years, so I can't complain about the price, but I would never pay to go there.