Texas Haunts Review

Overall Score-9.8
Actors-10
Props/Decor-10
Atmosphere-10
Fright-9
Value-10

Reindeer Manor is located just south of Dallas in Red Oak, about a mile from I-35. Reindeer has evolved from a one house, primarily theatrical haunt, to a multi attraction haunted park also featuring 13th Street Morgue (independently owned and reviewed separately), Uncle Stinky’s, Royal Theater (a real one screen theater playing classic horror movies for free) as well as several food vendors and merchants. A hayride is used to transport guests from the parking lot to the park, free of charge.

Once you’ve arrived at the park, you’ll have a choice of entering the Reindeer grounds (under an arch with flame shooting dragons) or you can stay in the new part of the park with 13th Street, Uncle Stinky’s, the Royal Theater, and most of the vendors and merchants. Due to long lines I like to start with Reindeer, and i should note that Reindeer doesn’t close until the last customer has gone through all attractions. This is not an exaggeration, I’ve been at Reindeer until 4am and have witnessed the staff making sure that all customers have been through the houses before closing.

Reindeer has three shows outside to entertain guests in line. The Gallows, dance numbers in the graveyard, and a rooftop show are scheduled through the night. The Manor itself has a greeting room and then a different act in each of it’s seven rooms and areas within the original house, plus a couple of scenes and a long trail outside.

Count Dracula and Cletus the butcher were my favorite acts this year, although all were good. Many people find either the chainsaw room or the foggy ship (with a lot of rocking movement) to be the most frightening scenes, while the laboratory is usually the most amusing. This year the outdoor witch and dragon act was exceptionally good and the operating room was as graphic as ever. A lot of people are creeped out by the library/study with the little actors.

Once on the trail you’ll meet Cletus, a man with a taste for exotic barbecue. The Cletus act is interactive so good luck to girls small enough to pick up and carry. The cave is the most intense part of the trail and goes completely dark. You’ll have to feel your way along the walls to find your way out, but luckily the walls don’t shock, as they do inside Reindeer. New this year is the mine, and it’s been designed to make you a little vulnerable as you make your way through. On the trail you’ll find lots of flames, a quicksand area, bridges, and stalking actors, among other things.

An additional attraction called Uncle Stinky’s is located in the newer part of the haunt park and is a clownhouse with several good actors and a difficult maze, plus a disgusting bedroom. It’s included in the price of the combo ticket and adds a nice touch to the park, especially for people who have a clown phobia.

Reindeer is unique due to the acts in the main house and the trail is is the longest in the North Texas area. It has enough attractions to allow you to send an entire evening, especially if you take advantage of the free movies at the Royal Theater. Add the complimentary hayride from the parking lot and you have a great value at $25, with a $5 off coupon available on the Reindeer site. Reindeer is always on my list list of haunts to return to after the close of the review season and should be part of any haunted house fan’s schedule.

Originally Posted at: http://texashaunts.net/reindeer.html

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