2006 Reviews

Comparing haunted houses is admittedly an apples to oranges proposition. Do you want atmosphere or action? Do you prefer detailed scenes or intimidating darkness? A cohesive story or endless variety? One man’s trash is another’s treasure and any other cliché you want to use… it ultimately comes down to taste. However, while this is the most aesthetically pleasing haunt to me personally, I think that others are beginning to recognize that 13th Street Morgue is the best at wrapping all of these things into one tight package

GOBLINHAUS is naming 13th Street Morgue the best haunt in the metroplex for the second year in a row. It is officially our favorite. Last year it was a small haunt. Presumably considered a side attraction for the Reindeer Manor crowd. But it hit us in the gut. We walked out and knew we had seen something special. We only had a passing acquaintance with the operators at that time, but it was apparent that this place was a product of true, passionate haunters. It was clear that these people weren’t putting on a haunt as entrepreneurs, but because it’s in their blood. These were naturals. I’m not using the term loosely when I say that they are artists bringing a dark vision to life.

This is what sets 13th Street Morgue apart. To try and explain I’ll say that the difference between them and other haunts is like comparing the experience of watching a really good scary movie to the actual deep chills you feel while home alone at night and thinking you’ve just seen a ghost out of the corner of your eye. This place comes the closest yet to feeling like exploring a true haunted house. The kind of place that as a teenager you and your buds would drive an hour out into the country to creep around with flashlights because you grew up hearing stories about it.

The great news is that the Morgue is bigger and even better this year. Everything makes such an impression beginning with the outstanding soundtrack. The soundtrack is peppered with radio broadcasts, which allow the audience to put the pieces of the morgue’s story together while they wait to enter. The tale of the tragic events that occurred at the morgue (which also includes the residence of the doomed family of the owner/operator), make the trip through that much more effective. The physical layout is based on this story and is amazingly well thought out, start to finish.

Put together the Morgue’s elements: the story, the sounds, the lighting, the subdued acting, and (this is HUGE) the lack of store bought, mass produced props and we have a recipe for success. While other haunts often are just a collection of mismatched parts (granted this is a practically a necessity for the mega-sized attractions) the cohesion and execution of these elements is what makes 13th Street Morgue the best.

Now I’m not knocking the other haunts in the area. Not at all. I love the large majority of them and think they are doing great jobs delivering for their visitors. I am just so impressed with the 13th Street Morgue that I am writing what I feel and my impressions of what makes it so great.

Have I convinced you yet? I hope so as these guys and gals have clearly proven themselves at this point. And I haven’t even mentioned the great VALUE of this place. At only $8.00, it is practically the cheapest around, priced higher than only the smaller and far less defined Uncle Stinky’s Playhouse and the mini-haunts that supplement larger attractions such as Hangman’s. Now that’s a no-brainer (however if you’re going to 13th Street Morgue, I highly recommend buying the combo ticket with the also very entertaining Reindeer Manor).

It’s been a real thrill to watch this masterpiece unfold for the last two years. Way to go!

13^th STREET MORGUE
Last year, I thought this was a quaint little haunt. They had some really good props. This year, I think it’s a really good bigger haunt!! I loved it! They’ve added another floor to it, which has some more really great props. My favorite is of course the “Dark Santa”. But the upstairs is great. You go up and pay your respects to the dearly departed. There are all sorts of great props and scary things around. Walking through the operating tables was creepy. The actors are all great. My favorite was the grave digger. The sounds he makes from dragging the shovel on the hearse. The sound! It’s creepy!!! As much as I’ve always LOVED Reindeer…I hate to admit that I enjoyed 13^th just a little bit more this year!! Alex, Jennifer and his crew have done an amazing job on the Morgue and I can’t wait the see what they come up with next.

I give them 9 out of 10 ghosts

I've been a fan of this one since I first saw it in 2004. It was a small, hand built haunt with great special effects and props. Last year it moved to the Reindeer complex and had a successful year there. This year they expanded to two full stories of terror. I'm really bad about doing too much in the way of spoilers. I'm holding back on this one. Alex and the rest of the crew have some really nasty surprises in store. It's starts out creepy with the entry set up by the mortician the morgue is named after. It just gets scarier from there. Like I said, no hints as what's in store but be sure you look at the quality of the props which are either real medical instruments and devices or are masterfully manufactured but the crew. The new upstairs are has some great set pieces and I have to tell you there are some very intense moments of fear. There is a solid linear story line through the whole haunt. This is a well thought out story throughout. Look at every single carefully placed antique and horrific prop as you walk through from one scene to another. Listen to everything...voices, music, news stories and the screams of the people that go ahead of you. I saw most of the people that went in fearless come out screaming....Alex, on occasion can be seen at the window of the top story. He may even sing to you. Enjoy this haunt. They've worked hard to bring you a macabre masterpiece.

13^th Street Morgue was next on our list and again, the attention to detail was brilliant being aided by what appears to be authentic antiques and fantastic hearses.

We were allowed in just the three of us which alone makes this attraction fantastic. However, because of the many wonderful details we tend to be a slow roving group so a tiny more wait time between groups would be great. This is a house where you really want time to look around you and take in the great details.

The musty smell of some of the rooms as well as the natural decay found on items such as the fixtures in the bathroom really enhances the mood.

Walking past one figure we were left guessing if she was real or simply a prop until the very last minute and the additional floor makes this a must see for any haunted house lover.

One room in particular really made our hearts pound as we were suddenly subjected to darkness.

As I was tailing last in our little group, Draven asked if I had a firm hold onto the back of his jacket. I answered in affirmative and asked if he had Derek who was leading the three of us. He said yes but then suddenly we heard a new voice seemingly right at our left ask, “But then who has me?”

Draven suddenly asked me who said that and I answered, “I don’t think you want to know…”

And who couldn’t just adore the Santa… surprisingly, neither son wanted to sit on this one’s lap…

Review Date: October 7, 2006

Length: 10 – 12 minutes

Location:
The 13th Street Morgue is located in Red Oak, Texas on the grounds of Reindeer Manor. From I-20 & I-35E: Go SOUTH on I-35E. Exit Bear Creek Rd. Turn LEFT on Bear Creek and follow to Houston School Rd. Turn RIGHT and go past Reindeer Rd. to 410 Houston School Rd. The narrow, bumpy, twisting and turning roads is the only way to the Reindeer Manor & 13th Street Morgue. The drive alone will help build excitement for the evening to come!

Atmosphere: 9 out of 10
The 13th Street Morgue is located inside the old barn on the grounds of Reindeer Manor. This is the same barn where Matt Sharp, son of James Sharp from the Sharp-Hughes Tool Company, hung himself from the rafters back shortly after the Great Depression. Combine the past of this barn with the current 13th Street Morgue and you have the recipe for one eerie haunted attraction. While waiting in line for the 13th Street Morgue you are treated to radio stories and breaking news that contains some of the back story and happenings inside of the 13th Street Morgue. This really adds to the realism and helps build excitement for what is to come inside.

Scare Factor: 9 out of 10
The theme of the 13th Street Morgue runs you through a funeral home, morgue, grave yard, and then on into the house where the Maybrook family was murdered by Alfred Helm. There are several places that caused our team of both experienced and un-experienced haunt goers to jump. Scares are mixed with flat out uneasy and creepy sensations that might just leave you emotionally disturbed.

Set design / Props / FX / Animatronics : 9 out of 10
The theme of the 13th Street Morgue tells a story that will take you from the morgue to the house where the killings happened. The theme stays very consistent through the entire haunt and not a single prop or actor seems to be out of place. The 13th Street Morgue was able to keep and use the original features of the old barn to their advantage. Everything from the original steel grates on the windows to the heavy steel doors from the hay drops has been used to give the 13th Street Morgue a complete realism that surpasses most haunted houses.

Gore Meter:

Live Actors: 9 out of 10
Although there are not huge numbers of actors, each of the performers inside this haunt do a good job in telling the story or just accenting the unsettling events that occurred inside the 13th Street Morgue. Everyone from the mortician to the grounds keeper in the graveyard stuck to character. The actors that had speaking parts sounded authentic and did not sound like they were reading from a script. The actor’s costumes were of good quality and did not detach from the theme of the haunted house.

Entertainment Value: 9.5 out of 10
The 13th Street Morgue only costs $8.00 for general admission. This is a great bargain for the amount of entertainment that the 13th Street Morgue provides. Compare this to other haunts that charge $15 - $24 for less quality and scares for the same length. BUT, since you are on the grounds of Reindeer Manor, you might as well purchase their combo pass for $25.00. If you grab our $5.00 off online coupon this brings down the price to only $20.00. The combo pass includes the 13th Street Morgue, the unique Reindeer Manor, and the new Uncle Stinkys Playground. Toss in the free hayride from the parking area to the haunts and you have a great evening to come. For those that are not into haunted houses you can hang out in the carnival/midway area and take in some of the other free entertainment that the grounds of Reindeer Manor has to offer.

Summary:
13th Street Morgue has come a very long way from its humble beginnings of being a yard haunt. This year the haunt has just about doubled floor space by adding a second floor and doubled the number of actors. The haunt takes you through the story of the Maybrook family and the murderous rampage of Alfred Helm. The back story on the 13th Street Morgue is actually pretty interesting… If you have some spare time before heading out to this haunt check out the complete story about the happenings of the 13th Street Morgue. Can you determine if the story is fact or fiction?

Overall this is a great haunt that sticks to its story very well. It will lead you from the graveyard to the living room where the murders took place. The 13th Street Morgue has one of the most unique haunted house twists towards the end that you will not expect.

*** NOTE *** The lines for 13th Street Morgue and Reindeer Manor can get really long… We highly suggest that you arrive early or plan to stay real late. Lines have been known to last until 2-3 am on most operating nights…

OVERALL SCORE: 9 - See our scoring scale