Wisconsin State Fairground Hauntfest

The Wisconsin State Fairgrounds is hosting Hauntfest for the 7^th year in a row. The attraction is located inside the cream puff building, just off s 84^th street in West Allis, Wisconsin.

The haunted attraction features secure parking for $5, though there is penlty of free parking on the street just off the fairgrounds. The cost is $15, though you can pay $5 to $10 extra for VIP tickets, which allow you to go right to the front of the line. If you don't buy a VIP ticket, you can end up waiting for a while, but it is possible to buy a ticket, leave the grounds (to eat or visit another haunted house) and return.

Hauntfest has a second, heated building with a live DJ and "The last ride" experience. The line into the haunted house itself is outdoors, but runs in front of a large projection screen where you can watch a classic horror film to get you into the mood.

Your tickets will be checked twice in the line before being collected just before you enter the house itself. Just to your left as you wait outside, people who entered before you come running out, often chased by zombies or specters from inside.

Once you enter, you find the usual pitch darkness (with the added twist of things hanging from ceiling, forcing you to keep your hands in front of your face), claustrophobic spaces, and two innovative mazes, one with red and white striped walls (some of which are fake) and one made from iron bars and populated by performers (who are the ones you saw chasing the previous visitors).

We went on the second weekend of October, arriving at 9pm, and were told the wait was an hour, to an hour and a half. It ended up being more than three hours before we reached the doors to the haunted house, and by then there was a distinct feeling from some of the performers that we all just needed to get through as quickly as possible. It was disappointing, since the house seemed extremely well put together and had some clever ideas. Just get there early, or buy the VIP pass.