As summer turns to fall, thoughts turn towards pumpkin spice lattes, colorful foliage, and of course, Halloween! As one of the biggest holidays in the year, we’re lucky to have some great Halloween haunts in North Carolina. My favorite is Woods of Terror out in Greensboro, a spooky attraction that has been around for nearly 25 years. What to expect? Well I can’t give up all the secrets, what fun would that be? But if you’re thinking about visiting, here’s what to expect!
My most recent visit in August of this year was for a media visit and it had been several years since my last one. About 80 minutes from Raleigh and one hour from Durham and Chapel Hill, the Woods of Terror is located north of downtown Greensboro at Mc Laurin Farms. Tickets run from $40 to $125 and range from a standard General Admission to a Fast Pass, up to the top-end Golden Ticket which includes a behind the scenes look and meet and greet with the actors. Parking is $10 to $20 per car, I’m assuming as we get closer to Halloween, it gets more expensive.
Once you’re past the security check-in, you’ll find yourself at the Monster Midway which has a bunch of fair food/snack options, bar, and games to enjoy. Wait times can get pretty long (over an hour) without a higher end ticket (Fast Pass, Golden Ticket), Woods of Terror tries to space out groups in the attraction which means you will likely need patience to get in. But the spacing means you’ll get a better experience throughout the haunt!
Every night, Woods of Terror kicks things off with a parade led by their famous coffin car! It’s a spectacle to watch and chance for the actors to get pumped up for the night ahead. You’ll also get to meet Bone Daddy, owner Eddie Mc Laurin’s Halloween alter-ego complete with boa constrictor, who leads the national anthem before the night begins.
With fifteen different attractions (details above) and themed haunt areas, it’ll likely take you about an hour to get through the Woods of Terror but what fun and adrenaline it is! You’ll find yourself walking through each haunt with a bit of dread and fear, who knows what’s around that dark corner: And the actors at Woods Of Terror really get into their roles and scaring you. A very fun and committed group of creepy characters that will catch even the most prepared visitor, off-guard from time to time.
Walking through all the haunts, you’ll be terrorized with smoke, noises in the night, and ghoulish visions! My favorite scenes were Baba Yaga and the Brookhaven Memorial Hospital where they had wonderful costume, makeup, and masks. But overall the Woods of Terror does a fantastic job with the actors who are well-trained and enthusiastic!
So if you’re a Halloween lover, you don’t want to miss the Woods of Terror! It’s worth the drive and one of the best haunts in the state, if not the country. And as a bonus, there’s also Kersey Valley Spookywoods down the road in Archdale (about 30 minutes south), another top-notch Halloween haunt. But if I had to do one, it would be Woods of Terror, a great place to get your Halloween season started up!
Woods of Terror
5601 N Church St, Greensboro, NC 27455
336.643.3558
The Counter at the Chef and the Farmer in Kinston, NC