Illusion is what these folks do best, so expect top-notch scenery. You’ll find that the blood is kept to a minimum as the attraction is meant to be scary but not gory. I felt consistently disoriented in the maze but not very scared as some of the actors didn’t seem to have their hearts in it. Electric chainsaws aren’t nearly as scary as gas versions.
During daylight hours, Junction Nightmare is transformed into Jack-O-Lantern Junction, a lights-on sanitized tour of the mazes. There’s a good witch welcoming the little ones and candy stations throughout, but not enough actors inside. My little one was asking to head back to the trains.
This is Junction Nightmare’s first year, and they make a good showing for an initial effort. Like all haunts, it’s a work in progress. This one looks like it could be a diamond in the rough. Both journeys take about 20-25 minutes. Lines are short. Jack-O-Lantern Junction is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday; Nightmare Junction is open 7-10 p.m. Thursday and Sunday and 7 p.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday.
7379 Squire Ct., West Chester, Exit 22 off I-75, 513-898-8000, www.entertrainmentjunction.com
What to Expect: A kid-friendly experience featuring a vertigo tunnel and shifting floors with a maze.
What’s Unique: Junction’s hall of mirrors and curtain maze are disorienting and spooky.
The Damage: $15 (find a $2 off coupon on their web site); $8 for Jack-O-Lantern Junction
CityBeat Rating: PG-13
