HallowSpire

Who: Martini and Jericho

When: October 18th 2025 17:15

Where: 231 Landing Street in Southampton NJ 08088

Trigger Warnings: 

• Claustrophobia - You will be surrounded often by tall walls and unable to stand next to another person because the corridor is simply too small.

• Coulrophobia - There are clowns present at this attraction.

Pricing: Tickets range from $30 -$55 per person

Value: For the experience that you are going to have, $30 - $55 is such an incredible price- and you get a pumpkin! This haunt is a must see!

Vibes

The moment that we turned off of Landing Street, Jericho and I felt giddy with excitement as we drove directly in between the corn field and the woods. Heightening the spooky vibes were the tiny lanterns that were hung on either side of the dirt road that we were on.  We turned into the cornfield itself and found ourselves in the parking lot. We were immediately able to hear the screams coming from the attraction, and were able to see just enough of the top of the signs and the fog drifting over the fields to get us pumped and ready to have some fun. The entirety of this haunted attraction feels eerie and spooky, but also has an air of fun about it. I was happy to spend an evening here giggling with one of my best friends. I highly recommend coming here with a group of friends that know how to laugh at each other and have a great time! Be sure to come hungry as there is food available in the midway and cool shirts on hand to remember the night until you come back next year for more.

Overview

I spoke with the owner of HallowSpire, Braden, in order to set up our review and from the very beginning he was absolutely wonderful to work with. He was professional and kind, communicated clearly and very obviously cared about our experience at this attraction. Throughout the night, he and Colin were so personable and accommodating to us. I can’t thank them enough for their hospitality. Jericho and I felt so welcome and were so excited to see what they had built. This attraction started out as a home haunt, and this is their first season in their new location. They have five acres that are currently in use with plenty of space for them to grow into in the future, and we cannot overstate how excited we are to see what they do with it. I’ll be very honest, like I always am with all of you, and let you know that when I read the words “first season”, I got a little nervous. I was concerned that the show was going to be sloppy and thrown together, as some new haunts can be in the beginning sometimes. It’s growing pains, and understandable- but for a reviewer, it’s not usually a good time. However, I had absolutely nothing to worry about. This show blew me out of the water. It is so polished and professional. It looks and feels more finished than some haunts that have been operating for decades! HallowSpire is not playing with us. They have two trails to go through and a pumpkin patch at the end. It takes about an hour or two to go through both trails, depending on your pace, of course. I know some of you are going to be power walking your way through (because my readers all know better than to run in a haunt.) Throughout the show, we were asked what we thought and if we were having a good time, and that’s not because we were there to do a review. They ask their patrons that often. They are very open to critique and suggestions, which is how we got there in the first place. They very clearly want to give us the best show possible and give us what we want, so while you’re here, if there is something that you want or something that you feel is missing- let them know. I heard the suggestion of a hayride- and now I can’t stop thinking about how they would absolutely rock a hayride at this location. I would love to see what they do with that medium. We had the opportunity to speak with a few of the haunters after the show and they were incredibly kind and gracious. I could see how much they loved what they’re doing in their faces while they spoke with us. I would be more than happy to work with any of them and will be excited to come and see them again! The whole attraction works as a team and appreciates each other. You can see it in everything that they do and present to us. If you want a unique, well thought out, and professional show- you need to come to HallowSpire.

The Jersey Devil Terror Trail

*May contain spoilers*

This is the first trail that you will experience at Hallowspire. You traverse through the haunt in a prescribed order. You cannot seem to get to The 13th Acre Haunted Corn Maze without going through this one first. You can see the wide open maw of the forest growling at you as soon as you hand over your waiver and  your tickets. Filled with red lights, it looks as though the trees are soaked in blood and hungry for more. It’s genuinely hard to look away. How something that looks so empty and still- and be so menacing is beyond me, but I do love it. Jericho and I were on the lookout from the jump. We were looking around every corner, mindful of every small wall and crate, waiting for them to come for us- but they waited. We walked through the woods in tense quiet, only the whimpering of a haunt virgin behind us, questioning why their parents would let them come here before I saw the first set piece. People worshipping… something in the woods- it looked very Bohemian Grove and definitely felt like somewhere that we shouldn’t be. They welcomed us and ushered us through, making us feel extremely uneasy while they did so- threatening the child behind us. I loved this set and these characters so much. It’s not something that you see often. It felt like they were extending an invitation to us, that we definitely should not be accepting. I have seen other ritualistic scenes before, but most of the time it feels like we have interrupted something and need to run away. Feeling like we were being welcomed to join was a whole new feeling and was extremely eerie. From there we come across The Witches. These ladies will make you jump. They have many ways to do so. I would tell you to be aware- but Jericho and I were and it was useless. They got us so good. The house itself acts as a lure. There are things to look at everywhere you look and your eyes will want to drink in every millimeter of this set. The attention to detail was wild and I know that if I went back there right now, I would still discover something new in every small corner and crevice. Don’t forget to ask about William. He’s tainted- and I bet you are too. 

As we traverse deeper into the woods we are found by a coven of vampires, showing us the way to the church, wailing about their hunger. We make our way through the church and the absolutely crazy cemetery behind it and find ourselves at the cabin. A man stands out front waiting for us. He checks our teeth and our necks for bites and other signs that we might be vampires. If you are able to satisfy him- he may let you inside, where if you weren’t impressed before, you will be soon. I don’t want to spoil anything for you- but I will say the physicality of this area is impressive, for sure! It’s hard to make Jericho jump and I saw it happen here! Of course, making me almost hit the deck at the same time. This trail is everything that I didn’t know I wanted, including fresh perspectives on some classic haunted attraction tropes. There is a loose storyline without the haunters needed to beat us over the head with it. It was an absolute pleasure to experience. 

The 13th Acre Haunted Corn Maze

*May contain spoilers*

This trail starts out as we expected it to and as any good corn maze should- in the corn. Scarecrows loomed over us, tempting me to look up when my brain knew that I needed to be looking for haunters in the corn. It was overwhelming in the best way. It wasn’t long before I saw meat hanging in the doorway of a shack in the middle of the field. That uneasy feeling of knowing that it shouldn’t be there filled my body, making me hesitate to enter and immediately giving me the scare pay off that I had come for. I was back out in the crisp air of the corn field before my brain could fully register what had happened, when another shack loomed in my vision. We walk in on an argument that we are now part of, whether we want to be or not, and we’re asked to throw a switch. One of the patrons behind us does and a man is electrocuted before our eyes, knuckles white as he involuntarily squeezes the arms of the chair. The patron wants it to stop and reaches to pull the switch back when the other haunter stops him- telling him to let it keep happening. The set in this room is so impressive because there is an integral piece that I have never seen hidden so well! I was so happy to see it used in the way that it was. The haunter that was electrocuted deserves a shout out- because I watched him for way too long and he gave me one last little twitch- which was exactly what I was waiting for. I see you electrocution man, thank you for giving me what I needed! Not that they weren’t weird already- but this is where things started to get a whole other brand of strange. This is when we saw the space ship crash in the cornfield. One of the haunters here made me jump so high, I was almost taller than Jericho for a second - and that’s a big jump for me. I was fully expecting for the rest of the trail to be about aliens, but when we turned the corner, I saw that I was very very wrong. 

This is when we were presented with FunLand. This is one of only two spots where Jericho and I both stopped walking and looked at each other like we were in a movie. We weren’t expecting clowns at all- but that doesn’t mean we weren’t excited to have them. I’m going to say this one time very clearly. If you don’t like clowns, you’re going to have a bad time. These were a very specific and niche kind of clown that I have never seen at another haunted attraction before. They have this beautiful old world, almost Victorian kind of aesthetic. It was such an interesting choice that drew us both in. Speaking with one of the clowns after the show, they agreed with me saying that, 

“You’re free to do whatever you want.” I wanted to stay and  hang out, but I knew I shouldn’t. They would kill me- but I was  kind of okay with that. It felt like the fun would have been worth it. Once they realized that they were not going to scare us, there was an instantaneous switch to playing with us instead. Which is something that I’m not sure that haunters can be trained to do. It is something that is just in your particular set of haunter skills or it’s not- and as a clown, that’s a skill that you need. All of these clowns had it and were very good at it. I couldn’t stop telling them how beautiful they were and one of them complimented the huge pink bow that I had in my hair. I told her that it smelled like strawberries (because it does) and she sniffed my head. I was the happiest little creep in the world at that moment. A huge shout out and thank you to the clown that sniffed my head. I adore you. There is also a fun house style room that is full of doors, and you really can choose any door that you want. I have this need in me to know where they all go. Which is the perfect time to let you know that if you purchase the VIP package, which is only $55 per person (insanely inexpensive) you can get a whole second set of tickets! If you want to know where all the doors go… That’s the best way to find out! The only bad thing that I can say about this trail is that it felt like two, maybe three separate trails that were pushed together. The clowns could have been a whole attraction on their own, but we still had an amazing time.

Safety

Everyone knows that I can’t do a review without talking about safety. It may seem like a boring thing to discuss- but it’s essential to a good show. The art of making patrons feel like they’re in grave danger while they are perfectly safe is difficult and at the heart of what we do. HallowSpire takes safety seriously. When you exit the parking lot, there is a huge orange sign, you seriously can’t miss it and it explains who should and should not be coming into the show. If you would like, you can read it in full below.

Once you pass the sign, you place your bag on the security table and then you are checked by the security team. They will direct you to a table where you will sign a waiver, which is located below if you would like to read it in full before you arrive.

At this attraction, the haunters will never touch you on purpose. Like everything else that humans do, accidents will happen sometimes and a haunter may accidentally brush against you. We as patrons are, of course, asked not to touch the haunters and that rule is very strictly enforced. I’m happy to report that safety is taken very seriously here, for both the guests and the employees. Every scene has a radio to be able to contact management, other haunters, or help if needed. Costumed security does exist and is always ready and willing to come to the aid of the haunters or the patrons. There is a chainsaw in this haunt, and the actor that wields it does a very good job of keeping it below chest level- it does not have a chain on it, and he keeps it far enough away from everyone that no one is in danger of being burned. If you are acting in a disorderly manner, breaking the rules or are under the influence of anything that you should not be, you will be removed from this attraction and will not be refunded- as it should be. When speaking with the lovely Witches after the show they stated, 

  “From the start, the production value, the actor safety, protocols and training have been mind-blowing. The tech team is so on top of things. They do laps around to make sure that we all have water snacks, candy, and band aids.” 

“We’re very cared for!” another added. This haunt really takes care of their haunters and we loved to see it. 

Haunters

Haunters are the lifeblood of any haunted attraction, and HallowSpire makes it abundantly clear that they understand and honor this fact. They had auditions for their haunters and they pay them and treat them with the love and care that they deserve. I feel like those facts shouldn’t need to be stated, but that is not the case in all haunted attractions. They also hired enough of them to make the attraction feel full. A lot of attractions miss the mark on this, especially in their first few seasons. These haunters are incredible. I could gush about just the improvisation skills alone for hours, but nothing will compare to seeing and experiencing it for yourself. These haunters are in character at all times! Even when they are spacing out groups or trying to direct some hapless scared patron back onto the trail- even while they are working with guests who are in the process of being extricated from the attraction, due to intoxication or some other reason, they are doing so in character and watching it happen is extremely impressive. Strangles the Clown, can I please just tell you how much I love you. You spent probably a total of 4 minutes with us, and you shaped the experience for the next 20, without a doubt. That is talent. I’m slightly sad because I was told that Eight Ball was going to be after me, but then I never got to find out who that was. I would love to hear more about these characters that are being mentioned by name so that I don’t miss them. 

One of the hardest things for some haunters to learn is how to work together as a team to make the scene work. Other than our characters, we all have an integral role to play in the show and the scene to direct the guest and their attention where they need to be. The haunters here know how to make us look where they want us to look and walk where they want us to walk. They did a wonderful job working as a team and we can tell that the communication skills are there. The Witches are a perfect example of this. They all made it abundantly clear that they know how to act as lures for each other- and that is all I will say about that. They will get you, you’re just going to have to find out how yourself on the trail.

Treating your haunters well is important and it’s clear that HallowSpire does this. When speaking with one of The Witches after the show she stated,

  “I’m excited to work next year! I wish it was a year round thing.” This was before she seamlessly switched back into character for a moment to cackle with her witchy sisters at their neighbors walking by. 

The show that HallowSpire built is not an easy show that a lot of first time haunters would be able to seamlessly slip into. They ask a lot for some of their positions and scare runs- which isn’t a bad thing at all. I know when I’m haunting I enjoy a challenge and a good complex scare run. There are some physically and mentally demanding roles at this attraction and the haunters that have been placed in those roles are all delivering. I don’t want to spoil too much, so I will leave it at that- but I know when you see these haunters doing what they do, you’ll realize who I’m talking about. 

Some haunted attraction aficionados are of the opinion that if the haunters can’t touch you, it makes the show suffer- and I don’t think that can be further from the truth. Different shows have different rules- but they are all capable of being amazing experiences. Some of the haunters at HallowSpire illustrate this point perfectly. One of the vampires in the church was so close to me without touching me and was gone from my view so quickly, that I almost didn’t know if he was real. It was a very cool feeling and not one that I get to experience often. 

Haunters need to be able to understand who they’re scaring. It’s an important skill that really can make or break a show. Jericho and I are not easy to scare- but I get startled and jump really easily and I laugh everytime. Once these haunters saw that I wasn’t going to curl up into a ball and try to hide behind Jericho, but they could get me to jump and laugh- they came for me full throttle and I loved every second of it.

You are not going to be able to catch these haunters hiding. You may spot two or three, but I promise you that for every one you find, you missed two. They’re hiding everywhere! They’re not just in set pieces or behind doors- though they are there too. They’re out in the woods. They’re in the corn. They’re in the sky! They see you when you’re sleeping. They know when you’re awake. Nowhere is safe. You should come to terms with that when you hand over your ticket. There was a haunter sitting next to Jericho for minutes while we were looking for Haunters and we did not notice her. It was incredible to see them work and I hope that you all go and experience what real haunters look like when they’re well taken care of and taught to work together and as a team to give you a real show.

Costuming

As with all aspects of this haunted attraction so far, the costuming was absolutely amazing. The Victorian clown aesthetic was so unexpected and unique- and so incredibly well done. So much love and care was poured into each of the costumes in the entire attraction. The attention to detail pays off in a big way. All of the costumes look weathered and worn. Nothing looked like it had been purchased from a costume shop or taken right out of a bag and handed to a haunter. Everyone looked dressed for the weather, as well. All of the haunters looked like they were warm and comfortable- able to move around and work freely.

Makeup

The makeup is so beautiful. Every single haunter looks incredible. The team didn’t do too much or too little. Again, there is so much attention to detail and there is a very clear artistic vision of what this world and the characters in it look like. They all look like they fit and belong together, which helps us to stay immersed in the world that HallowSpire has created for us. 

There are three specific faces that I feel compelled to mention. They just absolutely blew me away when I saw each of them. There was a clown with blood spatter on her face - the one who sniffed my head - the blood spatter was so perfectly placed and all of the rest of her clown white was pristine. I couldn’t stop staring at her, wondering how they did that so perfectly. Whoever was in charge of making Dave look like he had been through some serious stuff- did a wonderful job. I saw all the wounds on him and winced. That takes some serious skill. One of the witches had runes painted on her face and they looked so perfect and were placed so well. She looked like she belonged with the others, while also looking like a unique character on her own. It was so coolT!

Set Design

The set design here is next level. The amount of times that I got excited about set pieces was insane. The first set that we come across is this ritual site that reminds me a lot of the Bohemian Grove and it looks so creepy and beautiful. The lighting design that was done, not just on this set, but on all of them - is so beautiful. It really adds to the scenes and the ambiance without being too much of a distraction. The entirety of the haunt is so well planned out. I didn’t see a single wire or extension cord the entire night- and I was looking for them. I must have looked like a total weirdo staring into bales of hay trying to see if I could find a plug or a piston- but I found nothing. It was amazing! There are a lot of animatronics here, however I don’t think that it was too many or that HallowSpire is relying on them. Every animatronic is a joy to watch and they each have a purpose that they serve well. One of them took 800 pounds of concrete to steady and the end result is so worth it. However, if they hadn’t been functioning, it wouldn’t have hindered them much, because this haunt knows how to use everything that they have and seems to understand that no animatronic will ever be able to replace a haunter. 

The set designers here know how to use what is around them to their advantage. The Witches’ House is completely made from things found on the farm, except for the posts that went into the ground. It has this creepy patchwork kind of feel to it that just adds to the ambiance of the woods. There are certain set pieces that only work if one does not know they are there- and HallowSpire fooled me with them a few times! I was so impressed! If the set designers here don’t want you to see something- you won’t see it.

Things to Improve Upon

I really had to stretch and reach for things to critique about the experience that Jericho and I had. I think that the biggest change that I would like to see would be in The 13th Acre Haunted Corn Maze. I felt like the second half didn’t really have any kind of connection to the first. They felt like completely different trails to me- and I really believe that the clowns could have been an entire trail on their own. For patrons with colurophobia, this could also present a problem, since there is no warning of their presence, they may need to bail out in the middle of the trail. If they were separated into their own trail, those patrons could just avoid them all together.

I also would like some more clearly defined directions for patrons to travel in very specific areas. At the very end of The Jersey Devil Terror Trail, it was a bit difficult to figure out where we were supposed to go, and the haunter had to lead us. I think that if some props were moved around, the path would be a lot easier to ascertain without the haunter needed to specifically show us. I also think that the trails should end back at the midway, just in case a patron is overwhelmed, needs a break, or simply wants to grab some food or drinks in between the trails. That’s really all that I can think of though. They have done such a wonderful job building this place. I can’t wait to see what they do next season!

Final Thoughts

One of the things that makes a haunted attraction scary is the proximity to real danger. The builders and creative team at HallowSpire did their research and very clearly know and understand what they are mimicking, which makes everything feel so much more authentic and dangerous- exactly how we like it! They know and understand what they are mimicking.

I asked Braden if they will be doing a Holiday or Valentine’s Day show this year and he stated that there were no plans for one at this time- but I hope that they will consider it in the future, because they could really knock it out of the park, and I would love to experience it. There are already plans for expansion and changes for next season, and that excites us! I want to see what other twisted ideas can become a reality here! The mention of a hayride makes me want to see one so badly. They are so much fun to make and build- and I think that the team here would fall in love with it and make it unbelievable!

The team working at this haunt is incredible, and I really encourage everyone to go and see what they’ve built! It’s their first season and they are already so polished and working as a well oiled machine with amazing team work and communication! All of the positions in the show respect and appreciate one another, and they more than deserve your time and attention. You will have an amazing time, and will be chomping at the bit to come back next season, just like Jericho and I.

From the Owner

After reading out review, Braden stated that he welcomes our feedback. He says that next year he plans to separate the attractions, so one is not dependent on the other. He is excited to build more for us and make some changes to the show for nest year.