RECAP:  This season’s adventure begins with the tragic news that Mayor Joseph became possessed and committed suicide by jumping off the roof of his beloved Town Hall. Thrills begin immediately when a terrorizing villain unexpectedly makes his presence known from behind a previously unseen drop panel! Fleeing through the facility’s boiler room reveals the still-smoldering remains of a recently incinerated corpse that comes sliding out of a crematorium-like furnace!  Continuance through a contemptible jail witnesses a merciless electrocution, and subsequent escape of an incarcerated inmate that charges up from behind!  Approaching an old, wooden fence outside an isolated cabin gives rise to announcements that, “The piggies are here!” accompanied by coaxes of, “Here piggy, piggy, piggy!” and a stern warning that, “It’s time to die!” Right on cue, an irate hillbilly bursts forth from an outhouse armed with a huge machete, while another comes out of hiding armed with a bloody axe!  The sound of a revving chainsaw cues the scramble up a flight of stairs into the presence of a suspicious classroom, where an uncompromising teacher has punished one of his disobedient pupils by having him write, “I will not kill!” a hundred times on the blackboard! Noticing that the unruly deviant’s pledge of allegiance has undergone a mortifying revision into the threatening promise, “I WILL kill!” discovers a previously concealed secret passage behind a sliding bookcase, and taking advantage of the mysterious getaway route brings us face-to-face with a bizarre, red-eyed monster inside what appears to be some sort of cave-like dwelling.  Detouring to what was perceived to be safety ignites the pursuit of a determined assailant declaring, “I’m right behind you!” into the waiting arms of a 7-foot tall, stilted monster!

Advancement past additional slide-down panels soon brings about a ceiling crashing, pick-a-door surprise leading directly into the lethal clutches of an impatiently waiting killer clown who urges progression into an abhorrent medical mishap interrupting a malpracticing physician in the middle of some horrific surgical procedure on an unfortunate patient that’s been strapped to a chair and had her chest torn completely open exposing her bloody internal organs and intestines, along with a still-beating heart!  The deplorable doctor is desperately seeking volunteers for his next experiment, but none are to be found!  

Whispered voices instill fear while maneuvering through tightly cramped spaces of HTH’s one-of-a-kind, tilted maze that eventually stumbles through an upside-down room, and into a bloody kitchen, where a talkative, hellish cook, holding a large meat cleaver is anxious to dice someone up into tiny pieces and supplement her collection of body parts!  Departure through a tunnel of spiderweb-covered caskets, moves alongside a bottomless pit shadowed by an encouraging wall that without warning begins squeezing progression dangerously close to the edge of the endlessly falling abyss!

Still to come is an elaborate graveyard highlighted by moving tombstones and the undead being reanimated to life, then it’s into a cage maze inhabited by a pair of wickedly laughing clowns.  One dares, " Step right up to the freak show!” while his cohort scampers wildly about the overhead rafters terrorizing furtherance just prior to exiting The Haunted Town Hall!

ANALYSIS:  The cast of characters at Haunted Town Hall annually interacts with patrons by engaging them in some of the best dialogue the industry has to offer.  Nearly everyone has something meaningful to say, and many assert their intentions with a variety of weapons.  Hillbillies, doctor, cook, and aerial clown gave the best performances of the night.

The attraction’s clever design has always been one of its strong points, and is appreciated for making use of traditionally "haunted" concepts, and incorporating "secret passages" into the course, like the sliding bookcase.  A brand new beginning is on tap featuring a well done boiler room/crematory that displays a still smoking corpse!  Hillbilly hideaway has been expanded for 2020 as well brilliantly creating an additional unseen attack zone!  Tombstone containing cemetery continues its positive impact on the overall adventure with its mechanical scares.  Bottomless pit is unique, and the layout cleverly “shoves” the course towards the drop off via a collapsing wall!  Doctor’s scene is outstandingly detailed and showcases a still beating heart!  Tilted maze isn’t seen elsewhere and remains an OVH favorite since we first discovered it during their third season of operation some 16 years ago!  Spark cage, contortionist, crawling girl, chainsaw clown, and “live” patient with her lips sewn shut in the medical mishap segment were visually impressive and are missed. Claustrophobic tunnel and green mist were removed due to Covid-19 precautions.  A stronger, more spectacular finish would elevate the score. 

Haunted Town Hall is a real TREAT to experience.  As already touched upon, acting is always above average, and they can consistently be counted on for numerous, memorable, originally inventive, talented, scares that just aren't seen at other haunted attractions.  Timed ticketing is being utilized this year out of coronavirus concerns, and customers are encouraged to remain in their cars until a text message alerts them to proceed to the entrance. Cost of admission remains affordable in this day and age of price gouging, and you certainly get your money’s worth!  By all means schedule a visit this Halloween Season to Lafayette, Ohio and enjoy some festive scares at Mayor Joseph's Haunted Town Hall!