RECAP:  Located on the outskirts of northwest Butler County, Ohio the former Nike Missile Base known as Area 13 Project lies practically hidden away from civilization!  Entering into the restricted facility finds a cigar-smoking Sergeant seated at a desk surrounded by guns and ammo among other military equipment.  He provides a stern warning to recruits about a pair of spirits about to be encountered inside; Phillip, who is nice and Alex, not so much.  Being cautioned about some upcoming ankle grabbing, the intense journey begins through a radio room, where corporals dressed in Army fatigues push progression along ordering, “Move it!  Move it!”  Soon, taking a seat on an old couch is mandated as briefings are delivered about some horrifying happenings taking place inside the site’s barracks. Group separation induces panic prior to advancement through a psychiatric ward and into sick bay, where dead bloody bodies are stacked on tables and a hungry, cannibalistic, unlicensed medical practitioner is eating the heads off her patients imploring us to stay with her! 

Outside, the path dodges a dilapidated military truck that nearly plows its way through as its headlights suddenly come on and its extremely loud horn honks blasting the course back inside to a dark, foggy mess hall, witnessing tables of human remains and diabolical, laughing monsters attacking and locking a couple of victims inside their upright freezer, beating on it, and rocking it back-and-forth and from side-to-side with their newly captured fresh meat inside!

Back outside, the route detours through a surprise-containing school bus whose irate driver welcomes you, “To Hell!”  Exiting lands in the midst of a toxic waste dump, then into a bloody communal shower where a few special participants are selected and forced into a plasma-stained bathtub for another unexpected surprise!

Still to come is a blasphemous cathedral occupied by an unholy nun holding a rope and seeking a sacrilegious sacrifice; and a jester-filled room highlighted by a terrifying attack by Art the clown, who selects a volunteer and ostracizes him by sending the loner through a spinning cylinder to be isolated by himself in an area of total lightlessness!

More scenes include an intimidating encounter with a crawling Ring girl (Samara); a machine gun ambush; a deplorable restroom; an array of glow-in-the-dark masks that springs a sudden startle; an alien invasion; old classroom; shark invested waters; and a carnivorous, man-eating spider!  Unseen ankle grabbers are yet to have their way with you through more darkness and fog leading to a run-in with notorious slasher Michael Myers!  Escape through a frightening cemetery sparks a ferocious, “Leatherface,” chainsaw chase-out of Area 13!

ANALYSIS:  This new attraction has come a long way since we first visited on their preview night just 6 short weeks ago.  The abandoned Nike Missile Base has since cranked it up resulting in a spookier, more intense experience!  Turning down the lights and introducing a lot of fog has really altered the atmosphere for the better.  While their actors do touch you, it’s done without being overly aggressive or too rough, for the most part, with the ankle grabbing being best, and reflective of the introductory story told about Alex.

Soundtrack is adequate, but could be improved upon in time and even made more scene-specific.  Costuming is good.  Fatigues are appropriately worn by the threatening army personnel that do a great job setting up early scares, which fits perfectly with the attraction’s theme and storyline.  Other memorable characters include nun, freezer assailants, Myers, Samara, fiend in room of glowing masks, chainsaw hoodlum, and the Corporals throwing patrons onto a couch.

Group separations raise anxiety and intimidation with their inherent unnerving effect, and are properly kept short not to induce complete panic or meltdowns.  Additional actors would prove beneficial, and taking advantage of the facility itself by sticking more to the military base plot would further strengthen the score.  Improvement in the prop department will help as well.

Cost of admission is a bit expensive for a first-year attraction trying to attract a fan base, priced at $25 for general admission and $35 for their Fast Pass.  They’re open on Fridays and Saturdays from 8 PM to midnight beginning September 6^th and running through November 2^nd.

This is one of the highest ratings a first-year haunt has ever achieved!  Ohio Valley Haunts fully expects Area 13 to keep up the good work as it continues to make a name for itself in the years to come.