RECAP:  At the old west town of Dogwood Pass, the Horror begins with an early warning being heard alerting that, “Junior is out of his cage!”  A devil-horned protector briefly swings open the fortress-like doors just long enough to permit entrance, then quickly slams them shut again behind you.  A wooden, skid maze soon connects to an up-close-and-personal run-in with the oversized, bloody-faced, redneck Junior happily announcing, “You’re mine, now!  Escape through a dimly-lit walkway finds fiends and a laughing, mechanical clown jumping out of the darkness inhibiting advancement beneath a large Grim Reaper that stands guard over a hillside climb.  After ascent peaks, the course makes its way back down a valley before landing in the “Gullah Geechee” Swamp, a green, laser-lit wetland filled with snakes and various voodoo-like creatures carrying axes.  Exiting the marshland stumbles into a cursed shanty that may have once belonged to Marie Laveau based on the mojo bones and charms comprising décor, and the two-headed possum encountered upon leaving, no doubt the tragic consequences of one of her ungodly spells!  Nearby, a life-size possum mama seeks arms and legs to feed to her pups as the route heads for higher ground in Wolfbane Ridge, a werewolf-infested jungle of howling, rabid carnivores attacking from every direction imaginable!  Seeking shelter in a nearby cabin discovers it ravished and ransacked by more of the furry beasts, one of which bursts forth out of a ladies outhouse-like bathroom door marked, “Hers!”

Whispers caution, “There’s not a soul left!” as delving deeper into the woods comes across Camp Crystal Lake disturbing a bloody survivor that slams a large knife up against a building while shouting, “Get out of my camp!”  Compliance passes a desolate boathouse and enters a boiler room, where music and sounds from Nightmare on Elm Street signals a conflict with Freddy Krueger, whose amplified voice announces, “Welcome to my Nightmare!”

Navigating uneven ground and other treacherous terrain through a frightening cemetery yields through a scarecrow-occupied cornfield and into the shack of Ring girl, Samara, climbing out of a TV screen!  Still to come is a living doll confrontation inside a room filled with the figurines that yields through a clothes closet, and eventually into The Carnival of Souls!  Midway games and a clown spinning a wheel of death compromise continuance as jesters spring forth from ice cream freezers and jump down from inclines.  Behind a sliding door, Art the clown appears terrifying intruders, who flee through an upside down, body bag maze that dumps through spider webs, cocoons, bats and a gigantic arachnid into a quarantined zone of ripped-open cadavers and a slumped-over, wheelchair-bound patient, who rolls forward grabbing at passersby as her caregiving nurse comes crashing out of a door waving a syringe!

Seeking respite in a mine belonging to "The Montgomery Mining Company" descends beyond a red-eyed creature coming out of a side wall as flickering lights accompany progression further down the shaft to an underground fire pit of human bones that unearths a hiding alien as the passage narrows and a way out of the excavation is finally located.

From there, a short-lived dispute with a pig-headed assailant armed with a Taser turns into a sudden pursuit past signage declaring, “There’s no way out!” that stirs up an obligatory chainsaw chase-out of Horror at Dogwood Pass!

ANALYSIS: One of the first things noticed about the Wild West ghost town is the legitimate construction of their buildings and structures.  They’ve gone to great lengths to insure a realistic layout nestled into the hilly terrain, which contributes to the believability of their frights.  The attraction itself is entered through fortress doors, above which “HORROR” has been written in blood!  The event showcases several mechanical props to go along with quality acting and additional lines that previously interrupted flow and resulted in delays have all but been eliminated.

Freddy, werewolves, and Junior are among the best performers; mineshaft is outstandingly authentic in appearance and appreciated; and whispers continue to create a most unnerving fear. Carnival of Souls is well done and anchored by the recognizable Art the clown.  Design is tremendous.  Soundtrack is good for the most part, although a few quiet areas exist.

Unfortunately, duration was cut by 11 minutes since we last visited in 2022 and several of the more impactful incidents were missing.  Jason was absent from Crystal Lake’s campsite, as was his abduction and subsequent victimization of an innocent girl.  Myers too was AWOL, and same goes for gal spelling “DIE” and “GET OUT” with baby blocks, which was an intimidating scare.  Hidden escapes and secret passages are likewise gone, and haven’t been replaced with anything nearly as powerful

Horror at Dogwood Pass is open from 8 PM to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays in October (and possibly the first weekend in November), and the cost of general admission remains $20 for at least the third consecutive year, making it one of the more affordable attractions to choose from!

Head on out to Beaver, Ohio for one of the most uniquely built haunts around!  While you’re there, take time to enjoy the buildings that make up the Old West town, like the bank, jail, mercantile, and Roy Rogers Memories Museum.  Food and refreshments are also available, as are a number of photo ops.  OVH definitely enjoyed our return visit to Dogwood Pass and we’re sure you will too!