Des Moines Haunted Houses

Back for its second year, Barnum Circus of Freaks has once again proven to be something “quite different” than the typical haunts in the area.

One of the things that surprised us last year was the odd layout. Certain rooms would be passed through multiple times during the visit. For example, you might enter a space with a row of barrels separating the left and right sides. You travel down the left side early on, then later find yourself in the same room, this time walking down the other side of the barrels. You might even encounter other visitors heading the opposite direction. (This might be a good time to warn them about what they are about to encounter 😉

This year, it felt like there were more areas that did this (at least three, we think?). At least one room we must have walked through three different times. It was very disorienting since you could never tell if you were getting closer to the exit — or looping back to the start.

Clowns. So many clowns.

This haunt features a circus theme. There is creepy circus music playing throughout the building. There are plenty of clowns and other things along the way — a gorilla, a mime, the ring master, a fortune teller, etc. While some of them provide the expected jump scares, the rest seem to be there just to be creepy. There are plenty of times you find yourself walking through a pitch-black hallway with “something” following you. Many things knock on walls, or growl as you pass by.

The whole place puts you on edge as you wonder what is around the next corner. Many rooms are full of so many things you expect could jump out at you that it is hard to spot which is the actor versus the dozens of mannequins and other static figures. Several times, things we confidently “knew” were dummies would suddenly prove otherwise. Nice. Keep your head on a swivel. Some things might even be above you.

The price is what you pay.

Unlike the other haunts in the area that sell tickets online, Barnum has a $0 service fee. The $25 price they advertise is indeed $25 — tax included. That is a refreshing change, since most places charge you a few bucks for the “privilege” of buying a ticket.

In addition to the base ticket price, there is a “line skip” ticket that will put you at or near the top of the queue. For those planning on visiting multiple haunts in the same evening, this option may save you some time so you can get to the next haunt on your list. It certainly beats the old days when you could stand in line for 2-3 hours on a busy night.

Why are there no lines?

As we drove up on a Friday evening, there were only a handful of people lingering around. Why? We expected crowds on a Friday night. It turns out, they use a waiting system similar to what you might find at a restaurant. There are no timed tickets. Whether you buy your ticket online, or show up and buy at the ticket booth, you “check in” and they will add you to a texting list. You are then free to go elsewhere for a drink or a bite to eat. Or, perhaps you just want to smash some pumpkins… which is a thing they offer this year.

When it is your time to enter, you receive a text and can head back to the haunt. At the entrance they have a list of expected names and you can show your text and get in.

It’s … different.

The “no service fees,” “no standing in line,” and unusual layout make this haunt stand out from the others in the area. At one point we were stopped by a fortune teller and given something to carry with us the rest of the haunt. The whole experience was a bit surreal.

If you are expecting heavy metal, chainsaws, and folks screaming at you while they pound on walls, this is not that kind of haunt. Instead, you get a mix of long pitch black hallways (similar to what you might find in Linn’s Haunted House), black light areas, jump scares, and even some automated effects (air, electric firecrackers, bubbles, etc.). There is even an out-of-order arcade machine along the way… Read the sign.

Conclusion

Last year we described it as one of the funnest haunts we’ve been through. This year, it was even more fun.

But will it scare you? Those who find clowns terrifying are surely going to have nightmares. If you have a fear of the dark, or being lost, it should get to you. For us, we got about a dozen good jumps out of the experience, which is more than expected. We are pretty jaded at this point having already done a number of big haunts in Orlando earlier this season.

As to length, the time it took us to walk through (after entering and being told the rules) was about 18 minutes. During that time, we never ran in to another group. We were told the crew will try to hold groups in certain rooms to keep them spread out once inside the haunt. This may explain the interaction we had with the ringmaster as he pointed out various sideshow artifacts in the room he was in. Based on how fast or slow the groups are moving, your trip could take much more time. There are certainly plenty of areas where they can “hold” you for awhile, if needed.

Favorite Things

Besides the fortune teller and her “gift” to us, I think my favorite thing happened in a section of blacklight hallways. I don’t want to spoil it, but the three actors that greeted us when we first entered did something that really stood out. It made the rest of the walk through those hallways quite tense. Maybe it will get you too 😉

At a price of $25, Barnum Circus of Freaks is basically at the same price everything else around here is (not counting the more expensive multi-attraction haunts like Adventureland and Sleepy Hollow Sports Park). If you are looking for something different than the typical “heavy metal and gore” haunt, this is a fun one to check out.

We really enjoyed it and can’t wait to go through again. Maybe next weekend…