REVIEW: Asylum still a highlight of Six Flags Great Adventure’s Fright Fest
Photo: Six Flags Great Adventure’s Fright Fest is back, and the clowns have arrived. Photo by John Soltes.
JACKSON, N.J. — Six Flags Great Adventure has gone through a lot of changes this past year, the least of which was losing the record-breaking Kingda Ka, which closed at the end of 2024. Less of a tear-jerker was the permanent closure of the Green Lantern roller coaster (my muscles still go ouch after riding that one). On the positive front, the amusement park also added The Flash: Vertical Velocity, which is a twisty-turny hoot and a half.
Now SFGA is back to its old tricks with Fright Fest, the annual scare-fest that includes nine haunted mazes, five scare zones, seasonal treats and a few live shows for the Halloween season. This year’s Fright Fest is definitely going smoother than last year’s. All of the mazes are open and scaring visitors, and there’s an upgrade or two amongst the fear-inducing offerings.
One of the best mazes is the homegrown Asylum, which is located near the entrance to The Flash: Vertical Velocity. This maze takes place in a hospital setting and features tons of actors, perfectly haunting decorations and more than a few scares. One hope this never goes away.
Next door, sharing the same building, is Total Darkness, which takes the place of the old Saw maze. This walk-through is good, but not great. This reviewer always appreciates a non-IP attraction that leans more on creativity than following certain studio stipulations, but other than its darkness and its length (it might be the longest maze in the park), Total Darkness is mostly scary for that one undeniably cool quality: It’s dark, except for the glow-in-the-dark tape on the floor. Multiple groups on the night this reviewer enjoyed the maze actually headed through fire exits rather than continue the maze until its proper ending. Perhaps they were terrified; perhaps they were confused.
Another new one is Wreck-Cage, which replaces the Stranger Things attraction. This one seems to be an upgrade when compared to last year’s maze. It’s relatively short and could use some more decorations, but there were some definite scares and enjoyment to be had. Wreck-Cage can be found near the Wonder Woman ride. This one seemed to be the loudest, with screaming, hollering and chainsawing heard while waiting in line.
Before heading to other rides and mazes, visitors should consider Unleashed, an exquisite 25-minute show that is located near Wreck-Cage. This circus-like attraction features dancing acts and death-defying acrobatics that are top-notch. This one should not be missed.
The rest of the mazes are repeats from last year, and there are some gems within the diverse pool of scares. The Witch’s Reflection continues to be a wonderful mirror maze that is disorienting and alarming. One can find the entrance by the large Ferris wheel.
Big Top Terror, another original maze, is loopy fun, requiring visitors to don 3D glasses as they navigate through Day-Glo hallways of a circus gone mad. This one is superb.
Army of the Dead, as mentioned by this reviewer’s companion for the night, is all about set pieces and less about scares. Heading into this maze with that mindset will help a person appreciate the unique and large surroundings. One can consider this the epic maze at Fright Fest; think big spaces and not much intimacy.
Trick ‘r’ Treat still feels a bit too brief and too family-friendly for such a violent IP property. This ranks near the bottom. Texas Chainsaw Massacre, the 2022 version from Netflix, is the most adult-skewing maze, so children should beware. There are many Leatherfaces, but for some reason, during Media Night there were no chainsaw sounds in the maze. Boo-hoo!
Then there’s The Conjuring Universe, which is right up there with The Asylum for the best of the best at Fright Fest. There’s no denying that this maze, which is entered near Superman: Ultimate Flight, is a dream come true for those people who live and breathe Lorraine and Ed Warren. The gag involving the Nun is one of the best pieces of scary theater at any haunted house in the State of New Jersey.
The scare zones also don’t disappoint at Fright Fest. There are pirates and clowns and miners, oh my! Plaza de la Muerte is an excellent addition to the Halloween melee, and the crazed goings-on by the Bloody Fountain is always a fitting start (or end) to the evening.
One of the best rides in the park is Houdini’s Great Escape, which should be experienced during Fright Fest. It’s essentially a haunted house attraction that makes one feel dizzy and delightful. It’s a must-do experience.
Fright Fest is back for another round of diabolical amusement. Beware, beware, beware!
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Click here for more information on Six Flags Great Adventure’s Fright Fest.
