I’ve Never Been to a Haunted House — Then I Went to the Fear Factory. Here’s What It Was Like – Deseret News

Fear Factory, a haunted attraction in Salt Lake City, invites visitors to journey through a maze of terrifying hallways in a closed factory dating back to the late 19th century.

I had the opportunity to attend their 2024 season, which offered new entries in the evolving horror story.

This was exciting for me – I had never been to a haunted house before, so I had high expectations.

The factory that was once home to the Portland Cement Company is now a place of nightmares brought to life by the creative minds of co-founder Rob Dunfield and his team of artists and actors.

Not all the scares are staged, though. Dunfield told me that Fear Factory has a history of paranormal activity that has made it the subject of frequent investigations.

Workers have reported strange occurrences, including unexplained noises, flashing lights and ladders tipping over without warning.

As previously reported by the Deseret News, the combination of manufactured horror and reports of paranormal activity has earned the Fear Factory a reputation as one of the scariest attractions in Utah — and the United States.

The evolving story of Fear Factory

Fear Factory has six buildings—some are six stories tall—and includes two underground passages, according to their website. This provides plenty of room to expand their operations, adding to their ever-growing catalog of spine-chilling attractions.

Last year, the haunted house featured a storyline centered around a mysterious beating heart discovered in the deepest part of the factory.

“The factory lives and feeds off of your fear,” Dunfield explained. “Whatever your fears are, you might see them here.”

Visitors can expect to encounter a variety of phobias, including insects, spiders, the undead, clowns, fear of heights, the dark, and death.

This year, Dunfield hinted at new revelations about the factory’s sinister power source.

“You’ll notice a big change when you get to the top of the tower,” Dunfield joked. “At the top of the tower, look up. You’ll see who controls the brains of the factory.”

In addition to this terrifying addition, Fear Factory will introduce a new 21-and-over bar, which Dunfield said will be called “Dark Spirits at Fear Factory.”

Haunted houses offer unique experiences

After talking with Dunfield, I headed to the Fear Factory—my first visit to a haunted house.

Although inexperienced, I felt prepared—horror is no stranger to me. But as I quickly realized, a living haunted house was a different matter entirely.

My group wore light sticks around their necks to let the actors know we were open to touch. Participants can use this to have a deeper experience.

Even though I knew the actors weren’t real threats, the fact that they were real people who could touch me and interact with me added more horror than any horror movie could provide. Dunfield’s earlier comments about the factory’s paranormal activity only made it worse.

Although the atmosphere was amazing, I attended on a busy day, which made it less scary. The large crowd made the haunted house feel less personal.

Therein lies the challenge of creating a top-notch haunted house: offering an exciting and terrifying experience that draws in larger crowds, which in turn can dilute the atmosphere of terror.

Still, the overall experience was intense, with plenty of scary moments and unsettling visuals.

The experience was longer than I expected, lasting about 45 minutes, which was a definite plus considering there was so much to see and explore. I’m sure I missed a lot on my first visit, which makes it worth a repeat visit.

Unforgettable props included a realistic, large heart, a puppet electrocuted in an electric chair, and many others.

Other standouts included a section dedicated to clowns, where we were given 3D glasses to enhance the vibrant colors, and a final, pitch-black, smoke-filled room leading to a blinding light — a disorienting passage that felt like entering the afterlife.

The scariest moment for me didn’t involve any props or actors though. It was walking across a walkway between two buildings with a grid floor, allowing me to see just how high up I was.

Fear Factory Schedule & Pricing

According to their website, for the 2024 season, Fear Factory will operate on Fridays and Saturdays in September from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m.

In October, opening hours are extended: on weekdays the museum is open from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm, and on Fridays and Saturdays from 7:00 pm to midnight.

The season ends on November 1 and 2 with a blackout event, during which all the lights in the factory are turned off and guests can explore the factory with only a small flashlight.

Ticket prices range from $29.99 on weekdays to $36.99 on weekends. For an additional $4, visitors can experience a more immersive experience of being touched by actors.