If you're from Kansas City, like me, you know that our city is well known for its haunted houses. Most of these terrifying experiences can be found in the West Bottoms area of the city, but there is an exceptional haunt waiting to give you a scare if you're willing to take a little drive.
Crooked Rose Woods is the newest Exhiled Trail of Terror rendition near Bonner Springs. My son took his friends, his brother, and his dad on this adventurous and spooky trail for his birthday this past weekend, and he shared his thoughts.
First, there are three levels to this haunt. We chose level 1, but we were happily upgraded to a level 2 experience. Level 1 includes just the trail, which is about an hour, or slightly over an hour, hike through the woods. You should expect interactive displays and some arduous walking. You should also expect to get dirty, so don't wear your fancy stuff! Level 2 includes an immersive carnival, games, a bar, and the hike. Level 3 includes the level 1 and 2 experiences but there is also something called an opulance tent that level 3 participants can indulge in. This level is for only those 21 and over, and it is recommended on their website that participants Uber for that experience.
Here is what my husband and my two sons thought of the level 2 experience. First, neither of them raved about the carnival experience. Tokens were pricey, and they weren't very excited about the games. I myself like that there is now a place to grab a drink before going into the dark forest to test my startle reflex, but that's just my opinion. Second, the hike experience focused more on high-quality immersive storytelling rather than good old-fashioned jump scares. Both of my boys talked about the interactive features of the trail. The actors made every attempt to engage with them and freak them out. All the kids came home dusty, and a few with some fake blood splatter. So again, dress accordingly. The main complaint was that it could have been scarier for them and that they didn't pace the other participants enough. Our crew ran into the group that had entered the trail before them rather quickly. Â Overall, everyone had a great time and would recommend the trail to their friends.
