Inside Tales of Terror: Florida’s 18+ Haunt That Lets You Choose Your Fear Level

By Jaimz Dillman

Fans of choose-your-own-adventure stories and horror will find exactly that deep, deep, deep in the backwoods of Astatula, Florida. Seriously, directions led us down a dark dirt road to a secret gate and a swampy parking area left nice and muddy after a few days of rain.

Tales of Terror has been haunting folks down south since the pandemic and has evolved, planting roots for the past two years in its current location.

Touting itself as Lake County’s original 18+ haunt, this year’s offerings include two different mazes with three levels of participation.

Improvised interaction means no two visits will ever be the same, and these scary characters take their roles very seriously. Everyone we encountered was having the time of their “lives,” proving that being out in the Florida backwoods is truly a labor of love.

The space we visited featured sets that blended perfectly with the natural surroundings. The use of lighting, lasers, and fog added to the disorientation and chaos of it all. We were told briefly about the second house and escape room, which promise even more chills and thrills once the full run begins.

Soft opening general admission tickets start at $8 and grant one entrance through both houses. The High Intensity level is $20, and the scareactors will look for your glow necklace to get even closer—touching, taking, and sometimes “painting” you through the experience. And then there’s the Freaked Up level at $60, which gives you three runs, is limited to 50 participants over the course of the haunt, and is labeled as a blood, gore, and gross-out thrill. Do with that what you will.

On media night, we had the option to wear a glow necklace or not, and a few participants left theirs hanging on the queue fence after seeing some “survivors” exit and describe what had just happened to them. I won’t go into spoilers, but let’s just say, it was a lot.

The escape room isn’t listed on the website, but it is an additional add-on. We were told that all proceeds from its ticket sales go directly back to the teen who designed it to further their haunt education. Tales of Terror prides itself on volunteers who care more about the scare than the money, choosing to bring anyone interested in getting into the business along for the wild ride. Offering free makeup classes and workshops to the community, they’re helping build up the next generation of scareactors.

Some tricks and treats are available for purchase to help anyone needing a little fortitude before their visit.

Remember your bug spray, wear boots and long pants or sleeves if possible, and prepare to bring a little bit of nature home with you from Astatula. This event is growing and still a work in progress, but it’s clear where they’re heading, and you have to admire the dedication. You’ll definitely leave with stories of your visit, no matter the level you choose.

Tickets and info can be found at:https://www.talesofterrorhaunt.com/about